You can make a difference!
Recently, legislation has been introduced in several states that
suggests that AD/HD is not real. Some proposed laws would restrict
open communication between families and schools about concerns
related to mental health. Others threaten to interfere with identifying
children with mental disorders and linking them with
services. Groups with a history of attacking mental health
care often promote such legislation.
Your voice is needed to help protect the rights of all individuals
with mental health treatment needs. You are the person legislators most
want to hear from, because you can describe to them how a policy or law
actually affects people with AD/HD and related disorders.
A national coalition of parents, educators, mental
health professionals, and physicians developed the State
Advocacy Toolkit to help educate state lawmakers about mental
health in America. CHADD, as a member organization, is pleased to
share this toolkit for you to download and share with others in
your state and local community.
State Advocacy Toolkit
Download complete State Advocacy Toolkit (PDF 191KB)
Download Toolkit by section:
Introductory Letter from Coalition
Partners (PDF)
Tips on Effective State Legislative Advocacy
(PDF)
Sample Anti-Mental Health and Anti-Psychiatry State
Legislation (PDF)
Letters to Legislators and Governors
Utah HB202 Letter (PDF)
Florida SB2286 Letter (PDF)
New Hampshire HB164 Letter (PDF)
Sample Opinion Letters and Letters to the
Editors
Utah HB202 Op-Ed on Teacher-Parent
Communication (PDF)
Utah HB299 Op-Ed - Look to Science, Not Science
Fiction (PDF)
Sample Op-Ed (PDF)
Fact Sheets
Helpful Ways for School Professionals and Families to
Talk about Mental Health Related Concerns (PDF)
Improving the Mental Health and Well-Being of America's
Children (PDF)
Schools and Families United for the Mental Health and
Well-Being of Children (PDF)
Addendum:
Sample Anti-Mental Health and Anti-Psychiatry
Legislation
Arizona SB1248
Florida SB2286
New Hampshire HB164
New York A3795
Utah HB202
Utah HB299
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