Open Letter from NAMI
[National Alliance on Mental Illness]

Kansas LWV Mental Health Study Committee,

I appreciate...the opportunity to connect the League of Women Voters with NAMI resources. I have copied Steve Feinstein on this message so that he can be on the look out for your message. You can reach him at shf@pixius.net.

This is a pivotal time for the League to be involved with a study of the mental health system. There are multiple issues clamoring for attention. A number of us are involved in the Governor’s Mental Health Services Planning Council and its various subcommittees, including the overarching Transformation Subcommittee. The Council has also appointed a Parity Task Force which Steve co-chairs and on which I serve and which was established at the Governor’s request to examine barriers to parity in coverage for mental health services in the private insurance market pursuant to a parity statute adopted several years ago. I am hopeful that having some positive recommendations from the League will serve as a catalyst in the overall debate about mental health services.

I have attached a copy of the NAMI report , "Mental Health: Grading the States: Report on Ameria's Health Care System for Seriou Mental Illness, 2006." In addition, the League should have copies of at least two other reports. One is “Achieving the Promise: Transforming Mental Health Care in America.” This is a report of the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health from 2003. The other is a subsequent SAMHSA report related to the implementation of the Commission’s recommendations. ...You may be aware that one of the members of the Commission is Dr. Jane Adams, Executive Director of Keys for Networking in Topeka. I would also recommend that you get Jane on board with your study. She can be reached at jadams@keys.org. If you’ve been to the NAMI website (www.nami.org) you will discover a wealth of other resources.

I look forward to hearing from you with the contact information about the other local Leagues so that we can help them make contact with NAMI resources at least in Topeka and Wichita. I hope that you will draw on the expertise of NAMI Douglas County for your local investigation and I will also be happy to assist the groups in Great Bend and Emporia in the absence of local affiliates there. ...

Rick Cagan, Executive Director
NAMI Kansas
rcagan@nami.org.
785-233-0755

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