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LEGISLATIVE ALERT for February 2007
Now is the time that the Governor is preparing his budget to present to the General Assembly. NAMI Barrington Area and the Mental Health Forum, an umbrella organization of mental health advocacy groups, including NAMI, are urging all their members to contact Governor Blagojevich and their state Senators and Representatives to urge increased funding for mental health services, and especially assisted housing, in Illinois. A sample letter might go something like this: (Be sure to include your return address.) Hon. Rod Blagojevich Governor of Illinois State House Springfield, IL 62706
Dear Governor Blagojevich (or Senator or Representative _____________)
I am writing to ask that you include additional funds in next year’s Illinois Budget for mental health services including supportive housing for those suffering from mental illness. As you may know, the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) recently did a state-by-state comparison of the mental health services provided by each state. Illinois was only one of nine states to receive a grade of “F.” Our per capita state spending on mental health services was well below that of surrounding mid-western states. And in fact, Illinois has more mental patients in its prisons than in all its mental health hospitals, public and private combined. We must do better. Those with mental illness do not generally belong in prison; and with the right sort of support most can lead productive lives in the community. Not only is this the humane thing to do, it is generally cheaper than prison. So as you draw up next year’s spending plane, I hope you will include significant extra amounts for mental health services.
Sincerely, (Note – please feel free to illustrate these points with personal examples and details if you can.)
If you prefer to e-mail the Governor, you can do this through his website http://www.illinois.gov/gov/contactthegovernor.cfm
If you are unsure of who your state Representative and Senator are, Illinois NAMI has a legislator locating service available through their website: http://www.elections.state.il.us/DistrictLocator/SelectSearchType.aspx?NavLink=1
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