How Can I Get Involved?
The Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Division is committed to the participation of citizens of all ages in our work. We are looking for people who are interested in mental health and substance abuse services to participate with us on state and local level work groups, coalitions, and boards. Having experience with mental health or substance abuse services is not required to participate with us but is often a great motivator to people who wish to help in improving how our systems work.
A number of possibilities for your participation are described in the following paragraphs. If you are unsure about the best option for you or if you have another idea about how you would like to participate, please call or email the Division.
Contact Your Elected Officials
Follow this link to contact your elected officials. This link contains links to e-mail and postal addresses, and phone numbers for key elected officials.
http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml
BOARDS AND COUNCILS
There are a number of Boards and Councils that need members from time to time that relate to our work. These groups require the participation of people who can make a commitment of a year or more to provide time for learning and advocacy. These groups membership roster is Governor appointed. These boards would include the Governor’s Mental Health Planning Council, the Governor’s Violent Crime and Substance Abuse Advisory Board, The Mental Health Professions Licensing Board and The Board of Psychology. Please contact the Governor’s Office for a membership application. Click here to visit the Governor's Board website on Substance Abuse and Violent Crime.
STATE LEVEL AD HOC WORKGROUPS
The Division has short term workgroups at the state level from time to time in a variety of topic areas and if you have a specific area of interest please let the Division know and we will contact you. Many of these groups involve policy issues.
LOCAL LEVEL BOARDS AND COALITIONS
At the local level, there are numbers of coalitions and opportunities for participation with the agencies with whom we contract to provide services. Our local partners are always looking for people to help out and add new ideas and new energy to their projects.
Prevention: Please look up the prevention index on this website to find the coalition nearest you – you might volunteer to assist them with one of the many jobs they have outlined in their strategic plan, which can also be found on this website.
Treatment: Our treatment providers also have opportunities for participation on their Boards of Directors and committees. Please call and let them know of your interest in their work and your willingness to assist. Many of these Boards have special times of the year when they take new members which is specified in their agency by – laws.
Sage Initiative: Wyoming is in year two of a six year cooperative agreement with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for the purpose of developing and implementing systems of care for delivering children’s mental health services. Our project is called the Sage Initiative and has branched out to two pilot sites for year two and at the end of the contract period we intend to have implemented this system transformation across the state. We have many partners including children, youth and families, communities, other state agencies, school districts, and Uplift, Wyoming’s Chapter of the Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health.
This project seeks to increase our investment in children’s mental health by increasing the participation of families and youth and community members in creating the service system that provides some of their care and treatment. We encourage children, youth and families to become involved in this project in your home community. If you are interested in becoming involved in this project, please call the Division, your local mental health agency, or Uplift at 307-778-8686.
More information: