Advocates for Real Change

TODAY IS THE DAY TO VOTE!!! Remember SMART is offering free rides!

Need help getting to the polls on election day... SMART bus has you covered!

SMART and Detroit public transit system to offer free rides on Election Day The goal is to help eliminate transit barriers to voting.

Find out if you are registered to vote, where you go to vote, and who are the candidates running in your area!

p2a.co Are you registered to vote? Get registered, check your registration, find out about candidates and more! []

Today is the last day to register to vote by mail or online!!!

Michigan Online Voter Registration You can use this program to register to vote and update your voter registration address in Michigan. To use this website, you need to have a valid Michigan driver’s license or state ID. If you don’t have one, find out how to register to vote by going to Registering To Vote.

Listen to Clinton Township Clerk, Kim Meltzer, talk with us about voting and voting rights on our first What's New with You podcast!!
https://arcservices.org/whats-new-with-you/

What’s New with You? Visit the post for more.

Voter Registration by mail and online are available for one more week! Make sure you get registered so you can use your voice and vote!!!

Michigan Online Voter Registration You can use this program to register to vote and update your voter registration address in Michigan. To use this website, you need to have a valid Michigan driver’s license or state ID. If you don’t have one, find out how to register to vote by going to Registering To Vote.

Voter Registration by mail or online needs to be done by Oct. 24!! In person registration can be done the same day as you vote. Find out more at the Michigan Voter Information Center! https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/RegisterVoter

Michigan Online Voter Registration You can use this program to register to vote and update your voter registration address in Michigan. To use this website, you need to have a valid Michigan driver’s license or state ID. If you don’t have one, find out how to register to vote by going to Registering To Vote.

The disability vote is rising. Let’s continue to make those numbers rise. Our vote has the power to make sure that the laws and leaders we choose work for and not against us!
Register to vote at https://register.rockthevote.com/registrants/new?partner=39134
during Disability Voting Rights Week.

What does voting mean to you? Register to vote TODAY or make sure your registration is
up to date at https://register.rockthevote.com/registrants/new?partner=39134

Your vote matters and your vote is powerful!!! Use your power to register to vote!! https://register.rockthevote.com/registrants/new?partner=39134

Advocates for Real Change is happy to partner with Disability Voting Rights Weeks 2022!!! Stay tuned this week for information on voting rights and how to use your voice. Learn more at aapd.com/dvrw

Our classes might be over but you can still help The Arc and United Way to advocate for real change. Take part in an Action Alert from United Way to end housing discrimination. https://unitedwaysem.org/advocacy/end-housing-discrimination-and-build-stronger-communities/

End Housing Discrimination and Build Stronger Communities - United Way for Southeastern Michigan Pass an increase to the Earned Income Tax Credit

Voting is accessible for everyone!! Learn more about accommodations and support with voting from the Michigan Voter Information Center. https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Home/AccessibleVoting

Accessible voting If you vote in Colfax Township or the City of Fennville, you have the right to a ballot and election materials in Spanish.

✨Our originally scheduled Advocates for Real Change session for 8/11/2022 at 6:00pm has been moved to 1:00pm!✨
✨If you plan to attend this new time, please email [email protected]✨
✨We cant wait to see everyone there!✨

Michigan is less than 2 weeks away from the primary elections. Join us today at 1pm to learn all about how to vote and your voting rights. Who's in?!?!

Did you know that people who are wealthy are more likely to vote than people who struggle to make ends meet?!?!? Come join us on 7/21 at 1pm to Advocate for Real Change and to learn more about voting and voting rights.

Yesterday we hosted the first educational session, where we discussed our local, state, and federal governments. Our topic next week will focus on voting rights and representation!
To attend this FREE advocacy series, email [email protected] or call 586-469-1600 x120

Did you know Advocates for Real Change starts TODAY at 1pm at The Arc of Macomb??!!!? Who's in?!?

Did you know that 38% of Michigan families struggle to afford basic necessities like food, housing, technology, health care, and transportation?!?!? Join us to ADVOCATE FOR REAL CHANGE on July 14th at 1pm at The Arc of Macomb. Who’s in??

Did you know that almost 40% of eligible voters DIDN’T vote in the 2020 election? Join us to ADVOCATE FOR REAL CHANGE on July 14th at 1pm at The Arc of Macomb. Who’s in??

Advocates for Real Change updated their address.

Did you know that 50% of Direct Care Workers (DCWs) live at or below the poverty line?? Did you know 89% of DCWs are women? Did you know 40% are people of color? Join us to ADVOCATE FOR REAL CHANGE on July 14th at 1pm at The Arc of Macomb. Who’s in??

Did you know that 40% of families in Southeast Michigan struggle to afford basic needs and are one paycheck away from financial crisis?!? Find out how to ADVOCATE FOR REAL CHANGE by joining us for our first educational session on 7/14 at 1pm at The Arc. Who's in??

❗️❗️❗ We have an urgent call to action below ❗️❗️❗
Senator Shirkey is back with his relentless efforts to reform Medicaid based Mental Health Services.

REQUEST FOR ACTION: We are asking you to reach out to your legislators (House & Senate) and the Governor and URGE them to reject these bills when they come before them for a vote. We need to get as many Senators to oppose SBs 597 & 598 as possible. This approach is nothing more than a health plan money grab, these bills will not improve care for Michigan’s most vulnerable citizens, and it will give control to entities who have not proven they can do the job – this is BAD public policy.

Click the link below to log in and send your message:
https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/d59E2k5eewVseFPsPofI_A

❗️❗️❗Please reach out to The Arc of Macomb via email if you need support in contacting your legislators, [email protected] or [email protected] ❗️❗️❗

Senate Bills 597 & 598 are being falsely portrayed as improvements to the state’s public mental health system. If passed into law, these bills will severely damage Michigan’s Community Mental Health system and cause significant harm to the 320,000+ Michiganders who rely on its stability.

To help navigate the information we have split up common points of discussion for these bills into myths vs. facts.

Myth: The public mental health system has too many layers.

Fact: Public mental health in every community is one system of care.

People with mental health disorders and persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities access the public system through their local Community Mental Health (CMH) organization. The CMH may provide the service directly or contract with a local provider (CMH’s manage their local network of providers). Regardless of how a person may receive their services, the CMH is the best local access point.

Prepaid Inpatient Health Plans (PIHPs) do not provide services. These are entities contracted through the state to provide administrative oversight and monitoring of the Medicaid behavioral health dollars. They also manage local/regional service networks for persons with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment needs and local SUD prevention programs.

Furthermore, SBs 597 & 598 do NOT reduce layers. In fact, the bills increase the number administrative entities overseeing Medicaid Mental Health by 4-6x.
The proposed legislation replaces a single PIHP per region and replaces it with up to 4-6 Medicaid health plans in that very same region at double the overhead cost.

Registration for our Public Policy Advocacy program is LIVE!
If you want to learn how to engage your local legislation and advocate for changes that are important to YOU be sure to register today!
Our goal of this program is to highlight the direct care worker crisis and bring awareness to fair wages for direct care workers and anyone else who falls in the ALICE threshold. To share your story or learn more about the ALICE threshold and how it affects equity in our community, please contact: [email protected]