Monday, February 23, 2004

Officials: Mental health budget not place for state to make cuts (Georgia)
Gwinnett Daily Post story - "Treating the mentally ill may be expensive, but it could cost more in the future if treatment is cut now, advocates said Thursday. The Gwinnett affiliate of the National Association for the Mentally Ill hosted a dinner for legislators in Snellville Thursday but not a single lawmaker made it. Instead, the clients, volunteers and family members educated themselves on how to lobby to stop proposed state budget cuts..."  
  

Mental Health Advocates Descend on Richmond (Virginia)
February 18 story at The Connection on "a group of about 80 advocates who gathered in Richmond on Monday to urge lawmakers to better fund mental health and mental retardation services in Virginia. They gathered outside the General Assembly building and unfurled a paper chain for dramatic effect. Each of the chain’s 3,800 links was signed by an ARC supporter, many of whom need the kind of services the group is advocating for. The chain was then broken up into 22 segments which volunteers gave to lawmakers."