If you have
pertinent comments, email them to
acmhrobin@aol.com.
Date: 11/22/02 8:43AM
Subject: Re: Mental Health Commission
Dear Friends:
I
am in Washington at the Federation of Families Annual
Conference. Yesterday, I had the
opportunity to engage in conversation with Jane
Adams who sits on the
President's Mental Health Commission and to hear her
speak on the goals of this
commission.
President Bush wants recommendations from this group on what is
wrong with
our country's mental health system and what we think can be done
to fix it,
(plain and simple and in a nut shell). Why am I sharing this
with you?
Well, they have only received public comment from 600 people
from across
the country!!
In my moment of shock at this low number, I raised my hand and
challenged the
other 49 states that ACMH would generate an additional
500 public comments
from our state and that we challenge the other 49 to
meet or beat this goal.
Time is running out and I need your help.
What do you think President Bush should know about the mental
health system
in this country? Do you have a
personal story you would like him to
hear? If so, please e-mail me your
thoughts and we will send them to the
commission. If you had a magic wand--what would you
change?
I
really did it this time. 500 public comments aren't really a lot
when you
consider that Michigan alone has
around 250,000 kids with mental health
issues--but compiling the comments and getting them to the
commission is
going to take some work and organization! We will do
this, but we need your
help in getting the stories and
comments. Give anyone and everyone the
chance to give the President their
input. All we ask
is that it be 350 words or less and that the author
include their
name and county. If they want to be
nameless, that is fine just put
John Doe, but we ask that the county
be included if possible or at least the
state.
Every time we receive 50 comments--we are sending the
commission, other 49
states, and the Federation of
Families a status report on where we are at in
obtaining this goal.
This is very important, Friends--the last time we had a mental
health commission is when President
Carter was in office. Let us not wait
another 20 years to get this
system working. Please send public comments to
my e-mail address and if you
need information on The President's New
Freedom Commission on Mental
Health, e-mail me or contact the state office at
1-800-782-0883. Thanks so much for your help and
efforts in helping ACMH to
foster policy change in this country.
Sincerely,
Robin Laurain, State Parent Council Coordinator, ACMH
