State Advocacy

CAYEN is operated under the direction of the Mental Health Association in California.  The Mental Health Association in California is directly connected to every forum for advocacy on state mental health policy.  This includes the legislature, Governor, Department of Mental Health, Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, committees of California Mental Health Directors, Mental Health Planning Council and others. 

Through the staff of the Mental Health Association in California, CAYEN leaders will represent the youth perspective in all relevant meetings and committees and endeavor to revise relevant state laws, policies, and programs to ensure that they are designed to provide the maximum level of success for transition age youth as items appear for consideration on agendas or relevant committees.  CAYEN staff will solicit the views of CAYEN members to ensure that those representing CAYEN at these meetings reflect the general perspective of transition age youth.

In addition, at steering committee meetings we will solicit ideas to initiate ourselves for proposed changes to laws and policies to accomplish better results for transition age youth. 

In addition, CAYEN will monitor decisions being made by counties.  In reviewing the results of the county decisions CAYEN may recommend additional changes in state laws, policies, and programs.