Regional Policy Council

BACKGROUND

MHA's goal is to partner with the affiliate field to initiate, advocate for, and implement federal and state policies that positively affect the lives of children, youth, and adults with mental health and substance use conditions. To achieve these policy goals, in a coordinated and effective manner, MHA has established a 10 member Regional Policy Council to work with MHA's Policy and Advocacy Department. Federal and state policy staff, along with the MHA Board and Public Policy Committee, are working with the 10 RPC Representatives to build a strong and proactive advocacy network.

In 2009, the RPC Representatives completed policy resource maps of their respective regions that include the mental health policy landscape, affiliate strengths, state legislative priorities, advocacy training needs policy an advocacy resources, and partnership opportunities. The RPC Representatives reached out to affiliates in their regions to gather this information and forge relationships that will improve advocacy efforts and communication.

The RPC has made available resources and webinars on topics of importance to the affiliates, including health care reform and access to medications. The RPC plans to continue a monthly webinar series through 2009 in order to inform affiliates on important issues emerging at the state level and being discussed at the federal level that might impact states.

With the help of the RPC, MHA policy and advocacy staff have been gathering and developing resources to provide to the affiliate network and other interested stakeholders on issues that were identified as significant during resource mapping. In particular, MHA staff have been identifying resources on parity implementation, access to medications, federal health care reform, comparative effectiveness research (CER), and criminal justice.

PROGRAM GOALS

In 2010, MHA, in conjunction with the RPC, plans to work toward the following goals.
• Improve communication between MHA National and its affiliate network
• Improve communication and information sharing among MHA affiliates
• Disseminate best practices, innovative policy options, model legislation, and other resources to affiliates and relevant stakeholders on parity implementation, access to medications, health care reform, and other pertinent issues
• Provide tools for turning policy into action as it relates to parity, access, health care reform, and other issue areas identified during resource mapping
• Mobilize the MHA affiliate field on federal and state advocacy
• Identify affiliates in key states and districts to engage federal legislators when targeted action is needed, and to engage on the state level when MHA National learns of access threats

2010 REGIONAL POLICY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES

Regions 1 & 2 - Barbara Johnston, Director of Advocacy, MHA-NJ
CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT & NJ, NY

Region 3 - Linda Raines, Executive Director, MHA-MD
DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV

Region 4 - Ellyn Jeager, Director of Public Policy, MHA-GA
AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN

Region 5 - Shel Gross, Director of Public Policy, MHA-WI
IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI

Region 6 - Gyl Wadge, Director of Public Policy, MHA-TX
AR, LA, NM, OK, TX

Region 7 - Susan Crain Lewis, Executive Director, MHA-Heartland
IA, KS, MO, NE

Region 8 - Amanda Callahan, Interim Policy Manager, MHA-CO
CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY

Regions 9 & 10 - Jerry Jeffe, Legislative Advocate, MHA-CA
AZ, CA, HI, NV & AK, ID, OR, WA

At-Large - Steve McCaffrey, Executive Director, MHA-IN
Public Policy Committee Representative