Please join us at the State House on Wednesday, January 29, 2020 @ 8:00 a.m. We need your support at Mental Health Advocacy Day. Mental health organizations and advocates will be urging lawmakers about the importance to “Support Your Community ~ Invest in Mental Health”. The agenda includes activities that will be of interest for every mental health and developmental disabilities advocate and supporter including advocacy training, opportunities to interact with legislators, Award presentations, providing testimony and listening to personal stories of lived experience.

TAKE ACTION NOW:

Call or email your legislator to schedule time to meet with them on the 29th!
Meet one-on-one or in groups with other advocates to discuss topics that are important to you.
Click here to find your legislator. (https://legislature.vermont.gov/people/search/2020)
Share this information with your network – we need a strong presence at the State House MAKE MENTAL HEALTH A PRIORITY – LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!

8:00-10:00 A.M. ~ REGISTRATION (Room 11 – hearing room on first floor directly beneath the House Chamber):

Upon arriving, visit us in Room 11 to register, pick up the agenda, talking points, map of State House rooms, and other relevant information.

Registration is available from 7:30-10 a.m.

Pick up a sticker to wear and show your support of Mental Health Advocacy Day.
Depending on how early you arrive, you may be able to meet with your legislator before committee meetings begin at or around (8:30 A.M.)

8:30-10:00 A.M. ~ COMMITTEE TESTIMONY:

Testimonials for committees are being planned in advance. Everyone is welcome to sit in on the committee sessions. Space is limited – so arrive early. Some testimonials may be scheduled in the afternoon. The committee testimony schedule will be available at the event. Contact us, if you are interested in testifying.

9:00-9:40 A.M. ~ ADVOCACY TRAINING: (Room 11)

Learn from Peter Mallary and Ed Paquin on how to share your story and advocate for an improved mental health system of care with legislators. This training will provide some skills to use for the event day, and beyond!

9:40-10:00 A.M. ~ TEAM TWO FRANK SILFIES AWARDS (Room 11)

Kristin Chandler, Team Two Coordinator will present the “Frank Silfies Awards” for a Vermont law enforcement officer and mental health crisis clinician who exemplify collaborative response to mental health crises.

10:00 A.M. ~ WELCOME SESSION KICKOFF (Room 11):

State leaders will share their insights on the “State of Mental Health in Vermont”. Room 11 is the large meeting room off the main hallway on the first floor of the State House near the coat room. Everyone should attend this event. Additionally, awards will be presented for Mental Health Advocate of the Year and Legislative Champion.

11:00 A.M. ~ SHARING OUR STORIES (Room 11):

Sign up or contact lemerson@namivt.org if you are interested in sharing your story of recovery, poetry, or other information (3-5 minutes). Sharing Stories will continue with Vermont Psychiatric Survivors videotaping additional stories after 12:00 p.m. in Room 11.

NOON ~ CAFETERIA: Meet with your legislator for lunch in the cafeteria to advocate for increased funding to ensure mental health services are accessible in the community and for sensible mental health care policy.

DIRECTIONS/PARKING:

Capitol Plaza parking lot (metered).
Off street parking (metered on most streets near the Statehouse, but some free street parking can be found further away)
Department of Labor parking lot on Green Mountain Drive (free) – second left from interstate, past first traffic light. Shuttle Service Available with Capitol Shuttle running every 20 minutes from 7:20 am – 5:20 pm.
Call 223-7287 or go to http://ridegmt.com/wp-content/uploads/Capital-Shuttle_Current2.pdf for more info
CAR POOLING: We encourage carpooling. Contact your co-sponsoring organization who may be able to coordinate rides from your area.

QUESTIONS: Contact Julie Tessler at Vermont Care Partners 802-279-0464 email Julie@vermontcarepartners.org

Co-Sponsored by: Alyssum ~ Another Way ~ Blueprint for Health, Mental Health and Substance Abuse ~ Center for Health and Learning ~ Central Vermont Perinatal Mental Health Coalition ~ Champlain Community Services ~ Clara Martin Center (CMC) ~ Collaborative Solutions Corporation (Second Spring) ~ Counseling Service of Addison County (CSAC) ~ Disability Rights Vermont ~ Families First Inc. ~ Green Mountain Support Services ~ GunSense Vermont ~ Health Care and Rehabilitation Services (HCRS) ~ HowardCenter ~ Lamoille County Mental Health Services (LCMHS) ~ Lincoln Street ~ M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Weekend Format, at Northern Vermont University ~ Me2/Orchestra ~ NAMI Vermont ~ National Association of Social Workers-VT ~ NFI Vermont, Inc. ~ Northeast Kingdom Human Services (NKHS) ~ Northwestern Counseling and Support Services (NCSS) ~ Pathways Vermont ~ Postpartum Support International – Vermont (PSI VT) ~ Rutland Mental Health Services ~ Support and Services at Home (SASH) ~ Team Two ~ United Counseling Service of Bennington County, Inc. (UCS) ~ Upper Valley Services ~ Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition ~ Vermont Association for Mental Health and Addiction Recovery (VAMHAR) ~ Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (VAHHS) ~ Vermont Care Partners (Vermont Council of Developmental and Mental Health Services) ~ Vermont Center for Independent Living ~ Vermont Cooperative for Practice Improvement and Innovation ~ Vermont Department of Mental Health ~ Vermont Family Network ~ Vermont Psychiatric Association ~ Vermont Psychiatric Survivors ~ Vermont Psychological Association ~ Washington County Mental Health Services, Inc. (WCMHS)