For all those interested in the PHONE BLITZ CAMPAIGN on Wednesday, May 9, 2012;

A Call to Action:

On Wednesday, May 9, 2012 we will call our legislators and let them know that we strongly oppose Governor Corbett’s proposed budget cuts for human services and specifically mental health. 

Mental illness affects 1 in 4 Americans. This is a health crisis we cannot afford to ignore. 

Help us send a clear message that mental health promotes physical health!!! 

For more information please contact: Kimberly Kaelin at 484-868-7997 or kimby@me.com 

Find your legislator at www.legis.state.pa.us      

Governor Tom Corbett: 717-787-2500   

Talking Points for Phone Blitz: May 9, 2012

Opposing the Proposed 20% Budget Cut on Human Services

5.2 million: estimated cut for Chester County

  This is an infringement on Human Rights, and particularly on mental health, as mandated and promised by the Olmstead Act of 1999

• In Olmstead v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581, 119 S.Ct. 2176 (1999) ("the Olmstead decision"), the Supreme Court construed Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to require states to place qualified individuals with mental disabilities in community settings, rather than in institutions. The Department of Justice regulations implementing Title II of the ADA require public entities to administer their services, programs, and activities in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals with disabilities.

• The cost of emergency care far exceeds that of preventative care. Therefore, placing an unnecessary burden on taxpayers

• The majority of mentally ill individuals end up in prison or jail or emergency rooms

• 70% of youth in juvenile justice systems 

*Find your legislator here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/

*I am available all day Wednesday for help in obtaining numbers:

  Kimberly Kaelin: 484-868-7997 

Welcome to Capitol Day

Welcome to Capitol Day on June 5! The Pennsylvania Community Providers Association The Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania The Mental Health Association of Westmoreland County NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania The Pennsylvania Association of Rehabilitation Facilities Join concerned associations and advocacy groups in a joint effort to come together on June 5 and fight for a budget that is realistic and offers the support required by Pennsylvanians receiving behavioral health, intellectual disability, and autism services. The proposed state budget, with massive cuts and a major public policy shift to a block grant funding model, promises to devastate the current system and poses significant risks to recipients of community services! If services are to remain accessible and effective, funding must be preserved and Pennsylvania's safety net must be protected. To avoid the devastation of Pennsylvania's community services, it is crucially important that everyone take action! Please join us June 5 to let elected officials know these services are essential and need to be supported. Capitol Day Schedule – Southeastern Region ·           8:30 am –   ……………  Buses will be leaving for State Capitol ·         12:00 pm – 1:00 pm….  Press Conference/Rally with Legislators – Main Capitol Steps ·           1:00 pm – 2:00 pm….  Legislative visits (to be scheduled). ·         **BUSES WILL BE LEAVING AT 2:30 PM SHARP FOR THE RETURN TRIP BACK** SOUTHEASTEN REGION To RSVP for the June 5th Rally, contact Denise Sherman at dsherman@mhasp.org. NOTE:  We must have the name of each individual riding the bus.

ACLU Takes Voter ID Law To Court

The future of Pennsylvania’s recently passed voter ID law may be decided in Commonwealth Court.

A lawsuit filed Tuesday by the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania and the NAACP claims the the law, which requires voters to show state issued photo identification at the polls, is unconstitutional. The groups are asking the court to block enforcement of the law before the November election.

“We truly believe that if this law is allowed to go into effect that there are thousands of people who will be disenfranchised,” said Vic Walczak, Legal Director of ACLU-PA.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures [PDF], voter ID laws have been challenged and upheld in Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio.

But similar measures in Wisconsin and Missouri were struck down by state courts. Walczak said his group will focus on those precedents, which hinged on the rights of voters who had previously voted but saw their access to the ballot impeded by new ID requirements.

“The courts have said, ‘No, you can’t justify disenfranchising longtime voters based on a fear of a non-problem,’ which is essentially what in-person voter ID is,” Walczak said.

The Secretary of Pennsylvania’s Department of State has said the law will prevent voter impersonation fraud at polling places, but has been unable to produce evidence that such fraud has been a widespread problem.

http://www.essentialpublicradio.org/story/2012-05-01/aclu-takes-voter-id-law-court-10981
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

News Local by Mary Wilson & Essential Public Radio Staff May 1, 2012

Join the Post Card Campaign: Stop the Cuts!!



Back in March we provided you with information regarding the massive cuts to behavioral health services being proposed by the Governor's budget. Please join with us in letting your legislators know that you want them to:

• STOP the 20% funding cut to community mental health services (most non Medical Assistance funded MH services to older adults comes out of this funding source)
• STOP the block grant that puts community mental health dollars in jeopardy of being spent on other services
• STOP the elimination of General Assistance cash benefits and cuts to General Assistance Medicaid health care benefits. 
  

We are coordinating a legislative post card campaign and would like to partner with you in sending post cards to members of the House and Senate. The post cards carry the message in the three bullets above. We are asking individuals to send a post card to your local Representative and Senator as well as the majority chairs of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. 

Let us know if you would like to request a number of post cards to share with others. We will need to know how many post cards you are requesting, and the mailing address to which they should be sent. Help us flood our Legislature with bright yellow post cards demanding adequate funding for mental health services! Now is the time to act!!

Email rebecca@olderpa.org with questions or to let us know how many post cards you are requesting, as well as the address to which they should be sent.

Here is a quick update on our collective efforts around the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)

We are making tremendous strides in the Philadelphia RESPONDS CIT trainings. Here is the break down of our accomplishments. We have 1404 Philadelphia Police Officers trained in Crisis Intervention. We have 15 SEPTA, 21 Temple and 5 University of PA officers trained and we have 19 Philadelphia Prison System staff trained. Everyone deserves a hand clap for what we managed to accomplish so far. A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who continues to be part of such an important initiative. Your work do not go unnoticed.