Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee - MHLAC

Please read this important report prepared by DLC detailing the need for Bridgewater State Hospital's transfer to the Department of Mental Health:

www.dlc-ma.org

MHLAC is hiring for an Office Manager!

For job descriptions and information on how to apply, visit our website https://mhlac.org/employment-opportunities/ and submit applications to [email protected].

Deadline: Submissions received after June 17th, 2024 may not be considered.

Employment Opportunities – MHLAC April 2024 Hiring Update MHLAC has completed hiring for two positions. Thank you to all our interested applicants.   The Office Manager will work full-time in person at MHLAC’s main office screening intakes, ensuring office systems and equipment run efficiently and that advocates serving our cl...

Food for thought

My son is profoundly autistic. Please don’t say he’s merely ‘neurodiverse.’ - The Boston Globe It's dangerous to eliminate terminology that accurately describes thousands of people with severe disabilities.

We need you to act today - share the following story with your networks and spread the word about the importance of peer respites.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=PZCo2FXFZxjQfLeI&v=wXOB1nKcG90&feature=youtu.be

Call your legislator asking them to support LGBTQIA and BIPOC respites! We need you to act today - share the following story with your networks and spread the word about the importance of peer respites. Call your legislator asking them to support LGBTQIA and BIPOC respites!

Find your legislator: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator

Building Peer Respites That Center Black, Indigenous & Other Communities of Color Tokyo talks about the importance of peer respites that center Black, Indigenous and other communities of color, and the power of building places where people...

Only one more day until the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery decides on H.3602/S.1238!

Share the following video and reach out to your legislator asking them to support more peer respites in the State! Find your legislator here: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ho_F5iMyjLtSrUvuyMlsvlDdAyNYC--K/view

Janet Peer Respites 1.mp4

This is the week! Share the following video and take action to support more peer respites in Massachusetts!!
https://youtu.be/6czp_T1ss-E

Please reach out to your legislator and ask them to support S.1238/H.3602. Find your legislator here: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator

From "Assisted Outpatient Treatment" to Peer Respite In 2017, Eric was featured in a feature-length documentary by Lise Zumwalt called 'Crazy'. The film follows Eric and his father as they try to figure out ho...

It’s Take Action Day! Share the following video to your social media and tell everyone to call your legislator to support H.3602/S.1238 - An Act Establishing Peer-Run Respite Centers Throughout the Commonwealth

A father talks about the loss of his daughter, psychiatric force and alternatives Jay's daughter died by su***de when she was 28. Here, he details the impact that psychiatric force had on her life and the alternatives that may have saved her.

MHLAC's Staff Attorney Robert Hernandez quoted by NBC Boston, read further at the link below!

“My observation is that in institutions where there are a lot of, PhDs and etc. in the titles and so on, that the discrimination is at least as rampant,” said attorney Robert Hernandez. He works with the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee. He says people who request accommodations are protected under Massachusetts law."

Mental health still suffers stigma in the medical and research fields Lindsay Demers holds a PhD. and a role as assistant professor of medicine at Boston University. As the director of the Education Evaluation Core, she studies the effectiveness of education interventions in medical schools. Then she needed to stage her own workplace intervention. She says things star...

Learn why involuntary outpatient commitment is so harmful by watching this video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6czp_T1ss-E&feature=youtu.be

S. 980/H. 1694 an Act to Provide Critical Community Health Services, which endorses involuntary outpatient commitment, is going to be voted on in the legislature tomorrow. We need you to call your legislator today and tell them to oppose S.980/H.1694. Find your legislator here: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator

Also attend our legislative training tomorrow to learn more about how to get involved! Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-peer-respite-legislative-advocacy-training-tickets-885751365177?aff=oddtdtcreator

2nd Peer Respite Legislative Advocacy Training Join us for the 2nd Peer Respite Legislative Advocacy Training - learn how to advocate for peer respites online!

It’s Peer Respite Take Action Day! Share the following video created by Wildflower Alliance to your social media and tell everyone to call your legislator to support this bill - Find your legislator here: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rj_iTJuXaXA

Sign up for one of our legislative advocacy trainings if you haven’t already!

