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To recover, our loved ones with a severe mental illness must have good access to an effective mental health care system, one that is comprehensive, seamless and assertive. For this to best occur, those who are affected by mental illness ?
primary consumers, family members, providers, and other stakeholders ? must be strong advocates, aggressively informing legislators and other decision makers that, with proper psychiatric care, people with mental illness can recover to
live self-fulfilling and productive lives. Advocacy is a pillar of the NAMI mission.
Public Policy Agenda
To give direction to its advocacy, NAMI St. Louis has adopted a Public Policy Agenda for 2004-2005. Consistent with positions of NAMI Missouri and the Federation of Missouri Advocates for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, this agenda
addresses five key issues:
- Budget, Division of Comprehensive Psychiatric Services, Missouri Department of Mental health
- Medicaid Reform
Budget Cuts Could Affect Mental Health
- Residential Care Facilities
- Psychiatric Advance Directives
- Involuntary Outpatient Commitment
Our full Public Policy Agenda 2004-2005 can be viewed by clicking here  .
Advocacy Network
The voice of NAMI St. Louis that is heard by legislators and other decision makers is that of the many NAMI St. Louis members who participate in our
Advocacy Network. This network informs NAMI advocates of the current status of public
policy issues through Legislative Updates. Then, through Action Alerts, we advise them when, how, what, and to whom to communicate, so that decision makers have the best opportunity to take correct action to improve our mental health
services.
Advocacy Updates and Action Alerts are distributed by e-mail, to accomplish the quickest possible response. For those who don?t have access to e-mail, we will communicate by U.S. Mail. Become involved in our Legislative Network. Contact
Richard Stevenson at rstevenson827@sbcglobal.net or at 314.966.4688.
Legislator Lookup
To find out the names and contact information of your
legislators, click onto the ?Legislator Lookup? link below. It
will ask for your nine-digit (zip+4) zip code*. Enter it and
click the ?Lookup Legislators? bar. The names of all your
elected officials will be listed. Click onto your legislator?s
name and you will access their contact information.
Legislator Lookup Access
* If you don?t know your nine-digit zip code, the ?Legislator
Lookup? web page has a link to ?Go to the USPS Zip Lookup? where
you can get that information.
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