Mental Health Advocacy Day Coalition to Release Legislative Agenda at State House

For Immediate Release:February 21, 2011 Contact:  Floyd Nease, Executive Director of VAMH                 (802) 223-6263 or                 Katina Cummings, Executive Director of NAMI-VT                 (802) 244-1396 MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY DAY COALITION TO RELEASE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AT THE STATEHOUSE    Montpelier/Waterbury, VT – The Vermont Mental Health Advocacy Coalition comprised of seventeen (17) mental health and disability rights organizations, will publicly release its Legislative Agenda for the 2011 Session on Thursday, February 24th at a press conference starting at 10:30 AM in the Cedar Creek Room.  This Coalition is led by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)-VT and the Vermont Association for Mental Health (VAMH). The newly formed Coalition, comprised of a diverse group of seventeen (17) mental health and disability rights organizations, will present its first ever shared Agenda on improving access and funding for essential mental health services for children, youth and adults in Vermont.  The seven-point Agenda addresses a range of issues, from integration of mental health, primary care and addictions services to strengthening the mental health and addictions workforces.  Coalition representatives will answer questions about its continuing work to implement the Agenda and the Governor’s proposed budget.