State Budget Toolkit
description
Transcript of State Budget Toolkit
State Budget ToolkitShel Gross
Director of Public PolicyMental Health America of Wisconsin
Ellyn JaegerDirector, Public Policy and AdvocacyMental Health America of Georgia
The day of reckoning has arrived. That's it. And it's gonna arrive
everywhere.
--New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie; speaking to CBS about state budgets on Dec. 19, 2010.
You can’t bend the cost curve without addressing chronic health conditions. And you can’t address chronic health
conditions without addressing behavioral health disorders.
--Dr. Carolyn Clancy, Director, AHRQ at WI Women’s Health Foundation Dialogue; Sept. 2010
Toolkit Overview
I. Overview of the state budget process.
II. Budget areas important to mental health.
III. Advocacy strategies.
I. The Budget Timeline• Learning about the process in your state.
• Budget politics.
• Mental health caucuses.
• Common steps in the budget process.
I. The Budget Timeline
II. Budget Areas• Medicaid• Corrections• Mental Health• Vocational Rehab• Housing• Education
When I hear different messages, I hear nothing.
--A Wisconsin legislator talking about getting conflicting messages on mental health policy
from mental health advocacy groups.
III. Advocacy Strategies• Coalition Building
– Planning and Advisory Councils
– Mental Health Coalitions
– Cross disability coalitions.
Documenting the Problem• Sample documents– Policy analysis– Persuasive communication
• Data sources– Government data sources– Mental health block grant– Other
Getting Heard• Legislative contacts
• Rallies
• Legislative breakfasts
• Advocacy training
For More InformationShel Gross
[email protected] Jeager
[email protected] Budget Advocacy Toolkit
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/state-budget-advocacy