Monday, April 29th at 11am - register at this link https://www.eventbrite.com/e/april-peer-respite-legislative-advocacy-training-tickets-885747543747?aff=oddtdtcreator

Tuesday, April 30th - register at this link https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-peer-respite-legislative-advocacy-training-tickets-885751365177?aff=oddtdtcreator

Peer respite can break the cycle of hospitalizations Cindy talks about her experience with peer respite, how it differs from force and how it helped her break a cycle of forced and coerced hospitalizations.

MHLAC and Ed Law Project in the news this week!

"The class-action suit represents a potential class of hundreds of incarcerated youth, aged 18 to 22, aiming to transform a system where, according to a report from Citizens for Juvenile Justice and mentioned by WBUR, close to 200 young adults with IEPs might have been under-identified between 2018 and 2020."

Massachusetts Youth Sue Education Department Over Special Ed Access in Landmark Lawsuit In Massachusetts, incarcerated youths with special needs are suing the DESE for failing to provide mandated educational services.

April Peer Respite Legislative Advocacy Training Tuesday April 16 1-3pm Remote over Zoom.

Another training series to learn how to effectively advocate for the peer respite bill seeking to create the first LBGTQIA and BIPOC Peer Respite centers in MA! Sign up in the link below:

April Peer Respite Legislative Advocacy Training Learn how to effectively advocate for the peer respite bill that will create the first LGBTQIA and BIPOC peer respite centers in MA!

S.1238/H.3602, An act establishing peer-run respite centers across the Commonwealth, would establish a Peer Respite in each of Massachusetts' fourteen counties. In addition, it would establish the state's first BIPOC peer respite, and the world's first two LGBTQIA peer respites. A true dark horse, the bill has become one of the more popular bills in the current legislative session. The bill is one of MassPRC's two legislative priorities.

MassPRC and the Peer Respite Coalition are asking for your help in moving the bill favorably out of the Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery Committee. The committee will vote on Tuesday, 2/6, and we need to flood their inboxes and voicemails urging them to pass the bill. Using the prepared script below, or using your own words, click on the names of committee members to find their phone numbers or email addresses.

The Peer Respite coalition will also be holding a phone bank on Monday, 2/5, from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. via Zoom. Join us for camaraderie or for support in contacting legislators! Here is the Zoom link for the phone bank: http://tinyurl.com/3s2ux32w

Here is the script:

Hello,

My name is ________, and I am calling (or emailing) to ask you to pass S.1238/H.3602, An act establishing peer-run respite centers across the Commonwealth, favorably out of committee on Tuesday, February 7th. We need options and choice for those experiencing emotional and mental health crises. (Add any personal reason you wish to see peer respites across the Commonwealth).

If you have any questions, contact Thomas Brown at [email protected]

Thank you for joining us in advocacy!!

The Peer Respite Coalition will be holding an eight-hour Peer Respite Bill phone bank on Monday, February 5th, to flood the phones and email boxes of members of the Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery Committee to ask them to pass the Peer Respite Bill favorably out of committee.

Please join us anytime during that time for any amount of time. We will be available to offer any kind of support you might need in making the calls or sending emails.

Here is the Zoom link for the phone bank: http://tinyurl.com/3s2ux32w

Here is the script:

Hello,

My name is ________, and I am calling (or emailing) to ask you to pass S.1238/H.3602, An act establishing peer-run respite centers across the Commonwealth, favorably out of committee on Tuesday, February 7th. We need non-coercive and non-traumatizing responses to people experiencing an emotional and mental health crises. (Add your personal experience or speak of the experience of a loved one with their permission. This could be experience of being supported in a peer respite, or of being harmed in a traditional psychiatric setting).

Lastly, here are the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery:

John C. Velis (617) 722-1415 & [email protected]
Julian Cyr (617) 722-1570 & [email protected]
Adrian C. Madaro (617) 722-2060 & [email protected]
Michelle M. DuBois (617) 722-2017 & [email protected]

Reminder Tomorrow! - Join us from 12:00 – 4:00 at the Bowen Center at 235 Chestnut St in Springfield, MA to celebrate our community and to honor our Peer Respite advocacy work. We will have lot’s of glorious food!

