Advocacy leads the way to the advancement
of legislation, funds and services for people with mental illness,
and their families. MAMH Advocacy operates on three levels:
First, we provide information and referrals
to help individuals and family members acquire specific information
on the availability of services and how to access them.
Second, our Loretta Kowal Family and Support
Advocacy project provides individual case advocacy where
we work intensively with people with mental illness, and their families,
to access needed services, whether it be treatment, housing supports,
insurance, employment or education. (This Program is funded in part
by the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and an educational grant
from Eli Lilly and Company, which had no control over its content
or activities. No personally-identifiable information regarding
any individual or family is provided to any grant provider).
Third, under the direction of our volunteer board
of directors, and in collaboration with DMH
we do systems advocacy as part of an ongoing effort
to create, expand or improve the mental health service system. Currently
our People Are Waiting Reports provide detailed,
accurate, information on the thousands of adult, children and adolescent
clients of the Department of Mental Health who are waiting for housing
and residential services. These Reports have become a focal point
for awareness and an impetus for the adoption of funding strategies
to provide more community based services for people with mental
illness.
Other recent examples of systemic advocacy include:
- Legislation requiring the approval of the Department
of Mental Health before any restrictions can be placed on the access
of MassHealth (Medicaid) enrollees to medications used in the treatment
of mental illness.
-Legislation giving the Department of Mental Health
new authority over the disposition of the property formerly used
for Medfield State Hospital
About MAMH
The Massachusetts Association for Mental
Health, Inc. is a private, nonprofit, citizens based organization
established in 1913 for advocacy and educational purposes.
It is a tax exempt Section 501 (c) (3) organization. Since 1913, MAMH has directed its activities towards the successful development of community based housing, education, health care, and mental health services for children, adolescents, adults and seniors.
MAMH Mission
To promote and advance community based housing, education, health care, employment and treatment for children, adolescents and adults with mental illnesses or emotional disorders. To increase knowledge about mental illnesses and the effectiveness of treatment through educational outreach to the public at large or to specific segments, and to promote healthy life styles and behavior through preventative services and programs directed at children and adolescents.
For more information about Advocacy,
please call (617) 742-7452 or write to:
Advocacy
c/o MAMH
130 Bowdoin Street, Ste 309
Boston, MA 02108 |
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