Hill Day: Join Us in 2012

Make your voice heard on Capitol Hill

Every year, 500+ behavioral health executives, administrators, board members, consumers, and community stakeholders come to Washington DC for the National Council Hill Day for a full day of sessions and workshops on federal behavioral health policy, followed by visits with their elected officials on Capitol Hill to advocate for our field's priorities. Join us for the National Council's 8th Annual Public Policy Institute and Hill Day, June 25-26, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Questions about Hill Day? Contact Rebecca Farley, Director of Policy and Advocacy, at RebeccaF@thenationalcouncil.org or 202.684.745, ext. 235.

Nation, it’s time to bring Stephen Colbert to Hill Day

Every year since it began in 2005, the National Council’s Hill Day has grown in presence on Capitol Hill, with more attendees and more impact each year. For 2012, we have our sights set even higher. To help raise the profile of mental illness and addictions policies, this year the National Council is pleased to invite Stephen Colbert to attend Hill Day as our South Carolina delegation. Our staff have created a music video inviting Mr. Colbert to Hill Day – in song. Join our campaign to get Stephen Colbert to come to Hill Day by watching this video today and then:

• Tweet it to Stephen: Stephen, be our man at @NationalCouncil #HillDay2012! bit.ly/BeOurMan @StephenAtHome
• Sharing it on Facebook: Loving this video by @TheNationalCouncil inviting Stephen Colbert to come to Hill Day 2012! Please share this with your friends to help spread the word. bit.ly/BeOurMan
• Tell your friends and colleagues to tweet/Facebook/email it too.

What YOU can do on the Hill

Does your voice at Hill Day make a difference? YES, it does!
Your advocacy efforts at Hill Day matter — face-to-face interactions between legislators and constituents are one of the most powerful ways to make an impact on public policy.

Attendees at Hill Day 2011 helped to:

• Obtain $41 million funding increase for the Mental Health Block Grant in the 2012 budget, the first increase in over 10 years.
• Procure $21 million funding increase for the Substance Abuse Prevention & Treatment Block Grant in the 2012 budget.
• Sign on 14 new Senate cosponsors for legislation to extend federal health IT incentive payments to behavioral health providers and organizations.
• Get commitments from Representatives to cosponsor the health IT legislation when it is introduced in the House.
• Preserve Medicaid against a series of threats to the program during deficit reduction negotiations.

Many voices speaking as one — a letter from Jeff Walter

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I’m going to Hill Day 2012. Are you?
 
This will be my 7th year of coming down to D.C. for Hill Day, and each year, the number of people from all over the country grows: from a handful of people six years ago, to 500+ in 2011. Now, it’s become a giant national pep rally – it’s exciting, I get energized, I look forward to it every year, and it’s a lot of fun.
 
Anything that happens in Congress, or in state legislatures, or in human endeavors in general, is about building relationships. People relate to people, they don’t relate just to ideas. When my colleagues and I come down here for Hill Day and get to meet, not only with members of Congress, but with their key staffers, it builds relationships. When I need something, the staffers are responsive, because they know me.
 
I’ve seen the difference that Hill Day makes just in the way our congressional delegation relates to us, in the mental health and addictions field. We don’t just come traipsing down here saying, “give us money, give us money.” We spend a whole day learning from the National Council staff how these issues play out politically and how we can present our message in a very succinct and understandable way to our congressional delegation. That’s a really important part of Hill Day – not just meeting with our legislators on Tuesday, but also learning about the issues on Monday.
 
The most interesting thing I’ve seen at Hill Day over the years is that in the beginning, we came to D.C. with more of a policy wish list — but now our influence is tangible, and we’re seeing results. That’s why coming to Hill Day is so important: many voices speaking as one is important.
 
Hill Day works, Hill Day is important, and Hill Day is fun. I hope you all will join me this year in D.C. for what is sure to be a great event.
 
Sincerely,
 
Jeff Walter
President & CEO, Rushford Center, CT

What past Hill Day attendees have to say

"This was my first time meeting with a legislative office in DC. The preparation I received from the Hill Day events made it meaningful and worthwhile."
 
"Our group had a great time and came away with deepening respect for the importance of  advocacy, and a feeling of success in getting our message and requests  through to our elected representatives."
 
“Hill Day made all of us feel we had closer connections with folks that appropriate money to support our public programs.”
 
"I liked the fact that I am an ordinary citizen, and though I serve vulnerable individuals, the mere fact that I could go to my state/federal representative and have issues relevant to those I serve and myself be heard is a remarkable feat. I am most appreciative of the ability and privilege to speak to my politicians."