Families on the move

Families Together in New York State Organizes Annual Legislative Awareness Day in Albany

(Albany, NY) - Over 500 advocates, family members, and youth from across New York State will gather to share ideas and stories and forge relationships with policymakers about issues impacting children with social, emotional, behavioral challenges and other mental health needs at the Families Together in New York State Legislative Awareness Day. The event will be held on Tuesday, February 8, 2011, from 12:00 noon to 2:30pm, at the Convention Center in the Empire State Plaza in Albany. Many family members have made plans to meet with Assemblymembers or Senators. The luncheon will include guest speakers and an awards ceremony, as well as the opportunity for advocates from across the state to meet and network.

The Legislative Awareness Day is free and open to families, advocates, and other concerned individuals and groups, and will focus on the Families Together in New York State's 2011 Policy Agenda, which calls for:

Supporting cross-systems, preventive community services including peer-run family support, funded through reinvestment of a third of the savings from downsizing of expensive residential placements.
Juvenile Justice Reform that diverts youth into local cross-systems community programs. Youth who remain in juvenile justice facilities must be kept safe and must have appropriate services including mental health services and access to advocates to inform them of their rights.
Implementation of Health Care Reform in New York to improve access to health care for all and a wide range of mental health services as part of the benefit package.
The improvement of educational opportunities for youth by reducing the use of restraints in educational facilities, reinstating a quality local diploma, and ensuring access to educational advocates for parents and youth for those who require special education services.

Space is limited. Register online for this free event by February 4, 2011, at http://ftnys.org/news.cfm, or by contacting Chris Navojosky at 518.432.0333 x 10 or cnavojosky@ftnys.org.