Activities will include story-telling, painting, and perhaps a raffle! We have also invited legislators who are members of the Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery Committee, to join and to get to know us a little.

There will be ample off street parking available in the lot attached to 235 Bowen St.
Please email Tokyo or Ephraim with your interest in attending so that we might have a better idea of how much food to prepare. Tokyo can be reached at: [email protected] Ephraim can be reached at: [email protected]

DeeDee's Cry Su***de Prevention & Family Support is hosting their final listening session for the Denita Morris Memorial Hope Park. They want to hear from those impacted by su***de, and especially those who live in Roxbury.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIpduipqD0vEtRtvo2IznCMv3ewf4N5OnCI #/registration

Join us from 12:00 – 4:00 at the Bowen Center at 235 Chestnut St in Springfield, MA to celebrate our community and to honor our Peer Respite advocacy work. We will have lot’s of glorious food!

Activities will include story-telling, painting, and perhaps a raffle! We have also invited legislators who are members of the Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery Committee, to join and to get to know us a little.

There will be ample off street parking available in the lot attached to 235 Bowen St.

Please email Tokyo or Ephraim with your interest in attending so that we might have a better idea of how much food to prepare. Tokyo can be reached at: [email protected] Ephraim can be reached at: [email protected]

Last call - join MHLAC and Wildflower Alliance tomorrow from 11am-3:00pm for the Peer Respite Advocacy Day at the Mass State House in Boston!

We will start the day hearing from speakers involved with the peer respite movement and legislators will have the opportunity to ask clarifying questions. We will then move into the afternoon when we will break out into small groups (or solo if you wish!) to meet legislators in their offices and advocate for peer respites. We will have information packets available for everyone that will include talking points.

We hope to see you there!

Tomorrow ! Looking to attend the Peer Respite Advocacy Day at the Statehouse in Boston? If you're in Western Mass there's a chartered bus available from the Bowen Center in Springfield. 8:00am departure time and 5:00pm return time.

Please contact Tokyo at [email protected] or Ephraim at [email protected] for any questions.

Don't miss these events focused on bringing more peer respite to MA! View this e-mail as a web page for easier reading by clicking here! Peer Respite Advocacy WeekWe hope you’ll join us for all, or parts of, Peer Resp...

Don't forget to join MHLAC and Wildflower Alliance at the State House from 11:00am-3:00pm on Tuesday January 23rd for the Peer Respite Advocacy Day.

If you have any questions or would like to attend please contact [email protected] or [email protected]

Join us at the State House next Tuesday January 23rd at 11:00 in the House Member’s Lounge.

We will start the day hearing from speakers involved with the peer respite movement and legislators will have the opportunity to ask clarifying questions. We will then move into the afternoon when we will break out into small groups (or solo if you wish!) to meet legislators in their offices and advocate for peer respites. We will have information packets available for everyone that will include talking points.

Refreshments will be available during the briefing (bagels, cream cheese, and cookies). We will also take a break for lunch right after the briefing and there is host of fairly affordable eateries at Downtown Crossing across the park from the State House.

ASL interpreters will be provided for the briefing from 11:00 – 12:00. Please contact Thomas Brown at [email protected] as soon as possible to request an interpreter.

MHLAC and Wildflower will be holding an online phone banking event on Thursday, January 18th from 11am-12:30pm. Reading from a prepared script or choosing our own words, we will be calling legislators to invite them to the Peer Respite Briefing. Typically calling a legislator means leaving a voicemail or speaking with their staff, so this is not really as intimidating as it might at first seem!

This may not be the most glamorous of the Advocacy Week Events, but it is a critical one. So please think about rolling up your sleeves and joining us. The more legislators we get to the briefing, the more we make ourselves known to them, the bigger the impact our movement will have on policymaking!

Please click Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/peer-advocacy-day-phone-bank-tickets-790246186617 to register for this event so that we will have an idea of how many people to expect.

