June 2015 – Page 3

NAMI Advocacy Update

NAMI Advocates works tirelessly to educate, their website is a great resource, most important is they are always working for us and injustices. XO Warrior

21st Century Cures Bill Passes House Committee

The House Energy & Commerce Committee passed 21st Century Cures on May 21st— a bipartisan bill designed to push for the development of new therapies for diseases that are not being treated successfully. This bill includes new dollars for the National Institutes of Health Opportunity Fund totalling $10 billion over five years.

The bill does not target specific diseases or illnesses, but it does leave open the possibility of investments in new clinical trials or therapeutic interventions for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, and other mental health conditions. The 21st Century Cures bill is expected to come to a vote in the full House of Representatives in June.

View NAMI’s letter of support for this important bill.

17 U.S. Senators Write Letter To HHS Citing NAMI Parity Report

In a first step to addressing some vital concerns in Affordable Care Act health plans, a group of U.S. Senators sent a letter to Secretary Sylvia Burwell (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) calling for action to ensure transparency and mental health parity. The letter cites NAMI’s report “A Long Road Ahead” noting, among other issues, that consumers cannot get the detailed information they need to make informed decisions when buying a health plan.

Read the letter.

Stepping Up To Reduce The Number of People With Mental Illness In Jails

NAMI helped jumpstart the Stepping Up Initiative on Capitol Hill this month as part of a national effort to divert people with mental illness from jails and into treatment. The campaign brings together a powerful coalition of national organizations, including NAMI, the Council of State Governments Justice Center, the National Association of Counties, the American Psychiatric Foundation and many law enforcement associations, mental health organizations, and substance abuse organizations.

The initiative will challenge counties and local communities to work together to find solutions that work for their local community.

See how you can step up.

Tell Congress To Help New Veterans Keep Their Mental Health Medications

The way things stand now, if you decide to transition out of military service and into veteran status, your medication might not transfer with you. This is unacceptable. Urge your member of Congress and ask them to co-sponsor H.R. 2123 the Enhancing Veterans Access to Treatment Act.Tell them it is not ok to take away a medication that works for a service member simply because he or she transitioned out of service.

Email Congress.

Tweet Congress.

Bright Spot: NAMI Minnesota

This legislative session NAMI Minnesota led the Minnesota Mental Health Legislative Network to increase mental health funding in the 2016 state budget. Their motto, “We know what works; let’s build on it.” This coordinated campaign helped secure $46 million in new funding for mental health services and supports.

“It was the most new money invested in mental health in our state’s history. There was truly a recognition that there is no silver bullet for fixing the mental health system. Significant investments were made all up and down the continuum,” said Sue Abderholden, executive director of NAMI Minnesota.

Books Matter: An update from ADL
by the Change.org team

Jun 1, 2015 — The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) would like you to support and share with others the launch of their exciting new education initiative for educators and parents which uses children’s books as a mechanism to discuss bias, prevent bullying and promote discussion and awareness of diversity and social justice. Anyone who has ever read to or with a child knows that books have the potential to create lasting impressions.

Beyond their educational benefits, books have the power to instill empathy, affirm a sense of self, teach about others, transport one to unfamiliar places and inspire action. “Books Matter: The Best Kid Lit on Bias, Diversity and Social Justice” is a bibliography of over 600 books organized into 11 categories and reviewed by ADL’s anti-bias education experts. The categories include anti-bias, bullying awareness, anti-Semitism, racism, religious bigotry, gender and sexism, genocide and the Holocaust, LGBT people and issues, and social justice. As part of the initiative, ADL is also featuring a series of podcasts including interviews with children’s authors whose works are highlighted in the Book of the Month.
http://www.adl.org/education-outreach/books-matter/#.VWzIH1xViko

Books Matter