How to Get Involved in Advocacy Efforts & Current Issues in Children’s Mental Health

ACMH has been a long-standing leading voice of advocacy for children with mental health disorders and their families for over 30 years; providing information, referral, supports and services to families of children and youth with mental health challenges across Michigan. We also work to create opportunities for families to be involved, share their experiences and help us to reach our mission, that:

All children with emotional, behavioral and mental health disorders live in safe and welcoming communities with easy access to needed treatments and supports.

In order to achieve this vision it will take all of us, including you, to share our experiences and expertise as parents or young people who have participated in mental health services and supports to help improve the systems that serve us.

The lessons we have learned along our journey can be invaluable as policy makers, professionals and service providers alike work to improve access to appropriate mental services and to improve services, supports and outcomes for all kids and families.

Each year ACMH sets advocacy and policy priorities to focus our advocacy work and to help us achieve this mission and vision. This years priorities are:

ACMH Advocacy Priorities

1. Promote adequate home and community-based services for children with emotional, behavioral, and/or mental health challenges, including transition services.

2. Promote mental health/juvenile justice collaboration on behalf of children and youth with emotional, behavioral, and/or mental health challenges.

3. Promote delivery of appropriate educational services for children and youth with emotional, behavioral, and/or mental health challenges.

General Principals that guide ACMH’s Priorities:

ACMH believes that:

• All children deserve access to appropriate mental health services that meet their individual child and family’s needs.
• Mental health services and supports should be family driven and youth guided:
• Family Driven means that families have a primary decision making role in the care of their own children as well as the policies and procedures governing care for all children in their community, state, tribe, territory and nation.
• Youth Guided means that youth are supported in becoming advocates for themselves and having a voice that is heard. Youth’s perspective is solicited, valued, and incorporated into their care.
• Family involvement is the key to the success in the work to improve systems!

If you are interested in getting involved in ACMH advocacy activities, learning leadership skills or having opportunities to share your experience, please explore the opportunities in this section of our website or contact us today!