At NAMI, we learn many ways to advocate. As peers, we learn how to stand up for ourselves, to ask questions, and to find answers. As family members, we discover the importance of supporting our loved ones, being their voice when they need it, and helping them during the good and bad. And, as community members, we understand the value our voices lend to making sure elected officials at every level understand that we deserve better mental health care for all.
At the national and state level, mental health is a hot topic, and NAMI is a part of the discussions. On the federal level, the NAMI Government Affairs and Policy Team is hard at work and has had huge wins. Near the end of 2022, Congress’ “omnibus” year-end legislative package, which funded the federal government for the remainder of Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, included some huge NAMI wins, including the “Health Extenders, Improving Access to Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP, and Strengthening Public Health Act of 2022”, which has a heavy focus on mental health. The package included many wins for mental health, and many provisions that have been specific goals of NAMI’s advocacy. Read NAMI’s statement on the omnibus bill HERE.
In 2023, the President’s State of the Union address had full sections addressed to mental health and specifically addressed the need for “more first responders and other professionals to address growing mental health” and substance use challenges. The speech also addressed a priority focus on youth mental health, especially by providing care in schools: “When millions of young people are struggling with bullying, violence, trauma, we owe them greater access to mental health care at their schools.” Additionally, addressing the needs of our nation’s veterans and servicemembers, including increased mental health screenings and expanding VA peer support was mentioned as a focus. Read more.
NAMI Virginia and our partner organizations have been hard at work even before the beginning of this short legislative session, fighting to make sure mental health priorities are at the very top of everyone’s mind. Read NAMI Virginia’s legislative priorities which they set at the beginning of the session. Similarly, partners like the Virginia Association of Community Services Boards set their priorities, and also update a bill tracker every week on what bills they are following.
On Tuesday, February 7th, bills in the Virginia House of Delegates crossed over to the Senate and vice versa. This means that bills that started in the House are now in the Senate. If you have signed up to receive our advocacy emails, you received a list of bills that need your action!
How can you help?
Stay on the lookout for upcoming NAMI Smarts trainings and learn how to be the best advocate you can be. For now…
Contact your State Senator and your State Delegate! You can email, call, or meet with your legislators to ask for their support of the bills. Need help finding out who your legislators are?
Tell your story. Tell your legislators these bills are necessary. Let them know you care. Looking for a template of what to say? We have attached a sample for your use.
Not on our Advocacy list? Get on it now and get our advocacy alerts.
Schools Respond: Teens & Substance Abuse
Updates From Northern Virginia Schools
Families and community members, join the Northern Virginia Family Network on Wednesday, February 22nd from 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM for a virtual panel presenting the latest information about how schools are addressing youth substance abuse. School division leaders from local school divisions will share current challenges, how they are addressing them and how families can get help. NAMI NoVA’s Rebecca Kiessling and Formed Families Forward‘s Kelly Henderson and Nina Manganaris will moderate. Panelists include Victor Martin and Ruthy Marcado from Alexandria City Public Schools, Jennifer Sexton from Arlington Public Schools, Stefan Mascoll from Fairfax County Public Schools, Rebecca Sharp from Falls Church Public Schools, Blaise Carland from Loudoun County Public Schools, and Mallory McKnight from Prince William County Schools. For more information and registration, click the link below.
It is not too late to start 2023 off on the right foot by becoming a NAMI member or renewing last year’s membership! When you become a NAMI member through NAMI Northern Virginia, you are also granted membership to NAMI at the state and national levels. For details about our different membership options and to learn about all the great benefits tied to your NAMI membership, including an invitation to our Annual Membership Meeting, click the link below.
NAMI Young Adult Connection Recovery Support Group is a free, peer-led support group for young adults, ages 18-36, who has experienced symptoms of a mental health condition. You will gain insight from hearing the challenges and successes of others, and the groups are led by trained leaders who’ve been there.
This group meets on the 3rd Tuesday of every month and the next meeting for this group will be on Tuesday, February 21st from 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM on Zoom. Click here for more information and registration.
NAMI Peer-to-Peer for Women in the Workplace is a free, eight-session educational program for adults with mental health conditions who are looking to better understand themselves and their recovery. Taught by trained leaders with lived experience, this program includes activities, discussions and informative videos. This class will be catered, specifically, to women in the workplace.
This class will be meeting on Sundays from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, starting on March 12th until May 7th (class will not meet on April 9th). Sessions will held virtually on Zoom. Click here to register.
