VRA is a member of the coalition of Virginians with mental Disabilities - please contact your legislators today -

ADVOCACY IS URGENTLY NEEDED NOW

The state budget outlook is very "scary", to quote one of the legislators after the House Appropriations Committee retreat in November. It is very important that advocates meet with their state delegate and senator prior to the end of the year. Plan to speak at the state budget hearings in January and attend the Coalition Rally in RIchmond on January 18.

The Annual Coalition for Virginians with Mental Disabilities Rally will be held at

10 a.m. on Monday, January 18 (Martin Luther King Holiday) at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

The November elections resulted in 20 new members of the Virginia House of Delegates (listed below) and a new administration in the Governor’s Office. This represents a great opportunity for advocacy to these individuals who may not be knowledgeable of the needs of people with mental disabilities. At this time of severe economic crisis, advocacy cannot wait. The time for crucial advocacy is NOW! Your advocacy, at this time, can help assure that the vital services individuals with disabilities need are not reduced. In addition, your advocacy can assure that, if any funding becomes available, services are seen as excellent investments and such investments should continue and be enhanced. The investments made in community services have produced excellent outcomes that have enabled tens of thousands of individuals to live, work and contribute in their communities, saving the Commonwealth millions of dollars in facility costs and improving the local tax base of the Commonwealth.

Please take this opportunity to keep your relationships with current members of the General Assembly strong and enhance your efforts with new members by scheduling appointments in November or December and educating them on the following points:

The cuts that the system for individuals with serious mental illness, substance use disorders and intellectual disability has sustained since 2000 has seriously diminished the ability of CSBs to serve as the public safety net for those services that help individuals thrive in a community setting. Private providers have diminished ability to serve those who are currently served and those who are waiting. Critical services include crisis intervention and stabilzation, jail diversion projects, supported housing, job training and employment support, case management, and local inpatient purchase of services.

With the proposed elimination of 100 new ID Waiver slots that were approved to begin in January, the waiting list will continue to grow - it is now over 5000 with 2000 of these individuals on the Urgent Care Wait List. Additional DD Waiver slots are also needed; no DD slots were provided last year and the wait list is growing

The closure of the Community Resource Pharmacy has put further strain on the system’s ability to ensure that individuals have access to the medications that, in combination with other supports, assist individuals in their recovery. CSBs will need the resources formerly in the pharmacy funds for medications as they work to ensure consumers will be served with appropriate medications.

Also, be sure to:

Be realistic and forthcoming about the major challenges faced in receiving services and stress unmet needs.

Tell your story and/or include one or two brief and compelling stories of consumer success and need.

You can find out your district, state senator and delegate at http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform

Please note that this website still lists the current delegates, so you must use the names from the list below to make your contacts with the newly elected delegates, who will be sworn in on January 13. The senators remain the same as last year except for Senator Cuccinelli who is the new Attorney General - the election for his replacement has not yet been set.

NEWLY ELECTED DELEGATES:

District 3 James "Will" Morefield (R) 276-345-4300

District 17 William H. "Bill" Cleaveland (R) 540-591-5959

District 20 Richard "Dickie" Bell (R) 540-448-4763

District 21 Ronald A. Villanueva (R) 757-216-3885

District 23 T.Scott Garrett (R) 434-455-0243

District 32 Thomas "Tag" Greason (R) 703-203-3203

District 34 Barbara J. Comstock (R) 703-388-2420

District 35 Mark Keam (D) 703-350-7377

District 38 L. Kaye Kory (D) 703-354-6024

District 44 Scott A. Surovell (D) 703-341-6149

District 47 Patrick A. Hope (D) 703-486-0120

District 51 Richard L. Anderson (R) 571-264-9983

District 52 Luke Torian (D) 703-785-2224

District 55 John A. Cox (R) 804-365-9000

District 60 James E. Edmunds (R) 434-575-5135

District 67 James M. LeMunyon (R) 703-264-1432

District 69 Betsy B. Carr (D) 804-767-7530

District 80 Matthew James (D) 757-826-3327

District 83 Christopher Stolle (R) 757-651-5035

District 93 Robin Abbott (D) 757-256-7722

In addition, contact the current Governor, whose budget will be submitted on December 18, and the newly elected Governor, who will probably be submitting some budget amendments as soon as he is sworn in. You may also contact the Lt. Governor, who was reelected. Speaking to one of their aides is good, because the message will still get through. You may also send a letter or email.

GOVERNOR: Timothy M. Kaine (D)

804-786-2211 www.governor.virginia.gov/

P.O. Box 1475, Richmond, VA 23218

GOVERNOR-ELECT: Robert F. "Bob" McDonnell (R)

804-612-9111 campaign@bobmcdonnell.com

2819 North Parham Road, Suite 210, Richmond, VA 23286

LT. GOVERNOR: William T. "Bill" Bolling (R)

804-612-9122 or 804-786-2078 matt.wells@billbolling.com

P.O.Box 1195, Richmond, VA 23218

STATE BUDGET HEARINGS

The state budget hearings will be held as follows.

(Please note that the Rally is not on the day of the budget hearing in Richmond.)

http://sfc.state.va.us/

House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees Regional Public Hearings on the Governor’s Proposed 2010-12 Biennial State Budget

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Hearings begin at 12:00 noon

Portsmouth – Tidewater Community College, New Portsmouth Campus, “The Forum”, Building A

Harrisonburg -- James Madison University, Grafton-Stovall Theatre

Blacksburg – Virginia Tech, Graduate Life Center (formerly the Donaldson-Brown Center)

Friday, January 8, 2010

Hearing begins at 10:00 a.m.

Fairfax County – Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale Campus (Ernst Center Theater)

Monday, January 11, 2010

Hearing begins at 12:00 noon

Richmond – General Assembly Building - House Room D

The purpose of the hearings is to receive comments on the Governor's proposed 2010-12 State Budget. Those persons wishing to speak may register at each hearing site no earlier than one hour prior to the start of the hearing. Speakers will be taken in the order of registration. Each person may register only one speaker at a time. Speakers are asked to limit their comments to three minutes or less. Speakers representing groups and organizations should consolidate remarks to reduce duplication. Persons unable to attend may comment in writing to either:

Delegate Lacey E. Putney, PO Box 406, General Assembly Building, Richmond, VA 23218

Senator Charles J. Colgan, 10th Floor, General Assembly Building, Richmond, VA 23219

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact committee staff at (804) 698-1590 (House) or (804) 698-7480 (Senate).

Accommodations for individuals with physical disabilities or hearing impairment may be made by calling (804) 698-7480 beginning December 10, 2009. All requests for individuals with physical disabilities must be received by 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 30, 2009.

Click here for a copy of the Governor Kaine's FY2010 Reduction Plan.

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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
- Margaret Mead

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