Could you take a few moments today and send a brief (2-3 line) email or make some calls to our Ohio State Senators, urging them to NOT make further cuts to behavioral health budgets.

 

ODMH and ODADAS have had cuts that are devastating our systems. Several boards can only provide services to Medicaid consumers-their limited funds have to provide the 40% Medicaid match. Many of Ohio’s children are not able to access services. In such difficult economic times, needs for services dramatically rise.  Mental health has been streamlining services and have no other places to cut budgets- only to cut consumers from much needed, life supporting services.

 

Please find time to make this known to legislators. At least, please call your State Senator and Senate President Bill Harris and Senator John Carey (Senate Finance Chair).  PLEASE RALLY so further cuts will not be made to ODMH and ODADAS budgets.

 

Thank you for your commitment to Ohio’s children and families.

We salute the wonderful advocacy from our state partners on the state budget.  But one thing we have noticed that was missing was any mention of the percentage cuts for children's mental health.  The figures are striking.  For the systems of care line item (505) the cut is a staggering 83.45% from the Executive Budget and an even more staggering 95% from the Senate and House Budgets. The 404 cuts were 20.9% from the Executive Budget and 30.2% from the State and House Budget.

 When you total the 404 and 505 cuts they look as follows:      

Executive Budget to Conf Comm total kids cuts = 69.5%

State and House to Conf Comm total kids cuts = 89.2%

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DON’T STOP NOW.  LET THE FREEDOM TO RECOVER, RING!!

Advocates of mental health and alcohol and other drug services must continue to press home the point that Ohio citizens need the benefits of the behavioral health system fully funded at the House of Representatives level.  To make that point, we are urging all advocates to Rally for Recovery at your 4^th of July Parade!

On the 4^th of July we celebrate our rights and freedoms as citizens of the greatest country on earth.  This 4^th of July, we ask you to bring your signs, your voices, and yourselves out to your community’s parade to LET THE FREEDOM TO RECOVER, RING ACROSS OHIO!!

Here is what we want you to do:

1.     Organize a group of recovery advocates to make signs to hold during the parade.  Signs should say:

2.      Attend the parade and meet at a designated time and location.

3.      Let people know you’re there!  Be loud and make sure any public officials, especially legislators, see your signs and hear your chants.

4.      Have one of your group take video (AVI files or QuickTime for Macs) and/or photos (jpegs).  Not a lot; just a couple minutes or 5-6 photos will do. 

5.      Get video of a couple people explaining why Ohio should fund Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Services and what will happen if the services are cut.  Short “sound bite” comments are best.

6.       Email the pictures and video to: OFFCMH1@FUSE.NET

7.       NOTE:  When possible, include people’s names and hometowns in the email.

8.        SPECIAL NOTE:  We need the video and photos NO LATER THAN MONDAY, JULY 6^th.

 A compilation video and photo array will be uploaded to YouTube and posted to Coalition for Healthy Communities members’ websites.  The media and members of the Ohio General Assembly and the Governor’s Office will be directed to look at the new footage, pictures, and quotes.  We have to keep our issue in their minds!

This will work if we all work it together!! 

Your friends at the Ohio Federation for Children’s Mental Health

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