Advocacy
Massive Cuts Loom for Federal Mental Health and Housing Programs
Action Needed!
Contact your U.S. House member today and voice your opposition to proposed FY 2011 cuts to mental health services, research, special education and supportive housing for children and adults living with mental illness.
HR 1 Continuing Resolution Federal Budget Cuts for FY 2011
Mental Health Services
- The House bill slashes $200 million from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a 5.5 percent cut below the agency's FY 2008 funding level.
Research
- Cuts $86 million (7 percent) from research on mental illness at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), reducing funding to $1.404 billion.
Special Education
- A $557 million reduction to special education funding.
Housing
- Reduces HUD Section 811 program by 70 percent--from $300 million in FY 2010 to $90.36 million.
All House offices can be reached by calling 202-224-3121 (not a toll free call), or send a message to your U.S. House member.
At a time when states are already imposing deep cuts to mental health services (over $2.2 billion over the past two years), proposed cuts in the federal FY 2011 continuing resolution further erode needed services and supports for individuals who live with serious mental illness.
Quad City Stigma-Busters
NAMI's improvisational theater group
offers community performances to raise awareness of disabilities and
mental health issues to break down barriers of ignorance and
prejudice.
Founded in 2000, the purpose of this theater group is to
educate people about disabilities - what they are -- and what they
are not.
The group consists of members
of the community with and without disabilities. By sharing
experiences through education and entertainment, we hope to reduce
the stigma associated with disabilities. The group is open to
anyone interested in Stomping Stigma!
For more information on how to
bring Sigma-Busters to an event in your community, contact Connie
Williams at
cwilliams@verafrenchpineknoll.com.