Mental
Health
Allies
We are
not
alone.
Many
civic
groups
and
other
Illinois
organizations
have
taken
strong
stands
on
mental
health
questions.
One such
group is
the
Illinois
League
of Women
Voters.
Their
platform
on
mental
health
issues
is quite
clear:
Position
in
Brief:
The
League
supports
a
comprehensive
and
coordinated
system
of
treatment
and
rehabilitation
services
for
mentally
ill
adults
and
children.
There
should
be
adequate
funding,
planning,
program
standards,
and
personnel
training
requirements
for
both
state
facilities
and
community
programs.The
League
supports
a
broad
array
of
adequate
and
accessible
community
services.
Although
primary
responsibility
should
rest
with
the
state,
funding
from
local,
federal,
and
non-governmental
sources
should
be
encouraged.
A
system
of
local
boards
to
levy
taxes,
administer
all
funds,
and
to
plan
and
coordinate
services
should
be
required
throughout
the
state.
The
State
should
require
local
governments
to
provide
in
their
zoning
ordinances
for
residential
programs
for
mentally
ill
persons.
Can’t
say it
much
clearer
than
that.
The
expanded
version
of the
League’s
position
can be
found on
their
website
at
http://www.lwvil.org/WWS_SP5_MentalHealth.pdf
Another
ally is
the
Illinois
Education
Association,
the
state’s
largest
labor
organization
representing
teachers
and
support
staff.
Here’s
what the
IEA’s
most
recent
legislative
platform
says on
the
question
of
mental
health:
The
Association
supports
mental
health
benefits
equal
to
the
benefit
levels
of
other
medical
coverage.
The
Association
supports
improved
mental
health
services
and
funding
for
mental
health
services
for
Illinois’
students
and
for
Association
members
and
their
families.
The
Association
supports
legislation
requiring
self-funded
insurance
programs
to
comply
with
state
standards.
(This
last
point is
necessary
because
many
employers
are
self-insured,
which
means
that
they
exempt
from
most
state
insurance
regulations.)
Other
organizations
as well
have
platforms
or
resolutions
in
support
of
improving
our
broken
mental
health
systems.
If you
know of
one, or
if you
belong
to an
organization
that
supports
improvements
in this
area,
please
let us
know. We
can be
most
effective
if we
work
together.
Just
e-mail
the
details
to me at
bradyhugh@aol.com
Thanks!
