On April 17, 2018, the Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association (RCPA) hosted its annual Capitol Day event in Harrisburg, PA, where advocates gathered to talk with their state legislators about supporting a variety of health and human services issues, including mental health and addictions.
Throughout the day, RCPA hosted a table in the Capitol’s Main Rotunda and handed out informational materials on specific budget recommendations and the early successes demonstrated by Pennsylvania’s Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs). Over 100 attendees gathered on the Rotunda steps as legislators delivered remarks during a press conference highlighting their support of direct service providers and their important work.
"We have worked a long time to ensure access to affordable mental health care. We need that parity." – @RepDanMiller #RCPAcapitolday https://t.co/ipZGe0V2Cp
— BH&Economics Network (@BHEconNetwork) April 17, 2018
Legislators and advocates were invited to join RCPA for a reception, sponsored by the Behavioral Health & Economics Network (BHECON), following the day’s activities. More than 60 people attended the reception, including National Council Board members, service providers, legislators, and legislative staff. Among the legislators who attended were the Chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, the Majority Policy Chairman, and Minority Chair of the Professional Licensure Committee. Legislators and staff had the opportunity to hear first-hand from behavioral health providers about issues affecting care and treatment of serious mental illness and addiction, including sufficient funding to support high quality care, adequate compensation for providers, and expanding treatment programs for mental health and addiction disorders.
Advocacy Materials