Peer Advocacy Day Phone Bank Join us as we call local legislators to educate them on peer respites and invite them to our briefing on the peer respite bill.

We will begin the week with an online Legislative Advocacy Training geared toward Peer Respites on January 16th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. This training will go over the reasons we need more peer respites across the state and how to use our lived experience to advocate on the legislative level. The training will also include an overview of the legislative process.

To register for the 16th, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/peer-respite-legislative-advocacy-training-tickets-772479937287?aff=oddtdtcreator

Register for the same training on a second day, January 17th, from 10:00 – 12:00, by clicking Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-peer-respite-legislative-advocacy-training-tickets-775863507637?aff=oddtdtcreator

We unfortunately will not be able to provide ASL interpreters for these trainings.

2nd Peer Respite Legislative Advocacy Training Learn how to effectively advocate for the peer respite bill that will create the first LGBTQIA and BIPOC peer respite centers in MA!

Another Wildflower and MHLAC community event - Save the Date: January 29th at the Bowen Center in Springfield, MA.

Please contact [email protected] or [email protected] for more information and to RSVP.

Save the date!

January 23rd 10:30am-3pm - join Wild Flower Alliance and MHLAC for Advocacy Day on the Peer Respite bill.

If you'd like to attend please contact [email protected] or [email protected]

Want to learn how to effectively advocate for the upcoming bill that will create the first LGBTQIA and BIPOC peer respite centers in MA? Join our upcoming Legislative Action Trainings this month - there have two opportunities to register:

Sign up for Tuesday January 16 from 6-7pm: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/peer-respite-legislative-advocacy-training-tickets-772479937287?aff=oddtdtcreator

Sign up for January 17 from 10am-11am: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-peer-respite-legislative-advocacy-training-tickets-775863507637?aff=oddtdtcreator

And if you'd like to practice your advocacy skills after the trainings, we'd encourage you to join us for our phone banking session on Thursday January 18th from 11am-12:30pm to call local legislators!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/peer-advocacy-day-phone-bank-tickets-790246186617?aff=oddtdtcreator

Peer Respite Legislative Advocacy Training Learn how to effectively advocate for the peer respite bill that will create the first LGBTQIA and BIPOC peer respite centers in MA!

MHLAC is hiring for several new roles: Executive Assistant, Office Manager, and a Litigation Paralegal!

For job descriptions and information on how to apply, visit our website https://mhlac.org/employment-opportunities/ and submit applications to [email protected].

Deadline: Submissions received after January 8, 2024 may not be considered.

Employment Opportunities – MHLAC December 2023 Hiring Update MHLAC is pleased to announce that our office has 3 full-time positions we are currently hiring for. All positions will work out of our main office located in Quincy, Massachusetts.   Deadline: Submissions received after January 8, 2024 may not be considered. The Executiv...

"Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee member Alex Bou-Rhodes said that aversive therapy, including electric shocks, are “ineffective and unethical.”
He noted that in other parts of the country, people with similar behavioral problems are treated without electric shock therapy.
“There’s no reason that people in Massachusetts shouldn’t be entitled to the same standard of care,” Bou-Rhodes said.
Bou-Rhodes encouraged lawmakers to read the federal Food and Drug Administration’s ban on electric shock devices that argues the therapy is “not appropriate and not supported by medical research.”

Marlborough Democrat Fighting Against Shock Therapy Treatment - NewBostonPost State Representative Danielle Gregoire (D-Marlborough) wants to see an end to electric shock therapy used on people with severe intellectual and developmental disabilities in Massachusetts. Gregoire said she does not want to shut down the Judge Rotenberg Education Center, which uses shock therapy. H...

Last week October 31st MHLAC attended a Legislative Briefing on two important parole bills before the statehouse. Read about it here:

LAWMAKERS QUESTION MASS PAROLE PROCESS. CAN THEY IMPROVE THE SYSTEM? Concerned about the “onerous conditions of parole” and longstanding cruel procedures, legislators and reform advocates push major legislative and cultural changes.