Episode 11: Why Advocacy Matters

For this episode of Beyond Substance we will be learning about Mental Health America of Indiana (MHAI) and how this organization is working to improve mental health care for Hoosiers through advocacy efforts.
Guests:

• Stephen McCaffrey earned his undergraduate degree from Purdue University and his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis, and been with Mental Health America of Indiana since 1991. McCaffrey is a recipient of the Webster-Kipfer Award for special achievement in public policy advocacy, former vice chairman for public affairs at the National Mental Health Association, former member of the board of directors at the National Mental Health Association, and former board member at the American Society of Mental Health Association Professionals. McCaffrey was named to the national directory of Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals and by the Indiana Business Journal as a member of Who’s Who in Indiana Health Care. McCaffrey received gubernatorial appointments to the Indiana Mental Health Commission and the Medicaid Quality Advisory Committee. McCaffrey served as chair of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Advisory Committee.
• Stephanie L. Anderson, LCSW is the Chief Operating Officer for MHAI. Stephanie holds bachelor’s degrees in both Criminal Justice and Ballet from Indiana University. She received her Master of Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis, where she specialized in working with at-risk, delinquent youth and their families. As the Deputy Director of Adult Mental Health and Addiction Services at DMHA she was responsible for leading Division initiatives related to Adult Forensic Populations, Serious Mental Illness, Addiction Treatment, State Opioid Treatment Programs, Services for Homeless Populations and Veterans, and Emergency Preparedness. In her role as the Executive Director of Addiction Recovery Services for the IDOC, Stephanie and her team led the transformation of Addiction Recovery Services in all State-run correctional facilities and was responsible for ongoing clinical addiction treatment, addiction recovery programming, and the integration of addiction treatment with mental health and physical health services for the Department.

Resources:

• Mental Health America of Indiana https://mhai.net/
  • Click on - Contact Us
  • Subscribe to MHAI's IN.session Newsletter by adding your email address
• Indiana Addiction Issues Coalition https://www.recoveryindiana.org/
• Find your Legislator - Indiana General Assembly https://iga.in.gov/legislative/find-legislators/
• Indiana Behavioral Health Commission Report https://www.in.gov/fssa/dmha/indiana-behavioral-health-commission/
• 988 is a direct connection to compassionate, accessible care and support for anyone experiencing mental health-related distress – whether that is thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress. People can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. Learn more at: https://www.in.gov/fssa/dmha/update-on-988-in-indiana/
• Indiana 211 https://in211.communityos.org/
• Senate Bill 1 - Behavioral health matters https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2023/bills/senate/1/details
• House Bill 1462 https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2023/bills/house/1462/details
• Crisis Now provide all communities a roadmap to safe, effective crisis care that diverts people in distress from the emergency department and jail by developing