News and notes from NAMI Florida - - - -

Public Policy and the Legislature:
January and February were very busy months for public policy and advocacy activities, as your staff, legislative consultants, and Public Policy Committee scurried to keep up with elected officials who were called upon in early January to address several critical issues in a special session and in continuing committee work.  Unlike many other years, a special session was held in early January, with Committees and Councils of both Chambers meeting rather continuously until session began in Tallahassee this morning.  As evidence of the extent of the additional activity (and thus additional workload), Public Radio reported that through Monday, nearly 2300 bills have been filed.  At this time of the year, PBS stated it is normal to have 500 – 1000 filed.  So lots of reading, analysis, committee meeting time, and discussions to determine where our Public Policy Agenda fits with the various agendas apparent from the bills as filed. 

FYI, each Member of the House is allowed to file six bills as main sponsor, and there is a deadline for filing, which is noon on the first day of regular session.  Members of the State Senate, on the other hand, can file many more bills but are still restricted to the filing deadline.  Some Members of the House and Senate file what are colloquially known as “shell bills”, which make a general statement about a particular topic, but do not contain the final language at filing deadline. This gives the Member more time to develop the topic and the language for the bill.  Another way to add or change language after a bill has been introduced and the deadline for filing is passed is to add amendments or have a committee file a substitute.

The Public Policy Position Paper that was developed by your Public Policy Committee as a result of the member survey conducted last May, and subsequently adopted by your Board of Directors in November, 2006 lists housing, forensic issues (importantly, diversion, as well as care for those already in jails and prisons), open access and Medicaid Reform as the top policy issues for the year. Several bills have been introduced related to housing and we are looking at those to determine if there is an opportunity to attach any amendments to address some of the issues in the NAMI Florida policy statement.  We are working with the Florida Supportive Housing Coalition and the Florida Partners in Crisis on housing issues.  These organizations also include members from other statewide health care organizations such as the Florida Council, the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association, and the Florida Association of Counties, among others.  There is an opportunity for some housing action this year, based on the interest in the legislature.  We hope to have more specific information soon; in the meantime, please encourage members of your legislative delegation (your elected officials) to support any bills that improve access to housing for those with a disability, who are also living on income well below the poverty levels as defined in our policy statement.

Senator Margolis has introduced SB 542, which proposes to establish a matching grant program for counties, to fund programs at the community level to address jail diversion and the provision of the necessary community services to significantly reduce the number of individuals with a mental illness who are in our jails and then prisons. This bill has undergone a major re-write and will not be as currently drafted when introduced at the committee level, which is scheduled for March 15.   The bill which will become the companion bill in the House is HB 1477, sponsored by Representative Loranne Ausley, our own Honorary Chair for the NAMI Florida Walk for the Minds of Florida.   NAMI Florida members should support these bills as they will begin to address the jail diversion issues as stated in our policy position paper.

We plan to support the Suicide Prevention Bill (SB 542) again this year, which has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Lynn.  We hope this third year of introduction will be the “charm” for this important yet simple request of the legislature.  The bill would create an Office of Suicide Prevention in the Office of Drug Control, and only requires an appropriation of $100,000.  Other bills of note include HB 509, sponsored by Representative Ausley, which calls for the creation of a Children’s Cabinet in the Office of the Governor.  This idea is supported by the Governor as he stated in his presentation to the Legislature on Opening Day, March 6, 2007.  The bill has a counterpart in the Senate, SB 564, sponsored by Senator Nan Rich.    NAMI Florida will support this bill as a means of addressing children’s mental health issues, which was one of our seven public policy priorities for 2007.  Senator Homan has also introduced a bill on parity, which we are reviewing.   Stay tuned for other legislation related to mental health issues.

NAMI Florida Walks for the Minds of Florida: (www.namifloridawalks.org)

The NAMI Florida Walk for the Minds of Florida is fast approaching, and members are strongly encouraged to participate.  This event is NAMI Florida’s single most public event to raise awareness, reduce stigma and discrimination, and make our public officials aware of the needs of those we represent and their families.  The size of our Walk will send a strong message to those who have some control over NAMI programs and services.

We are very pleased this year to have two Honorary Chairs and an Honorary Chair Emeritus.  Our Honorary Chairs are Representative Loranne Ausley, an attorney, a ranking Democrat, and a member of the Florida House since 2000.  Representative Curtis Richardson serves with her as Honorary Chair, and he too is a ranking Democrat, a member of the House since 2000, and a consultant, also very interested in children’s issues.  Honorary Chair Emeritus is Leon County Commissioner Cliff Thaell, long interested in mental health issues from a County perspective, and a supporter of expanding health care coverage to low income citizens.

