In This Issue President's Column Across the MHA Network John Morris, M.S.W., Elected as New Chairman of Board of Directors Mental Health Association of Connecticut Celebrates a Century of Advocating and Working for Everyone's Mental Health Real Lives Feature Story Multi-State Meeting Equips Stakeholders in Rural Areas with Tools to Reduce Disparities in Care Why Do You Support Mental Health America? Research Snapshot 2008 Annual Conference Hill Day Leads to Legislative Gains New Toolkit Helps Advocates Promote Mental Health in 2008 Elections

Mental Health America Hosts Inaugural Promotion and Prevention Summit

Summit Convenes International Leaders to Explore and Advance Cutting-Edge Promotion and Prevention Strategies

Each year, Mental Health America brings together hundreds of leaders and advocates from across the country for its Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. to learn about critical issues in the behavioral health field and develop strategies for collective action. This year's conference featured a two-day event, the Inaugural Promotion and Prevention Summit, which gathered the foremost leaders in the field to explore the latest in promotion and prevention science and set a course for promoting wellness in individuals, communities and the nation at large.

Summit continued...

CAPITOL HILL UPDATE

2008 Annual Conference Hill Day Leads to Legislative Gains

Mental Health America's 2008 Annual Conference provided a key opportunity for federal advocacy and we've already seen good results.

On June 5, MHA affiliates visited nearly 100 congressional offices and pressed for such goals as a strong federal parity law, an end to discriminatory Medicare co-payments and a moratorium on harmful Medicaid regulations. In just a few weeks, we've seen action on each.

Capitol Hill Update continued...