What is advocacy?
To be an advocate is to be more than a cheerleader for a particular cause. For Mental Health America of Virginia, it means educating the community and policy makers about the complexities of mental health, offering supporting programs and resources to those who need it most, and changing the perceptions that surround individuals affected by mental illness.
2020 Legislative Session
Below are several updates from work groups, programs or planning from the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. For more information, contact the person whose information is included in the power point, or MHAV at bruce.cruser@mhav.org.
- Alternative Transportation Program - DBHDS System Leadership Council Presentation June 2019
- Behavioral Health Redesign Update - SJ47 Presentation May 2019
- Crisis Intervention Team Programs & Assessment Sites - June 2019
- History & Status of Minimum Mental Health Standards for Virginia's Local & Regional Jails
- System Review & Guiding Principles for Next Steps - SB1488 Workgroup June 2019
- Report from the work group on causes of the high census at the Commonwealth's state hospitals for individuals with mental illness Nov. 22, 2019
The 2019 legislative session directed the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to conduct two studies of Virginia's community public mental health services. One study is on how the Community Services Boards (CSBs) are funded, and the other is on the implementation status of STEP - VA, the long-term initiative designed to improve the community behavioral health services available to all Virginians. The completed studies are available here: CSB Funding and Implementation of STEP-VA.
Advocacy in Action
Executive Directors from four Virginia MHA affiliates met recently with U.S. Senator Mark Warner’s staff to provide information on mental health needs in Virginia and MHA affiliate services.
MHAV 2020 Policy and Legislative Priorities
