Celebrating Advocacy Achievements

The Minnesota legislative session has been in full swing! We’ve sent two groups to participate in Mental Health Day and Youth Days on the Hill, advocating for critical issues, along with multiple staff members testifying in support of different bills that impact Change Inc. programming. Thanks to all who have participated and engaged with advocacy efforts for Change Inc.

Jill Johnson and Hieu Lo

• GAP School student Hieu Lo and Executive Director, Jill Johnson, testified at the State Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention Committee on March 27th. They were supporting SF 2792 which will allow for contract alternative schools, like GAP School, to participate in the MN Housing School Challenge program (currently, only school districts and charter schools are eligible). Thank you to Khalique Rogers and Joe Nathan of Catalyst for Systems Change for getting this legislative change through the process. And thank you Hieu Lo for his testimony! 
  

• Senior Director of Clinical Services, Lisa Xiong, did a great job testifying at the State Capitol at the end of February to support SF 928. This bill is requesting funding allocation for school linked mental health services. Thank you Lisa!

  

  
  

• On Monday, April 7, Senior Director of Change Institute, Jody Nelson, joined the Mental Health Legislative Network — a coalition of more than 40 organizations — who held a press conference at the Minnesota State Capitol to draw attention to the state’s ongoing mental health crisis. Despite these dire circumstances, the Governor’s proposed budget and legislative targets from the House and Senate fall far short of addressing the crisis.

  
  

  

  Photo courtesy of NAMI Minnesota