The Walk also serves as NAMI Florida’s primary fund raiser for the year, providing funding so that important education, training, information, referral, member services such as annual education and scholarships, and legislative and regulatory advocacy can continue.  All Affiliates are encourage to identify a means of assisting in the funding of these programs and services by obtaining a sponsor or assembling a Walking Team.  Team members do not have to travel to Tallahassee to be on a Team and collect contributions.  And Affiliates will receive 50% of the funds collected, after expenses (which we anticipate will be around 15%, but no more than 20%).  So the Walk can be a lucrative fundraiser for each Affiliate.

We have a Walk Committee in Tallahassee that is working very hard to make this event a success. Co-chairs of the Committee are Carl Mahler, the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital Executive who manages the Behavioral Health division of the hospital, and Chris Gosen, Chief Operating Officer of The Apalachee Center.  There is also an active Affiliate Walk Committee that is chaired by Judi Evans, a member of NAMI Florida’s Board and its past President.  Also working hard on this event is staff member Chris Heil, who carries the title of Walk Manager at this time of the year.

NAMI Florida Grant Awards:
Congratulations to NAMI Jacksonville and NAMI Pinellas!  Both of these Affiliates received a grant from NAMI National from the latest round of grant awards.  Both submitted membership projects, and we wish them much success in their project implementation.

Provider Education Course begins in Duval County:
The expansion of the NAMI Provider Education Course to Medicaid Reform Counties has begun with the start of the 10-week program in Duval County on Monday, March 5.  The course has been hosted in a couple of other areas of the state, generally for a particular mental health agency staff.  The pilot program in Duval County brings people from different agencies and organizations together, and there is a lively mix of organizational representatives attending the classes in Jacksonville.    The course is taught by a five-person faculty, consisting of two family members, two consumers, and a mental health professional.  In Jacksonville, the team consists of Raul Soto, MD, Norma Basford, Cathy Moyer Larsen, Tonya Pauly, Ann Pridgen, and alternate Marion Moore. 

Legislative Advocacy Training Session:
NAMI Florida is hosting a session on advocacy the day before the Walk, which will be conducted by our legislative consultants and lobbyists, Mike Cusick and Wayne McDaniel – with perhaps some commentary by your in-house lobbyist, Sue Homant.  The training begins at
3 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at the Ramada Inn in Tallahassee, and materials will be supplied for legislative visits that will be a part of Walk week.  There is no charge for the training, but you must register and be a member of a NAMI organization to attend.  This assists staff in the planning and material preparation for the training.  Please use the registration materials that have already been distributed, or contact the office for the information.  If any members need assistance setting up a meeting with their elected officials or his or her staff, please feel free to call the office for help.  Members traveling to Tallahassee for the Walk should plan on visiting the members of their legislative delegation during that week – hopefully many will be able to do that with their Walk Shirts on!

Office update:
As many of you know, we are in the process of recruiting an Information, Referral, and Member Services Manager, with the departure of Kathy Folsom in January.  In the interim, board member Rose Marie Delaney is assisting staff with calls and other requests for help.  A couple of projects related to member services have been put on hold until the position is filled.

Education and Training:

A state training for Peer-to-Peer teaching teams is scheduled for April 20 – 22, 2007 in Orlando.  Interested Affiliates should contact Chris Heil for more information on sending a team to the training, which is offered at no cost to those attending.  Class size is limited, so submit your team names soon!

The NAMI Florida Leadership Retreat (open to members of the NAMI Florida Board of Directors and Affiliate Presidents or their delegates) is scheduled for August 17 – 19, 2007 at a retreat center near Orlando.  This year’s retreat will address and help develop the strategic direction of the organization for the next few years.  Affiliate Presidents should plan to attend or begin to identify a Board member who can attend on their behalf.

And. . . the Annual Conference, Board elections, and Annual Meeting are scheduled for November 16 – 18, 2007, in the greater Tampa area.  The call for speaker proposals and call for Exhibitors will be sent shortly after the Walk. 

Save these dates, and don’t forget that daylight savings time changes to “Spring ahead” on Sunday, March 11, 2007.  Enjoy Spring!