Legislative Social for Mental Health Services

The Behavioral/Mental Health System in the state of Connecticut is at a tipping point. The need for services is rising while agency budgets are being cut.

Citizens are asking for a comprehensive, effective safety net, yet Connecticut’s system of care, one that took years to build, is being eroded and is in danger of crumbling.

On Wednesday, March 6, 2013, NAMI Fairfield, the Southwest Regional Mental Health Board, NAMI Stamford/Greenwich, and NAMI Connecticut will be sponsoring their 4th Annual Legislative Social.

This event will provide a forum to discuss the serious issues that threaten to erode Connecticut’s mental health system. It will be held in Wakeman Hall, First Church Congregational, 148 Beach Road, Fairfield from 7:30-9 pm.

This year’s Social will focus on three areas: 

• Preserving and protecting the mental health safety net through more funding for community-based services
• Ensuring early intervention through stronger school-based mental health programs
• Guaranteeing access to services with adequate insurance coverage

The goal is to raise the awareness that talking about supporting a strong mental health system, and actually doing what needs to be done to support that system, are two very different things.

Legislators and chief elected officials from Bridgeport, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Monroe, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport, Wilton, as well as Newtown have been invited. NAMI Fairfield is one of two affiliates closest to the Newtown area. We need a large number of constituents to make an impact on legislators and elected officials.

NAMI Fairfield president and Sandy Hook resident Judy Gardner said, “It is important that supporters of this event contact their legislator, and selectman/mayor to stress the importance of their attendance. While they have been “officially” invited, when elected officials hear from their constituents they are much more likely to attend.”

There are two easy ways to contact your legislators.

• Go to the end of this article and scroll down to your legislator and click on the email link.
• If you don’t know who your legislator is go to www.cga.ct.gov/ and click on “House” or “Senate” and follow the path to “Find Your Legislator”.

Either way makes it easy to send an email or to connect to their website to find a legislator’s phone number. Selectmen and mayors are equally as easy to find by going to your town website.

Gardner continued, “When connected with them via email or phone, the message should be short and precise. It is enough to say “I am a constituent and I am hoping to see you at the NAMI Legislative Social on Wednesday, March 6. It is from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at First Church Congregational on Beach Road in Fairfield. These issues are important to me and I hope you can take the time to learn more about them.”

The most important part of this event will be turn-out. The hope is that Wakeman Hall will once again be filled with people who care about people living with mental illness, that legislators will see that their concerns are real and

serious, and that their voices will be heard and responded to. The past three Socials have each had over 100 concerned citizens in attendance.

The social is open to the public, is free of charge, and light refreshments will be

served. To RSVP or for more information please call Judy at 203-650-3463. 

NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Its goals are to support those living with mental illness and their loved ones, to provide educational programs to the community that foster understanding and healthy living, and to provide advocacy.

The Southwest Regional Mental Health Board is a grassroots citizen’s watchdog organization, with a focus on ensuring access to high quality mental health and

addiction services for all residents living in Southwestern Connecticut.

Senators:

Andres Ayala – 23^rd District, Bridgeport & Stratford – 800-842-1420 - andres.ayala@cga.ct.gov

Toni Boucher – 26^th District - Bethel, New Canaan, Redding, Ridgefield, Weston, Westport, Wilton – 800-842-1421 - toni.boucher@cga.ct.gov

Bob Duff – 25^th District – Norwalk & Darien – 800-842-1420 -  Bob.Duff@cga.ct.gov

Scott Frantz – 36^th District - Greenwich, New Canaan & Stamford – 800-842-1421 - scott.frantz@cga.ct.gov

Kevin Kelly – 21^st District - Monroe, Seymour, Shelton & Stratford – 800-842-1421 - Kevin.Kelly@cga.ct.gov

Carlo Leone – 27^th district – Stamford & Darien – 800-842-1420 - leone@senatedems.ct.gov

John McKinney – 28^th District - Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, Weston & Westport – 800-842-1421 - John.McKinney@cga.ct.gov

Anthony Musto – 22^nd District – Bridgeport, Monroe & Trumbull – 800-842-1420 - musto@senatedems.ct.gov

