This holiday season, we wish our readers and fellow advocates good health, happiness, and personal fulfillment. As 2021 comes to an end, we invite you to take a moment to reflect on the many positive developments in the fight for mental health equity. From shepherding stronger state and federal parity enforcement legislation and advancing game-changing … Continued
When former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy ushered the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (Parity Act) into law over a decade ago, it was just the beginning of a massive cultural shift in the way we address brain health as a society. Since then, The Kennedy Forum has been hard at work planting the … Continued
On the heels of a new Surgeon General’s Advisory on youth mental health, The Kennedy Forum has released a policy platform that outlines actions states can take to address rising rates of mental health and substance use disorders across the nation. The document provides lawmakers with specific guidance on advancing evidenced-based practices in youth mental … Continued
This Giving Tuesday, we need your support to fight for better access to mental health and addiction care, stronger prevention strategies, and comprehensive in-school resources for youth. True change requires action, not just awareness. That’s why The Kennedy Forum works tirelessly behind the scenes to advance smart policy; circulate best practices we know are making a difference; … Continued
This month, The Kennedy Forum held its 2021 Annual Meeting, “Our Words Matter: Harnessing the Power of Communications to Advance Mental Health Equity.” Speakers, including Bravo’s Andy Cohen, NBC’s Kate Snow, Olympian Raven “Hulk” Saunders, experts from Netflix’s “The Social Dilemma,” and others, shared insights on our collective ability to open minds, connect communities, and … Continued
This month, Patrick J. Kennedy and The Kennedy Forum called on Congress to allow audio-only telehealth services, which are essential for treatment of mental health and substance use disorders—especially for those without access to the technology and digital literacy required for traditional, video-based services—to remain available after the COVID public health emergency. More below. Policy Pulse Patrick … Continued
This month, Patrick and Amy Kennedy participated in a virtual Spotlight Series event hosted by The Kennedy Forum Illinois titled “Back to School: The Mental Health Impact on Students and Education.” The event explored ways in which school systems can recognize and support the mental health of students, faculty, and staff to benefit the communities … Continued
By Katharine Smith, Summer Intern, The Kennedy Forum After a year and a half of virtual learning, limited extracurricular activities, and social isolation, more than half of all American teens reported struggling with mental health due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As an intern at The Kennedy Forum this summer, I learned a great deal about … Continued
In an unprecedented move, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently teamed up with an individual state to bring joint enforcement actions under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (Federal Parity Law). New York State Attorney General (NYAG) Letitia James and DOL Secretary Marty Walsh simultaneously filed two complaints (see NYAG … Continued
This month, founder Patrick J. Kennedy and Amy Kennedy, education director of The Kennedy Forum, joined Lt. Governor of Delaware, Bethany Hall-Long, for a discussion around behavioral health initiatives and the expansion of social emotional learning for students in Delaware thanks to funds from the American Rescue Plan. “We want to know that the students … Continued
