Great news! We are happy to report that thanks to extensive advocacy work from groups including The Kennedy Forum, on June 22, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee passed the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act (H.R. 7666)! This critical legislation would ensure state and local public employees have equal coverage for mental health and addiction … Continued
By Lauren Finke, policy advisor at The Kennedy Forum In the days since the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, media, policymakers, advocates, and public figures have focused in on the complex issue of preventing another tragedy. Understandably so. People are fed up. They are tired and exhausted from the seemingly constant headlines marking yet another … Continued
In celebration of Mental Health Month, our Education Director, Amy Kennedy, attended thefirst-ever Youth Mental Health Forum at the White House featuring First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, singer and actress Selena Gomez, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, and 30 young leaders from across the country! May has been filled with many special activities, important policy developments, and strategic action around the overturning of Wit … Continued
By Amy Kennedy Devastating reports regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continue to make news cycles daily. In response to the war, the White House released a fact sheet in late March 2022 which underscores the U.S.’s commitment to providing mental health services to Ukraine, particularly for vulnerable populations like youth. We must follow through on … Continued
This month, The Kennedy Forum announced Rebecca O. Bagley as President and Chief Executive Officer. Rebecca will oversee efforts to expand the reach of promising practices in mental health policy, workplace mental health, school-based mental health, and health care integration. She has more than 20 years of experience collaborating with stakeholders through strategic partnerships that achieve shared goals and … Continued
By Amy Kennedy, Education Director, The Kennedy Forum In mid-April, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released a draft recommendation stating all kids aged eight to 18 should be screened annually for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and all youth aged 12 to 18 should be screened annually for major depressive disorder (MDD). These recommendations … Continued
On March 29, The Kennedy Forum and the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association (DLGA) hosted a special preview of Ken Burns’ new documentary, “Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness” at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) headquarters in Washington, DC. The screening was followed by a panel discussion about states’ actions to tackle the … Continued
Last week, Chief Magistrate Judge Joseph Spero of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California released a scathing ruling in the class action lawsuit Wit v. United Behavioral Health (UBH). The Court ruled that UBH used flawed medical necessity criteria to wrongfully deny coverage for mental health and addiction treatment for … Continued
An individual’s mental health is an essential part of their overall health. But discrimination in health care often keeps people from accessing the mental health care they need. So, today, March 1, we observe Zero Discrimination Day, which was first celebrated by the United Nations in 2014. Zero Discrimination Day provides an opportunity for us … Continued
By Jessica Grillo, J.D., Legal Advisor for The Kennedy Forum Todd and Suzanne struggled for years to help their daughter, Lillian, cope with mental health disorders. Dr. Ghosh, a psychiatrist who treated Lillian, ultimately recommended inpatient residential care. Mr. Summer, a licensed clinical social worker who also worked with Lillian, agreed that nothing else could … Continued
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