Information About the 2011 Conference

Policy Day

November 17, 2011

In the midst of health care reform and budget crises, how do we ensure accessible, effective, family-driven, youth-guided and culturally competent services and supports for our children and youth with mental health needs and their families? Your work at the local and state level and our collective work at the federal level are needed now more than ever. We must work hard and we must work smart. And, we must be consistent in our coordinated efforts to get our issues heard and attended to. Policy Day 2011 will set in motion a series of connected events and communications leading up to Children’s Mental Health Week 2012 that are designed to maximize our collective impact.

The National Federation intends to help you (1) make your voices heard in Washington DC on November 17th; (2) keep your visit and your message in front of your legislators after the Congressional Recess; and (3) get your legislators support locally and nationally for Children’s Mental Health Week in May 2012.

A dynamic plenary presentation will bring you up to date on the most pressing federal policy issues. Your choice of a workshop will introduce you to legislative advocacy, present a proven advocacy agenda model, or provide youth with tools for advancing their policy agenda. Following these morning activities, each pre-registered participant will receive a personalized packet of information and a map for their afternoon trip to the Hill. Registered participants will also receive blue scarves to highlight their National Federation representation while they are visiting their legislators.

Participants will check in at the National Federation’s Policy Day Debriefing Table after their visit to Capitol Hill to ensure our ongoing collaboration.

AGENDA:

8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. ~ Breakfast
9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. ~ Plenary Presentation – Policy Day 2011

Things are changing so rapidly on the Federal front with potential changes to mental health and social services policy and funding that it’s hard for any of us to keep up. This is a critical time when all family leaders need to be especially concerned with what’s on the horizon for Federal mental health policy and funding, and be prepared to address these issues with their legislators. During the exciting morning plenary, you will hear from national policy experts on the opportunities that the Affordable Care Act’s provisions around health homes, CHIPRA, and Medicaid could present for family organizations. You will also hear from family leaders who have successfully advocated in their communities and who are ready to tell you that you absolutely can, too! Have you been frustrated with how our Congress has been operating and prioritizing issues this past year, and are now eager to be a change agent? In the afternoon you will have the opportunity to charge onto the Hill, with the support of National Federation staff who can help you prepare. Whether you are new to policy or a seasoned advocate, everyone will benefit from attending Policy Day 2011!

10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m ~ Workshops

Workshop 1
What’s Advocacy, What’s Lobbying, and What’s Plain Old Educating Our Policymakers?

Sandra Spencer, Andrea Barnes, National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health

You need to know the difference so that you can be an effective voice in children’s mental health policy. So many communities that operate with federal grants feel that there is little they can do to influence policy in their state. But the good news is, though you may only be allowed to spend 20% of your time in lobbying, you can spend 100% of your time in educating! At this workshop you will learn concrete and simple actions that your organization or you as an individual can take to make an impact in changing the children’s mental health system.

Workshop 2
The Affordable Care Act

Teresa King, National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health; Jim Wotring, Gary Macbeth, Georgetown University

This workshop for advanced policy practitioners will teach you how to make the new health care reform law work for you, your family, and your organization. If we want healthcare reform to succeed we all must do the following:

• Educate yourself and others about the opportunities for families and your organization within the Act
• Publicize the stories of families who have benefited already to legislators, newsgroups and policymakers
• Counter controversial messages with fact and stories to legislators, newsgroups and policymakers
• Find out what your state is doing and how decisions on the design of health care reform are being made
• Work in coalitions with other organizations to have a border impact
• Be at the state tables where decisions are being made

This workshop for advanced policy practitioners will expand on all of the above!

Workshop 3
Youth in Policy

Eric Lulow, National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health

The Youth in Policy workshop is designed for those youth new to legislative policy advocacy and provides the opportunity to learn from experienced advocates about how policy works. Participants will also learn skills needed to affect changes in their communities. This will include how to write a professional letter to a congressional member, and proper phone etiquette when calling a members office.

12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ~ Policy Day Technical Assistance

As you get ready to go to Capitol Hill to visit with your legislators and/or their staff, this room is open for you to:

1. Receive your packet of fact sheets, map and scarf
2. Receive any coaching, technical assistance, or peer support needed
3. Debrief after your visit and detail your follow-up with your legislators

DO TODAY:

1. Register for Policy Day 2011.
2. Call your legislators and make appointments for the afternoon of November 17th.

Hello, my name is [name] and I am [Senator/Representative name]‘s constituent from [hometown], [state]. I will be in town November 17th and would like to set up a meeting with someone to speak about children’s mental health, specifically about [elaborate if you like, but no more than a sentence].

3. Email Andrea Barnes at ABarnes@ffcmh.org with

a. Who you will visit and at what time
b. What your agenda for that visit will be
c. What support you need from the National Federation prior to that visit

TO FIND THE PHONE NUMBER OF YOUR CONGRESSPERSON IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, PLEASE VISIT:

https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

TO THE FIND THE PHONE NUMBER OF YOUR SENATOR, PLEASE VISIT:

http://senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Take me back to the agenda!