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March 7, 2024

The Ally: Never Doubt the Power Of Your Own Voice to Make a Difference
 

It has been a busy week at the Mississippi Legislature. Tuesday, March 5, was the first deadline for bills to move forward. About 80% of the bills we were watching died. In this week's edition of The Ally, we share information about bills that are still alive and ways to inform your legislators about important things to you and your family, including coming to the Capitol for Mental Health and Wellness Day on March 12.

Never doubt the power of your voice to make a difference. Two bills that passed the House without any no votes, House Bill 873 (establishes Purple Alert to aid the search for missing persons with cognitive disabilities) and House Bill 315 (replaces archaic and stigmatizing terms for intellectual disabilities with updated language in state laws), were the direct result of individual parents advocating for issues that affected their child as well as many others. Nothing is more potent than self-advocacy, especially when we all stand with each other.

All families are welcome to join us on March 7 from noon to 1 p.m. CST for our Drop In Family Support Time. This ZOOM session is a great time to share questions or challenges with your child's school, find services, or learn how to navigate different systems. Check out our events calendar for more opportunities!

Joy Hogge signature

NEWS
Helping a Loved One Dealing with Mental or Substance Use Disorders - Link to PDF
 
The Mississippi Naloxone Bill for Mississippi, HB 1137, has moved out of committee and now will be voted on by the full Mississippi House.
 
Mental Health and Wellness Day at the Capitol is Tuesday, March 12, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. It's is an in-person event.
 
See a list of Mississippi legislative bills that are still alive and of interest to families. If you have an opinion on a bill, you can reach out to your legislators.

EVENTS
 
Family members may drop in to share any concerns or get feedback from others about handling different situations.
 
Mental Health Association of South MS invites you join them at the Capitol on Tuesday, March 12 from 8:00 am - 11:30 am.
 
Join other parents for a monthly meeting and online gathering to coach and support other parents in any system.
 
Parent peer support is a parent/caregiver or using their lived experience to support others going through similar experiences.
 
Join the Mississippi Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition on March 19 for Down Syndrome Advocacy Day at the Mississippi State Capitol.
 
This hour is open for any family member to drop in to ask questions or get feedback about IEP issues and other school situations.

RESOURCES
 
County officials are likely to raise concerns about costs, since jailing people is far cheaper than paying for their hospitalization.
 
Click or tap the image below for a full-sized PDF of the OJJDP info sheet.
 
To find out if you qualify for grant-funded mental health therapy, call MSU Behavioral Health at 662-325-0621.