January 21st, 2010
The Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities Foundation will be kicking off the OF-1-MIND campaign with a press conference on January 26th, at 1:30 in the Statehouse Atrium. The public is welcome to attend.
The OF-1-MIND campaign is an action-oriented advocacy and education campaign designed to create a shift in public opinion and to increase local and state support for community-based mental health and addiction services and recovery supports. OF-1-MIND will mobilize Ohioans to communicate the knowledge that addiction and mental illness are diseases of the brain and that treatment works and people recover. For more information on the OF-1-MIND campaign, please visit: www.of-1-mind.org.
Tags: addition, advocacy, alcohol and drug, behavioral health, education, metal health, mind, of, of-1-mind, Ohio, one, recovery
Posted in Up to the Minute |
November 16th, 2009
We have learned that Senate Republicans will be putting together their response to HB 318 over the next few days. As you know, Senate President Harris has stated he is not in favor of rolling back the Income Tax cut, so Senate Republicans are looking at where they can cut to get the money to fill the budget hole left with the loss of funding from racetrack casinos.
It is also our understanding that Senate Republicans have taken several things off the table for cuts i.e. Education, Medicaid, DRC, Higher Ed, ETC. We have also been told that they have not taken cuts to ODMH or ODADAS off the table.
We need to gear up our advocacy ASAP and contact the Senate Republicans and in NO UNCERTAIN TERMS MAKE IT CLEAR THAT NEITHER ODADAS NOR ODMH CAN INCURE ANY ADDITIONAL CUTS. Ohioans deserve access to life saving behavioral health services!
To make things a little easier I have listed all of the Republican Senators and their email address and phone numbers.
Have a great week!
REPUBLICAN SENATORS
Cheri
Cheri L. Walter
Chief Executive Officer
Tags: advocacy
Posted in CEO Minutes |
October 19th, 2009
ADVOCACY ACTION REQUIRED!!!
This past week the Representative Sykes(D) introduced a bill to postpone for the last of five scheduled income tax rate reductions, and to reduce members of the General Assembly salaries by 5%. This was done so that cuts will not need to be made to education. I cannot express how important it is for advocates of behavioral health services to keep the pressure on as policymakers move forward with this bill. One way to keep the pressure on policy makers to restore funding for behavioral health is through sending a letter or email to YOUR Senator, Representative and the Governor. We need to let them know that the behavioral heath system NEEDS ADDITIONAL FUNDS, and until the legislature and administration appropriately fund behavioral health, people are going to die needlessly!
We are suggesting that you ask for the following:
ODMH
Request that the $36 million ($20 in 2010 and $16 in 2011) presently in the 635 line be placed in the 505 line, and that the entire amount be allocated to the Boards via the general 505 distribution method with no earmarks.
Additionally, ask that the $7.35 million per year be replaced in the 408 line to be distributed to Boards.
ODADAS
Ohio’s liquor profits are steadily increasing, yet only 1% ($4.4 million) is allocated to ODADAS. Request that the 1% be raised to 2$ for an additional $4.4 million per year to go to ODADAS.
LET’S LET OUR VOICES BE HEARD! WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE; WE CAN NOT AND SHOULD NOT ACCEPT THE PRESENT LEVEL OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FUNDING! OHIOANS WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS DESERVE BETTER!!
If you would like more information on how you can contact your legislator, or the Governor Please go to www.OACBHA.org and visit our legislative section.
Have a great week!
Cheri L. Walter
Chief Executive Officer
Tags: advocacy, alcohol tax, behavior health, earmarks, funding, odadas, odmh, phantom money, Vernon Sykes
Posted in CEO Minutes |
