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Speak Out! - A Guide to Advocacy Regarding Mental Health Policy

Speak Out! is a handbook about advocacy for changes in the mental health system, focusing on systems that affect persons in Westchester County and New York City, New York. Michael B. Friedman, LMSW, our public policy consultant, prepared Speak Out! Reproduction of this manual, in whole or in part, requires the permission of the author. He can be reached at mbfriedman@aol.com.

Speak Out! consists of six chapters and additional resources which you may access from the listing below. To assist you in your advocacy work, we also encourage you to:

• Visit other internet sites we have found useful

Speak Out! Chapters

• Chapter 1 What is Mental Health Advocacy?
• Chapter 2 Advocacy Groups
• Chapter 3 Creating An Agenda: Setting Goals
• Chapter 4 Strategy: Which Powers-That-Be To Influence and How
• Chapter 5 Tactics: Methods to Bring About Change
• Chapter 6 Persistence: The Key to Effective Advocacy

Speak Out! Resources

• Selected State and Local Advocacy Groups
• Federal Mental Health Advocacy Groups
• Advocacy & Advisory Groups You Can Join or Seek Appointment To
• The Structure and Functions of Government in the USA
• Mental Health Policy Making in the United States
• Key Federal Elected Officials
• Key Elected Officials in New York State
• Key Elected Officials in New York City
• Key Elected Officials in Westchester
• Key Federal Administrative Officials
• Key Mental Health Officials
• Sample Advocacy Agenda
• Sample Letter to an Elected Official
• Sample Handout for Meeting with an Elected or Appointed Official
• Sample Hearing Testimony
• Sample Letter to the Editor
• Sample Op-Ed Article

Copyright © Michael B. Friedman. All Rights Reserved. Use of this manual in whole or in part for other than personal purposes requires permission of the author who can be reached at mbfriedman@aol.com.

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