Partners in Policymaking

Partners in Policymaking promotes:

• Awareness
• Engagement
• Action

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Partners in Policymaking is a national model of advocacy and leadership training. Alaska’s Partners in Policymaking Program is funded through the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority and has been designed for Trust beneficiaries and their families. This project identifies individuals from around the state who have not held a leadership position and helps them develop advocacy and leadership skills to improve the lives of Trust beneficiaries.

What is the Trust?

The Trust is a convener of stakeholders and partners, serving as a catalyst in collaborative efforts to address issues of concern to Trust beneficiaries. Their major purpose is to oversee planning and address issues which directly impact the lives of people with disabilities, people who are aging, and people with mental health or substance abuse disorders.

For more information about the Trust, visit their home page.

Update post closure of the Twenthy-sixth Legislature

AUTISM INSURANCE REFORM

House Bill 187 sponsored by Rep. Petersen and co-sponsored by many other bipartisan representatives was a bill requiring private insurance to cover autism. In spite of many co-sponsors, this bill did not move out of the House Health and Social Services Committee. Because it did not pass during the two year twenthy-sixth session, the bill dies.

Many advocates will be working to see that this legislation will be reintroduced and passed in the new Twenty-seventh Legislature beginning in of January 2011. We will keep you posted on the status of autism insurance reform.

Frequently Asked Questions

Alaska's chapter of ASA is listed below:

http://asagoldenheart.webs.com/

PERIODIC RATE REVIEW OF HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES

SB32 sponsored by Senator Johnny Ellis was a bill that required in statute a periodic review of rates for home and community-based services. These service rates had been frozen and had not undergone any significant adjustment for many years. Institutionalized care (hospitals, nursing homes) have a process in statute which regularly reviews and increases their rates. This bill would have required the same review process for non-instutionalized care which allows allows individuals to receive their care in the community as opposed to an institution.

SB32 was passed out of the Senate but the bill did not pass out of the House Finance Committee. This means that the issue will have to start the process all over again in the Twenty-seventh Legislature beginning in January 2011. This was an important issue for Trust beneficiaries and many advocates will be working to see passage of a new bill.

I Vote, I Count!

Partners in Policymaking is coordinating the I Vote, I Count campaign to empower Alaskans with disabilities and other Alaska Mental Health Trust beneficiaries to become active voters and part of the political process by eliminating voting barriers, promoting awareness of the voting process and helping people access their right to vote.

Recruitment for PiP Internship(s)

If you would like to know more about advocacy, how to make a real difference in your community or around the state, then you may want to consider applying for the Partners in Policymaking Internship program. The internship program is a 10-week non-credit course offered through a three-day face to face training in Anchorage and followed by nine weeks of distance delivered internet classes.

Interns receive support for project acticvitries, as well as funding for treavel expenses to participate in project activities. On-going technical assistance from program staff is provided to all past and present interns.

Parterns in Policymaking I Internship blends training and opportunities to apply skills learned with a focus on self-determination and individual advocacy.

Partners in Policymaking II Internship covers pulbic policy advocacy and leadership development skills with opportunties to apply their skills in local and, state advocacy. You must have completed the Partners in Policymaking I internship to apply for this internship.

 

 

Contact Tammy Peria (907)-264-6253 antlp3@uaa.alaska.edu or Kathy Fitzgerald (907)-264-6242, anklf@uaa.alaska.edu or at the Center for Human Development,1-800-243-2199 outside of the Anchorage area, for more information.