State Budget ToolkitShel Gross

Director of Public PolicyMental Health America of Wisconsin

Ellyn JaegerDirector, Public Policy and AdvocacyMental Health America of Georgia

The day of reckoning has arrived. That's it. And it's gonna arrive

everywhere.

--New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie; speaking to CBS about state budgets on Dec. 19, 2010.

You can’t bend the cost curve without addressing chronic health conditions. And you can’t address chronic health

conditions without addressing behavioral health disorders.

--Dr. Carolyn Clancy, Director, AHRQ at WI Women’s Health Foundation Dialogue; Sept. 2010

Toolkit Overview

I. Overview of the state budget process.

II. Budget areas important to mental health.

III. Advocacy strategies.

I. The Budget Timeline• Learning about the process in your state.

• Budget politics.

• Mental health caucuses.

• Common steps in the budget process.

I. The Budget Timeline

II. Budget Areas• Medicaid• Corrections• Mental Health• Vocational Rehab• Housing• Education

When I hear different messages, I hear nothing.

--A Wisconsin legislator talking about getting conflicting messages on mental health policy

from mental health advocacy groups.

III. Advocacy Strategies• Coalition Building

– Planning and Advisory Councils

– Mental Health Coalitions

– Cross disability coalitions.

Documenting the Problem• Sample documents– Policy analysis– Persuasive communication

• Data sources– Government data sources– Mental health block grant– Other

Getting Heard• Legislative contacts

• Rallies

• Legislative breakfasts

• Advocacy training

For More InformationShel Gross

shelgross@tds.netEllyn Jeager

ellyn@mhageorgia.orgState Budget Advocacy Toolkit

http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/state-budget-advocacy