“Supporting Wellness” Working Group (Policy and Advocacy for Wellness)

ACTION PLAN

METHODOLOGY

TIMELINE

PARTICIPANTS

Recruit group members and establish links to relevant groups and organizations.

·      Nisaa Madyun attended local NAMI meeting.

·      Katy Minnium sent invitation to Blanca DeLeon, DMH consumer rep., will follow-up with her.

·      Katy and/or Nisaa will attend the local NAMI Chapter Directors’ meeting.

Ongoing

All

Build cohesion and rapport among group members.

·      Work on allowing/ensuring that all group members to participate equally.

Ongoing

All

Develop a fact sheet about group to be used for promotion and member recruitment.

·      Phyllis Young, in collaboration with Nisaa Madyun, drafted a fact sheet. Sheet was circulated to group members for feedback, and will be revised accordingly.

·      Once completed, fact sheet will be distributed to local and state policymakers.

February – March 2004

Phyllis and Nisaa with input from group.

Develop links to policymakers in LA County and State offices.

·      Using the fact sheet, group members will contact policymakers and inform them of our goals and activities and try to identify areas for collaboration and resource-sharing.

Ongoing

All

Get informed about mental health policy and people/organizations in the field who could be potential collaborators.

·      Gather and review materials.

·      Develop a directory/library/binder of resources.

·      Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health Disparities was circulated to group members.

·      Identify local organizations and/or individuals who are involved in health policy (e.g., Michael Cousineau at USC; Community Health Councils; DMH client coalition).

Ongoing

All

Inform community about mental health policy and resources.

·      Develop a glossary of terms regarding policy for community. Cheryl Branch will identify someone who can assist with the glossary.

·      Identify and distribute useful materials.

Ongoing

All

Organize trainings for group and community:

1. Policy 101
2. Advocacy 101
3. Media Advocacy 101

·       Group members will identify representatives from different organizations who could conduct the trainings (Cheryl Branch will work on Policy 101 training, Kathy Daly will look into having someone from DMH lead a training, Katy Minnium will look into someone from UCLA’s Community and Media Relations to conduct a training on Media Advocacy).

March - August 2004

All

Brainstorm and share passions about what topics group will address. Rank and prioritize ideas.

·      Group has discussed various policies that would be an appropriate focus.

·      Continue to share ideas and begin to narrow focus.

·      UCLA research assistant will begin to search for policy gaps and/or policies that aren’t working.

January – June 2004

All

Present topic ideas to the community and get community’s feedback on goals and future activities of group.

·      Formulate a list to be distributed to community participants at future trainings and report back meetings.

At community trainings and at Report Back to Community in July 2004

All

Based on community feedback, develop 2-3 action items for group and community; 2-3 policy goals and a media strategy for dissemination and advocacy.

July – August 2004

All

Identify potential funding sources and seek funding.

·      Cheryl Branch suggested approaching the California Endowment about their private/public partnership grants.

Ongoing

All