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Contacting Your State LegislatorsAdvocating for Improved Mental Health Services in IllinoisIt is very important for NAMI members to contact their representatives in the Illinois General Assembly regarding the deplorable condition of mental health services in Illinois. Unless legislators have personal or family experience with mental illness, they probably don’t know much about it. Most legislators won’t know much about NAMI either. Most won’t have heard that NAMI ranked the states in the quality of mental health care they provide or that Illinois was one of only nine states that got an F in the NAMI state-by-state comparison. It’s our job to educate ‘em. They need to hear from us! And, believe it or not, most legislators want to hear from their constituents. They know they get reelected by pleasing us! A thoughtful letter or e-mail can provide them with information they won’t otherwise get, and may provide them with the impetus to do the right thing. If you want to write a letter or e-mail to your Illinois State Senator and Representative, here’s how. 1. If you know who your State Representative and State Senator are and would like some writing tips, click here. 2. State Representatives and Senators are elected from legislative districts. Your legislative district numbers can be found on the back of your voter registration card.
If you aren’t yet registered to vote and would like to learn how, click here
If you know or have found your legislative district numbers, but don’t know who your state Senator and state Representative are, click here.
3. If you don’t know which legislative districts you live in, and would like to find out who your state Senator and Representative are, click here.
4. If you want to contact your US Senator and Representative, click here.
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