by Don Rogers, M.A.
When I first heard of KPA’s Political Action Committee (PAC) several years ago, it was not immediately clear to me how the PAC would assist in carrying out the priorities and values of KPA and its members. As I have seen KPA’s overall advocacy strategy in action over the years, it has become more clear to me how the PAC is a very important component of the strategy. I will share with you one area in which legislation and public policy have real world impact, how that pertains to the mission and values of KPA and how the KPA-PAC helps impact these issues.
Let’s start by reviewing KPA’s adopted value statement which is as follows:
“As an organization, KPA affirms and upholds:
● Psychological Science
● Social Engagement
● Integrity
● Care and Compassion
● Health and Well-Being for the whole population
● Equity and Inclusiveness
● Dignity and the Inherent Worth of All People”
These values also align with the mission of Kentucky’s 14 Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs). The CMHCs are non-profit organizations that serve a social safety net function delivering mental health, substance abuse, and intellectual and developmental dIsorder services to all communities across the state. The CMHCs operate programs that provide the full spectrum of behavioral health services including psychotherapy, emergency services, psychiatry, residential care, and specialized programming. These services are crucial to some of the most vulnerable individuals in our communities who suffer from the negative impact of behavioral health conditions. Many of these individuals have severe and chronic behavioral health conditions that create major barriers in their lives such as difficulty maintaining employment, insufficient income, and unstable housing. If not for the CMHCs, many of these folks would have no services at all.
Although the CMHCs are not government agencies, they are highly impacted by state legislation, the state budget, and state regulations. Funding comes through a combination of state funds, federal funds, Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance. In addition to the major limitations of these funding sources, 13 of the CMHCs participate in Kentucky’ severely underfunded retirement system and are legally bound to remain in the retirement system, creating an ever increasing financial expense which is determined by state policy makers.
I spent my career in the CMHC system providing direct services and serving in leadership roles. I was the Chief Clinical Officer at New Vista, the CMHC serving central Kentucky, and most recently served as interim CEO of Comprehend in northeastern Kentucky. I have seen first-hand the challenges CMHCs face in carrying out essential programming due to financial constraints and having to navigate a complex system, much of which is determined by public policy. State funding has shrunk significantly over the last 10 years, workforce challenges have increased, and the expense of the retirement system has grown enormously.
KPA has a long history of supporting the CMHCs, often directly advocating for legislation such as inclusion of funding in the state budget and many other policy issues that impact the CMHCs. The KPA-PAC serves to boost that advocacy by providing direct financial support to the campaigns of legislators who support the needs of the CMHCs. Such advocacy has been important in addressing many threats to the system and remains important in helping the CMHCs thrive. I am proud of the work I have done in community mental health where I was able to be part of a team of people carrying out a mission that is consistent with my own values and where I was able to bring sound clinical practices grounded in principles of psychology into the CMHC’s clinical programs. I am equally proud to be a KPA member and part of that pride comes from KPA’s legacy of active support for the cause of making our communities and the world a better place. Affecting policy is a critical part of that legacy and the KPA-PAC is a key element.