Call to Protect At-Risk Youth

empowering youth activists to fight homophobia & transphobia    Gay-Straight Alliance Network   ACTION ALERT! Call the Governor today and help make access to mental health services available for all youth! SB 543, the Mental Health Services for At-Risk Youth bill, passed the California legislature and is waiting for Governor Schwarzenegger's signature.  We know this bill has been targeted by right-wing opposition, so we need your help to make sure the Governor signs this bill. Please take a minute NOW to contact the Governor and explain that SB 543 is vital for the safety of youth who need mental health services.   The Mental Health Services for At-Risk Youth Act will improve access and remove barriers to mental health care for youth in California. It will help ensure that youth do not have to wait until their mental health situations become dire and their safety is compromised by suicide, substance abuse or violence to receive services. The legislation will allow youth ages 12 to 17 to consent to mental health treatment or counseling when the attending professional believes the youth is mature enough to participate intelligently in the services or when the youth would present a danger of serious physical or mental harm to self or others without the services.  Additionally, the legislation requires involving a parent or guardian if the attending professional deems it appropriate-encouraging the growth of healthy families when possible. By opening the door for youth to access mental health care without needing parental consent, LGBTQ youth can come out on their own terms and obtain safe, confidential and professional advice about their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Other young people who benefit from this legislation include: the victims of child abuse and neglect, youth who would feel shame telling their parents about mental health struggles, youth whose parents do not believe in mental health care, youth whose parents are undocumented immigrants or otherwise fearful of signing something, and homeless youth (20% to 40% of whom are LGBTQ-identified).   Take action today!  Call, write or fax Governor Schwarzenegger urging him to sign SB 543 into law.     · Please call the Governor at 916-445-2841 and follow the prompts.  Call by September 17th!       · Or, you can write or fax the Governor.  Below is a sample letter.   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SAMPLE LETTER [Today's Date]   Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger State Capitol Building Sacramento, CA 95814 Fax: 916-558-3160   Re: Support for SB543 - The Mental Health Services for At-Risk Youth Act Dear Governor Schwarzenegger,   I urge you to sign SB 543: The Mental Health Services for At-Risk Youth Act into law.  Early access to mental health care and fewer barriers to that care are together protective factors against youth suicide and violence-both preventable tragedies. Your signature ensures that youth who may be otherwise unable to access care are able to get the help that they need. For many youth, disclosing their sexual orientation or gender identity to parents or guardians in order to access care can put them at increased risk for hostile home environments--a risk factor for being thrown out of their home, missing school, and suicide. By allowing youth to work with mental health professionals so long as they are mature enough to consent, the state of California can help reduce the disproportionate risk for suicide among LGBTQ youth. SB 543 also works to include families, opening lines of communication and creating safer homes for all young people.   There are other groups of young people that benefit from this legislation too: the victims of child abuse and neglect, youth who would feel shame telling their parents about mental health struggles, youth whose parents do not believe in mental health care, youth who are the children of undocumented parents fearful of signing something, and homeless youth (20-40% of whom are LGBTQ-identified).     Thank you for protecting these oftentimes marginalized and overlooked youth by signing SB 543 into law without delay. Finally, at a time when California is financially struggling, SB 543 will increase access to proven prevention and early intervention programs that reduce future costs and are less expensive to the state of California.   Sincerely yours,   [Name and Address] Join the Network News!   Gay-Straight Alliance Network National & Statewide Headquarters: 1550 Bryant St., Suite 800 San Francisco, CA 94103 Phone: 415-552-4229 Fax: 415-552-4729 Southern California Regional Office: 1145 Wilshire Blvd. #100 Los Angeles, CA 90017 Phone: 213-482-4021 Fax: 213-482-4027 Central Valley Regional Office: Phone: 559-268-2780 Mail for the Central Valley office may be sent to our headquarters in San Francisco. http://www.gsanetwork.org