Inseparable Action Inc

INSEPARABLE ACTION IS A MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON WINNING MAJOR FEDERAL AND STATE REFORMS THAT WILL SAVE LIVES AND IMPROVE CARE FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS.

LAUNCHED IN MAY 2021, THE HOPEFUL FUTURES CAMPAIGN (HFC) IS A BOLD NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO BRING COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO EVERY SCHOOL IN AMERICA. CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO RECEIVE NEEDED MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN THEIR SCHOOL THAN IN ANY OTHER SETTING, AND AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR OF DISRUPTED LEARNING PATTERNS, SOCIAL ISOLATION, AND VIRTUAL LEARNING THE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS' MENTAL HEALTH IS MORE URGENT THAN EVER. IN ADDITION TO MAPPING OUT THE STATE BY STATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR 2022, THE CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN ABLE TO RAISE THE URGENCY WITH MULTIPLE FEDERAL STAKEHOLDERS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF AND TANGIBLE NEXT STEPS FOR FUNDING AND POLICY TO SUPPORT SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH PRIORITIES INCLUDING THE WHITE HOUSE DOMESTIC POLICY COUNCIL AND CONGRESSIONAL STAFFERS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE. HFC FOCUSED ON THE PASSAGE OF THE THREE FEDERAL BILLS BELOW RELATED TO SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH. WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR LOBBYISTS, WE WORKED WITH SENATE REPUBLICAN OFFICES TO FIND CO-SPONSORS FOR THESE BILLS. THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR STUDENTS ACT (H.R.721) WOULD PROVIDE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO BUILD SCHOOL-BASED COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS. THE PURSUING EQUITY IN MENTAL HEALTH ACT (H.R.1475) WOULD BE THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS INCREASING SUICIDE RATES AND MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS AMONG BLACK YOUTH. THE STANDUP ACT (H.R. 586) WOULD PROVIDE RESOURCES AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO STATES, TRIBES, AND SCHOOLS ON STUDENT SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS AND TRAINING. ENDING THE CRIMINALIZATION OF MENTAL HEALTH BEGINS WITH FIXING THE CRISIS RESPONSE SYSTEM THAT TOO OFTEN LEADS PEOPLE INTO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM INSTEAD OF INTO TREATMENT AND RECOVERY. OUR FIRST PRIORITY IN THIS LANE WAS TO SHOW CONGRESS A STRONG, STEADY DRUMBEAT OF SUPPORT FOR S.1902/H.R. 5611, THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS SERVICES EXPANSION ACT.

ADDITIONALLY, WE LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN TO PASS PARITY LEGISLATION IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. INSEPARABLE ACTION HIRED AN IN-STATE CAMPAIGN MANAGER AND TWO TOP NOTCH LOBBYING FIRMS, RAN PAID DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA ADS, AND MOBILIZED ACTIVISTS TO GENERATE PHONE CALLS TO LEGISLATORS. ULTIMATELY, THE CAMPAIGN WAS BACKED BY MORE THAN 75 ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE BILL WAS SIGNED INTO LAW BY GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER. THIS IS THE SECOND MODEL PARITY BILL WE'VE HELPED ENACT SO FAR, THE FIRST BEING IN CALIFORNIA IN 2020, AND WAS A MODEL FOR HOW INSEPARABLE ACTION WILL WORK IN OTHER STATES TO PASS SIMILAR LEGISLATION. INSEPARABLE ACTION JOINED A COALITION SUPPORTING THE PASSAGE OF CALIFORNIA'S SB 14 TEACHER TRAINING AND EXCUSED ABSENCES BILL. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STEINBERG INSTITUTE, INSEPARABLE ACTION RAN A SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN URGING THE ASSEMBLY EDUCATION CHAIR TO SUPPORT THE BILL, RAN PROMOTED ADS IN THE CHAIR'S DISTRICT, AND SHARED OUR CLICK TO CALL TOOL WITH COALITION ORGANIZATIONS. SB 14 IS A GROUNDBREAKING BILL THAT ALLOWS CALIFORNIA'S STUDENTS TO TAKE EXCUSED ABSENCES FOR MENTAL HEALTH REASONS AND DIRECTS THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO IDENTIFY MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEACHERS AND SCHOOL STAFF. CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR NEWSOM SIGNED SB 14 INTO LAW ON OCTOBER 29TH.

A BETTER RESPONSEAS PART OF INSEPARABLE ACTION'S CRISIS RESPONSE ORGANIZING, INSEPARABLE ACTION PRODUCED AND PROMOTED A VIDEO ADVOCATING FOR THE FOLLOWING POLICY SOLUTIONS: FEDERAL STANDARDS FOR CRISIS RESPONSE. COVERAGE OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS SERVICES. FUND DEVELOPMENT OF CRISIS SERVICES IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. FACILITATE COORDINATION AMONG 911 DISPATCHERS AND 988 CRISIS CALL CENTERS.