Strengthening the Infrastructure

• Amended National Council Board bylaws to:
  Ensure active regional representation.
  Enhance board expertise by creating at-large director seats.
  

• Successfully completed online elections, increasing member voting over previous elections, to fill 11 board director seats.
• Increased revenue—added policy and practice improvement staff.

Advocating for Safe, Effective, Patient-Centered, Timely, Efficient, and Equitable Mental Health and Addictions Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Services

• Championed National Council legislation— introduced the Community Mental Health Services Improvement Act in the Senate.
• Led the mental health and disability communities’ opposition to implementation of CMS regulations restricting Medicaid funding for rehabilitation and school-based services resulting in December 2007 legislation that imposes a 6-month regulatory moratorium.
• Introduced National Council Public Policy Guide and The Promise Unkept.
• Increased member grassroots activity, including successful Hill Day—200 members came to Washington D.C. to meet with their elected officials on key issues—Medicaid rehabilitative services, Medicare parity, addictions appropriations, parity in insurance coverage for mental health and addictions, and support for the Community Mental Health Services Improvement Act.
• Advocated for Veterans Administration contracting with community providers to increase veterans’ access to mental health and addiction treatment—incorporated in an Omnibus Bill passed in the House and referred to the Senate.
• Partnered with other advocacy groups to influence Senate passage of insurance coverage parity for mental health and addictions treatment.
• Participated in development of Representatives Kennedy and Ramstad’s legislation that addresses Institute of Medicine’s mental health and addictions treatment and financing recommendations.
• Joined the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease and the Whole Health Campaign to introduce mental health and addictions issues into 2008 Presidential election.
• Successfully lobbied for legislation delaying CMS required use of tamper-resistant prescription pads to April 2008.
• Partnered with the Council of State Governments, the National Association of Counties, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness to increase the appropriations for Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act.

Building a Community

• Membership at all-time high of more than 1,400 member organizations.
• Expanded member benefits include National Council Live webinars, discounted e-learning systems, and Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research.
• Supported member organizations affected by disaster with Project Helping Hands financial grants.
• Introduced Mental Health First Aid to the USA.
• Recognized outstanding member accomplishments through the 2007 Awards of Excellence Dinner at the Annual Conference in Las Vegas.

Supporting Quality Clinical And Business Practices

• Held 37th Annual Conference, most successful conference to date with nearly 2,000 attendees.
• Convened experts’ roundtable and disseminated recommendations to improve continuity of mental healthcare.
• Implemented second phase of integrated treatment training to 12 behavioral health organizations and their partner primary care sites.
• Led series of wellness roundtables in key cities to identify barriers and solutions to promoting the health of persons with serious mental illnesses.
• Launched primary care and behavioral health learning community focused on improving clinical practice, operations, administration, and governance.
• Launched member initiative to improve access to mental health treatment and retention in treatment.
• Published How to Get and Keep the Best Employees and Using Data to Drive Your Service Delivery Strategies.
• Expanded and rebranded Meet Me Calls under National Council Live banner.
• Enhanced online Continuing Education offerings.

Telling a Compelling Story

• Launched new National Council website as a key public resource on mental health and addictions and to ensure easier access to policy and practice improvement resources and increase member interaction.
• Introduced powerful new corporate branding and messaging—including The Promise Unkept brochure—for use by the National Council and member organizations.
• Established National Council as advocacy and practice improvement leader, with continued strong presence in trade media.
• Conducted post-Katrina survey of mental health and addiction providers in New Orleans and Baton Rouge and disseminated findings through extensive press coverage.
• Conducted national survey of psychiatrists to assess barriers to treatment and secured national coverage of findings.
• Launched National Council Magazine with focus on editorial excellence and enhanced branding—issues focused on leadership, addictions treatment and improving clinical practice.