Resolutions, Position Statements, Policy Briefs, and Letters of SupportWith input from our members and task forces, our policy committee develops positions on current topics related to behavioral health and social justice. The statements are approved by the full Board of Directors. Resolutions How Can You Get Involved in Policy Activities?
ResolutionsOur resolutions provide a concise overview of our stance on a particular policy concern, resources for more information on the topic, ways that our members can get involved in addressing the issue, and background research from the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. New! Resolution on Safe Schools: Addressing Violence Prevention and Gun Violence (October 2021) New! Resolution on the Inclusion of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services in HIV/AIDS Programming (June 2021) New! Resolution on Inclusion of Youth who Identify as Transgender and Gender Diverse (TGD) in Sports (June 2021) New! Resolution on Comprehensive Asylum-Seeking Family Reunification (June 2021) New! Resolution on Family Well-Being Through the Asylum Seeking Process (June 2021) Our position statements guide our policy and advocacy work. In recent years, our statements have emphasized immigration, group care of children and adolescents, family homelessness, schools, and juvenile shackling. New! Statement on Children Returning to In-person School (August 2021)
Policy BriefsIn some cases, we develop more in-depth statements on topics relevant to our task forces and current events. New! Women in the Workforce: Advancing Equality and Well-being Impact of COVID-19 on College Students' Mental Health (Policy Brief) Mental Health and the Criminal Justice System Blog PostsFind our blog posts covering topics such as the Global Alliance at the United Nations, the Canada Gairdner Global Health Symposium, and Youth and Families here. Letters of SupportWhat's New....Global Alliance commends Senators for telehealth legislationJune 2, 2020: We joined with the MHLG to commend Senators Smith and Murkowski on their legislation that temporarily requires behavioral health and substance use treatment telehealth services to be covered by insurance companies at the same rate as in-person services. Global Alliance supports Health Care Protection ActMay 21, 2020: As part of the Mental Health Liaison Group (MHLG) letter addressed to Representatives Davis, Horn, Gonzalez, Schrader, Wagner, and Torres Small, the Global Alliance signed on in support of the bipartisan Health Care Protection Act (H.R. 6810). Global Alliance supports the Improving Social Determinants of Health ActMay 18, 2020: In letters to Congress and to Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader McCarthy, we joined with 70 other organizations urging lawmakers to include the Improving Social Determinants of Health Act of 2020 (H.R. 6561) in future iterations of legislation aimed to address the COVID-19 pandemic. H.R. 6561 would help provide support and funding for programs and agencies addressing Social Determinants of Health (SDOHs) in target communities. Global Alliance calls for suicide prevention and youth mental health provisions in COVID-19 reliefMay 11, 2020: The Global Alliance signed on to a letter from the Mental Health Liaison Group (MHLG) addressed to House Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Pallone, Minority Leader McCarthy, and Ranking Member Walden requesting that suicide prevention and youth mental health receive both policy consideration and funding in the next COVID-19 relief legislation. Global Alliance supports Health Care at Home ActMay 11, 2020: The Global Alliance joined with the MHLG to thank Representatives Schrier and Roe for their bipartisan support of the Health Care at Home Act (H.R. 6644) which requires insurance providers to cover telehealth services that would otherwise be covered in-person. Global Alliance urges enhanced options for school districts using Medicaid services for students during COVID-19May 5, 2020: The Global Alliance signed on to a letter asking Administrator Seema Verma with the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to consider providing greater flexibility to school districts in the billing of Medicaid claims, especially as they seek to provide comprehensive care for students using telehealth and other remote care options. Global Alliance supports funding for maternal mental health careMay 1, 2020: The Global Alliance signed on to a letter addressed to Chairwoman Lowey, Ranking Member Granger, Chairwoman DeLauro and Ranking Member Cole, requesting additional funding for HRSA’s Screening and Treatment for Maternal Depression and Related Behavior Disorders Treatment Program in the next CARES Act supplemental. Global Alliance encourages update to Part 2 rule of CARES ActApril 28, 2020: As part of the Partnership to Amend 42 CFR Part 2, in a letter addressed to Secretary Azar, the Global Alliance urges the Department of Health and Human Services to update the Part 2 rule of the CARES Act to align it with HIPAA disclosure requirements in order to ensure that those receiving substance use treatment do not experience a disruption in care. Global Alliance calls for insurance coverage of tele-mental health servicesApril 24, 2020: In two letters – one addressed to Secretary Scalia and another addressed to Speaker Pelosi and Leaders McConnell, Schumer, and McCarthy – the Global Alliance joined the MHLG in outlining insurance coverage gaps for telehealth services and calling for legislation requiring insurers to cover telehealth – including mental health – costs. Global Alliance joins MHLG in urging federal subsidies for COBRA continuation coverageApril 23, 2020: Together with the Mental Health Liaison Group (MHLG), the Global Alliance signed on to a letter asking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Leader Kevin McCarthy, and Senate Leaders Mitch McConnell and Charles Schumer to include a federal subsidy program for COBRA continuation coverage for workers who lost their health coverage due to layoff or furlough associated with COVID-19. Global Alliance calls for virtual peer support fundingApril 3, 2020: The Global Alliance joined the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance in a letter urging House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Leader Kevin McCarthy, and Senate Leaders Mitch McConnell and Charles Schumer to provide funding for virtual peer support for individuals with behavioral health conditions and substance use disorders, especially in light of the shelter-in-place orders associated with COVID-19. Global Alliance supports expanded Medicare coverage of telehealthApril 1, 2020: The Global Alliance signed on to a letter addressed to Secretary Azar and Administrator Verma, requesting that Medicare coverage of telehealth benefits be expanded to include audio-only telehealth services, in addition to audio-video telehealth services. Global Alliance joins MHLG in calling for review of information sharing practices and their impact on detained children and their familiesFebruary 28, 2020: In a letter to Senators Johnson and Peters, Congresswoman Maloney and Congressmen Jordan, Thompson, and Rogers, the Global Alliance joined the MHLG in expressing concern about the potential breach of confidentiality in using therapy records of detained children against these minors and their families. The letter asked that an oversight hearing be called to consider whether recent practices have violated the April 2018 MOA between HHS and DHS and the Flores vs. Reno decision. Past Letters of Support |