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NAMI California Members - 2026 Public Policy Platform Survey

Annual Policy Survey 2026

Each year, we at NAMI California ask our membership to assist us in guiding, informing, and prioritizing our advocacy work. Because mental illness affects so many areas of our lives, it is important to focus our work in the most critical areas. We utilize various outlets, such as surveys just like this one, responses to newsletter queries, and regional trainings/meetings to collect data.

We want to hear from all communities in our incredibly diverse state from families of various backgrounds cultural, ethnic, sexualities, genders, income levels, and areas of the state amongst many others to attempt to get as clear an understanding of the needs of Californians living with mental illness and their families as possible. Results assist us in developing our advocacy priorities including which pieces of legislation to put the most effort toward in the upcoming legislative session.

The priorities below, once ranked and tabulated will work in conjunction with our Policy Platform to move our advocacy and legislative work throughout the year.

Thank you for sharing your voice!
1.First and Last Name (optional)
2.Local NAMI Affiliate (Required.)
3.Residing County(Required.)
4.Are you a NAMI Member? (For more information on becoming a member click HERE)(Required.)
5.Please describe your race and identity. Select all that apply. (Options are determined by the U.S. Census Bureau)(Required.)
6.Do you belong to any of the following communities? (Select all that apply)(Required.)
7.Please rank the following issues from NAMI California’s Public Policy Statement listed below that you think should receive the most intensive advocacy efforts during the coming year.(Required.)
Not that important to me
Slightly important to me 
Very important to me 
Extremely important to me
Comprehensive Array of Services: Ensuring treatment, services, and supports that address prevention, early intervention, recovery, and support should be available to children, adolescents, and young adults living with mental illnesses and their families.
Outcome Measurement: Mental/behavioral health services must include regular measurements of consumer and family satisfaction and dissatisfaction with these services to ensure continuous quality improvement.
Criminal Justice Issues: Ensure support to diverting individuals away from jails and prisons and toward more appropriate community-based mental health care to provide the proper supports needed to eliminate unnecessary involvement in the juvenile and criminal justice systems.
Behavioral Health Parity: Mental illness should be treated the same as physical illness, and all mental health appointments, services, and treatments should be as easily accessible as those for physical illnesses.
Family Involvement in Treatment: Support for family members as a resource in the treatment of those living with serious mental illnesses and should be an integral part of the treatment team and empowered to facilitate mutually agreed upon treatment team goals.
Prevention & Early Intervention: Ensure that all individuals have access to programs that serve to prevent and/or intervene in the development and/or onset of serious mental illness. Services should support individuals who are developing early signs and symptoms of a severe mental illness or have their first full psychotic episode to have timely access to treatment.
Suicide Prevention: Support for efforts to reduce the risk of suicide at the individual, family, and community level.
Housing: Support to ensure a wide array of options for permanent and affordable housing, based on an individual’s needs and choices.
Disparities in access to care for underserved community: Ensuring policies and practices are designed to eliminate differences and inequities in access to care as a result of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
8.Regarding issues of Access to Care for yourself or your loved one, please rank the following issues listed below.(Required.)
Not that Important to me
Slightly Important to me
Very Important to me
Extremely important to me
Access to Inpatient Hospitalization
Case Management
Residential Treatment Programs
Prevention/Wellness Programs
Partial Hospitalization Services
Outpatient Care
Crisis/Emergency Services
Post Crisis Care
Long Term Housing
Respite Services
9.What are your concerns or questions about Prop 1/Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA)?
10.How is CARE Act working in your area?
11.If you have tried to use CARE Court for yourself or your loved one, did you run into any eligibility issues?
12.If you could change one law around mental illness to improve your, or your loved one's, life what would you change? (In 75 words or less)(Required.)
13.What is the biggest challenge faced by you or your loved one when trying to access the behavioral health system? (in 75 words or less)(Required.)
14.What is the biggest challenge faced by you or your loved one when trying to access care? (in 75 words or less)
15.How could NAMI California best support you? (more specific resources, advocacy priorities, content for affiliates, etc.)
16.Are you signed up for our Advocacy Action center? (If not, you can sign up HERE)
17.Any additional comments.
If you have any additional ideas, comments, or feedback please email advocacy@namica.org. We are here to support you.
Current Progress,
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