Mental Health Advocacy Committee Meeting
Lori Barnes, Chair
11:00 a.m. Call to Order
Members - Note - please be sure you have selected a membership category for official committee membership. If you are an alternate designee for a group or provider, we can add that designation.
Statehouse reserved space - March 9, 2026 - State Capitol, First and Second Floor Rotunda and South Steps/Apron
2026 Agenda
Legislative Cover Letter (Updated later)
Summary of Consensus Priorities (will discuss later)
Assign Sponsor Contacts - See sponsor & exhibitor list - Sample Request
Review online sponsor form process
Assign Volunteer Roles
- Fundraising - sponsor followup:
- Monica (Advent, Camber, Mission Healthforward) Moncia & Simon (Sunflower, United, Reach) Amy (Healthy Blue/Blue Cross, Via Christi, Cottonwood Springs) Lori (NetSmart, Prairie View) Colin/Susan (ACMHCK) Nathan (JO CO) Shelia (HQ)
- Suggestions for other sponsorships?
- Volunteers- Need someone to coordinate various volunteers (see last years spreadsheet)
- Legislative meeting set-up - Need someone to set up meetings for those wanting to meet with legislators (Monica checking with interns)
- Exhibitors - Susan Rome - exhibitor registration opens in January
- Lunch - Mary
- Training - David, Chris, Lori
- Packets - Following up with Molly, Chad Childs delivering 2/25-26th. Amy printing stickers/labels
- Name Tags- Sheilah (Monica to get organizing folder to)
- Registration - Lori checking with Netsmart
- Cookies, snacks - Lori (cookie number by 2/27)
- Afternoon Ice Cream Social - American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- Rally and Awards - Monica and Amy (IDEAS: Melissa Ethridge, Topeka Boxer, Ayoka Lee, Heide Gardner, Mark Potter, Chappel Roan, Woodalls) Topic to focus on? Depends on speaker.
- Issue Papers - Amy - committee members please review the 2025 issue papers for needed updates and amendments or new advocacy priorities (need to printer by 2/11ish)
- Accessibility for deaf and hard of hearing participants- Kelsey, Lori (have connected)
- Photo Booth- Tim x2- second floor incentive
- Theme - Every Piece Matters (name tags, props for selfie station, stickers, cookies)
- Media press release schedule and who to (WIBW, KSN/KSNT, KWCH, others) Lori reviewing for January send out
- Lanyards - have 160 (need 350)
- Committee gear - shirts, name tags, bracelets, etc? so those registered can spot us out easily?
- Leigh Keck - Floor recognition. Lori
Other reach outs - Amy (Governor), Lori (YLink), Nathan (Zero Reasons Why)
Key groups we should invite?
Tentative NAMI Smarts Trainings - (1) Wichita KS at Walter's Branch Library on Feb. 5 (Module 1), 12 (Module 2), & 19 (Module 3) at 4:30pm. Library will open up registration in January. (2) On-line Feb. 4th 3pm-6pm (or 530pm-830pm) Modules 1 and 3. (3) March 8th from 2pm-5pm in Topeka at NAMI KS Headquarters. Modules 1 and 3.
Tentative Upcoming Meeting Schedule: Nov. 21, Dec. 5, Dec. 19, Jan. 9, Jan. 16, Jan. 23, Jan. 30, Feb. 6, Feb. 13, Feb. 20, Feb. 27, and Mar. 6.
12:00 p.m. Adjourn
