Follow UsAdvocacy
Advocacy: The act of speaking, acting, or writing in support of a cause or idea in order to defend the rights, needs, and interests of a person or group of people who are disadvantaged by society.
Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers' Association provides and participates in individual and systems advocacy for people in Pennsylvania who have, or are recovering from, mental illness.
Eliminate Human Services Block Grant
Representative DiGiloramo’s House Bill 806 would eliminate the Human Services Block Grant that was created last year. It also gives counties more flexibility in how they use money, without taking it away from one human service to put it into another. It defines "surplus human services funds" and provides guidelines for how and when they can be used.
House Bill 806 will come up for a vote in June. Now is the time to let your Pennsylvania Representative know that this bill would prevent money from being taken away from community mental health services to pay for other types of human services. PMHCA supports this bill.
TV Smart Talk: Guns and the Mentally Ill
On January 17, 2013 Lynn Keltz addressed stigma against people with mental illness on WITF TV Smart Talk, Guns and the Mentally Illl.
Behavioral Health Navigator Initiative
Do you need help in accessing or navigating the behavioral health service and support system for services related to mental health and substance abuse issues? Learn about the Behavioral Health Navigator Initiative...
Block Grant and Budget News
It is important that people who use community mental health services know what their counties' plans contain. Providing feedback to County Commissioners, to local advocacy organizations, advisory committees and to providers of services will be helpful as these plans are implemented. Read more ...
Representative DiGirolamo works to reinstate $84 million in funding cuts
Update: Representative DiGirolamo (R) Bucks County, chair of the House Human Services Committee has introduced HB 315, a supplemental appropriation bill that restores $84 million in Human Services funding that was cut as part of the fiscal year 2012-2013 state budget. If it passes, the cuts would be restored now! Read more...
Representative Gene DiGirolamo (Bucks County, Republican Chair of PA House Health and Human Services Committee) issued a press release on January 3, 2013 that sets the stage for his efforts to reinstate $84 million in funding cuts within the new Human Services Block Grant funding. He will also introduce legislation to repeal the Human Services Block Grant Pilot Program. PMHCA and other advocacy groups opposed that program's creation. As Representative DiGirolamo says: Properly funded treatment for mental illness and addiction is not a luxury.
Budget Cuts: 2012-2013
Tell Your Story, January 2013
Governor Signs FY 2012-2013 Budget, June 30, 2012
Update: June 27, 2012 Continue to General Assistance Eliminated
Update: June 22, 2012 Continue to Protest the Human Services Grant and Cuts to Community Mental Health
Update: June 11, 2012 Call Gov. Corbett today support full restoration of funding for behavioral health and intellectual disability services ...
Update: June 4, 2012 Save Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Funding. Learn how....
Update: May 31, 2012 Support Representative DiGirolamo's Amendment to Budget Bill. Learn how....
Update: May 15, 2012. Find your legislators and their contact information on the Pennsylvania General Assembly Web site and tell them to OPPOSE the block grant, STOP the cuts and RESTORE funding. Stop the Cuts!
Update: May 1, 2012. Rally. Participate in one of the many rallys during May and June - and don't forget to contact your legislators and tell them to OPPOSE the block grant, STOP the cuts and RESTORE funding..
Update: April 11, 2012. Send a postcard. Use a pre-printed postcard to send the message to your local legislator and to the Chairs of the Pennsylvania House and Senate Finance Committees.
Update: March 28, 2012. PMHCA Joins Lawsuit to Stop Budget Cuts. Contact your legislators and tell them to OPPOSE the block grant, STOP the cuts and RESTORE funding.
Update: March 14, 2012. How your life WILL change. Contact your legislators and tell them to OPPOSE the block grant, STOP the cuts and RESTORE funding.
Update: March 7, 2012. Contact your legislators to STOP the block grant and restore funding. (suggested letter and talking points included)
Update: February 22, 2012. Contact your commissioners to Restore Funding. (suggested letter and talking points included)
Update: February 7, 2012. Proposed State Budget and Community Mental Health Services.
Budget Cuts: 2011
Update: August 10, 2011. Read about the latest advocacy efforts to maintain behavioral health budget, Medical Assistance funding, and express concerns about Welfare Code changes.
Loss of Medicaid Eligibility
It was recently reported by DPW that at least 100,000 Medicaid "cases" were closed when redeterminations of eligibility were sent to people who were given 10 days in which to respond. We need your help to determine how to advocate to resolve this issue.
Update: Determination letter sent to DPW Secretary Gary Alexander and OMHSAS Deputy Secretary Blaine Smith. Read more...
If you have questions or need further assistance, view the Medical Assistance contact document to contact the appropriate agency directly.
Membership in PMHCA
One of the benefits of membership in the Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers' Association is being included on the membership email list. All members receive emails with timely information on policy and legislative issues and action alerts, notice of trainings, conferences and Mental Health recovery employment opportunities throughout the state. Become a member today.