Advocacy Services
Advocacy is the representation of the needs and interests of people with mental illnesses in order to obtain services, assure fair and reasonable accommodations for special needs, and promote opportunities for maximum independence in the community. Advocacy may include interpretation of client needs to providers, consultation and technical assistance in reducing and eliminating barriers, and assertive efforts to assure adaptations and accommodations.*
MHAH assists persons with mental illness in obtaining/maintaining mental health or social service treatment and benefits and accessing resources necessary to maintain quality of life (i.e. adequate housing, food, or employment) through legislative, systemic, and individual case advocacy.
- Legislative Advocacy. MHAH works with local, state, and federal policy makers to improve the mental health system, increase funding for mental health services, and to ensure enforcement and protection of the rights of persons with mental illness. Click here for a legislative update.
- Systemic Advocacy. MHAH works in partnership with agencies in Kansas and Missouri to improve and maintain access to mental health services and other resources such as housing, food, and employment.
- Individual Case Advocacy. MHAH provides individual client-driven case advocacy services to persons with mental illness, family members, and the general public. MHAH offers encouragement, referral assistance, intervention, mediation, and conflict resolution.
If you or someone you care about is in need of advocacy, you can email us or if you prefer to write or telephone MHAH at:
Mental Health Association of the Heartland
739 Minnesota Avenue
Kansas City, KS 66101
(913) 281-2221
Fax (913) 281-3977
E-mails sent may be viewed by a number of individuals who are responsible for responding to e-mail inquiries.
Read more about self-advocacy.
*Obtained from SAMHSA's National Mental Information Center.