Representatives

Christina Ayala – 128^th District – Bridgeport – 800-842-8267 -  Christina.Ayala@cga.ct.gov

Terry Backer – 121^st District – Stratford – 800-842-8267 - Terry.Backer@cga.ct.gov

Mitch Bolinsky – 106^th District – Newtown – 800-842-1423  - mitch.bolinsky@housegop.ct.gov

Larry Cafero – 142^nd District – Norwalk & New Canaan – 800-842-1423  - larry.cafero@housegop.ct.gov

Fred Camillo – 151st District – Greenwich –800-842-1423 -  fred.camillo@housegop.ct.gov

Dan Carter – 2^nd District – Bethel, Danbury, Newtown & Redding - 800-842-1423 – dan.carter@housegop.ct.gov

Charles “Don” Clemons – 124^th District – Bridgeport – 800-842-8267 - Charles.D.Clemons@cga.ct.gov

Kim Fawcett – 133^rd District – Fairfield – 800-842-8267 - Kim.Fawcett@cga.ct.gov

Livvy Floren – 149^th District – Greenwich & Stamford – 800-842-1423 - livvy.floren@housegop.ct.gov

Daniel Fox – 148^th District – Stamford – 800-842-8267 – Dan.Fox@cga.ct.gov

Gerald Fox – 146^th District – Stamford – 800-842-8267 – Gerald.Fox@cga.ct.gov

Auden Grogins – 129^th District – Bridgeport – 800-842-8267 – Auden.Grogins@cga.ct.gov

Jack Hennessy – 127^th District – Bridgeport – 800-842-8267 – Jack.Hennessy@cga.ct.gov

Debra Lee Hovey – 112^th District – Monroe & Newtown – 800-842-1423 – debralee.hovey@housegop.ct.gov

Laura Hoydick – 120^th District – Stratford – 800-842-1423 – laura.hoydick@housegop.ct.gov

Tony Hwang – 134^th District – Fairfield & Trumbull – 800-842-1423 – tony.hwang@housegop.ct.gov

Brenda Kupchick – 132^nd District – Fairfield & Southport – 800-842-1423 – Brenda.kupchick@cga.ct.gov

Gail Lavielle – 143^rd District – Norwalk, Westport & Wilton – 800-842-1423 – gail.lavielle@housegop.ct.gov

Lawrence Miller – 122^nd District – Shelton, Stratford & Trumbull – 800-842-1423 – larry.miller@housegop.ct.gov

Patricia Billie Miller – 145^th District – Stamford – 800-842-8267 – Patricia.Miller@cga.ct.gov

Michael Molgano – 144^th District – Stamford – 800-842-1423 – Michael.molgano@housegop.ct.gov

Bruce Morris – 140^th District – Norwalk – 800-842-8267 – Bruce.Morris@cga.ct.gov

Tom O’Dea – 125^th District – New Canaan & Wilton – 800-842-1423 – tom.odea@housegop.ct.gov

Chris Perone – 137^th District – Norwalk – 800-842-8267 – Chris.Perone@cga.ct.gov

David Rutigliano – 123^rd District – Trumbull – 800-842-1423 – dave.rutigliano@housegop.ct.gov

Ezequiel Santiago – 130^th District – Bridgeport – 800-842-8267 – Ezequiel.Santiago@cga.ct.gov

John Shaban – 135^th District – Easton, Redding & Weston – 800-842-1423 – john.shaban@housegop.ct.gov

Charlie Stallworth – 126^th District – Bridgeport – 800-842-8267 – Charlie.Stallworth@cga.ct.gov

Jonathan Steinberg – 136^th District – Westport – 800-842-8267 – Jonathan.Steinberg@cga.ct.gov

Wiliam Tong – 147^th District – Stamford & Darien – 800-842-8267 – William.Tong@cga.ct.gov

Stephen Walko – 150^th District – Greenwich – 800-842-1423 – Stephen.walko@housegop.ct.gov

Terrie Wood – 141^st District – Darien & Norwalk – 800-842-1423 – terrie.wood@housegop.ct.gov