The materials that
educate the public and public officials on addiction issues
are the building blocks of its advocacy efforts. To advance
measures that expand treatment, take steps against youth
drinking or broaden eligibility for drug court requires a
passionate, informed constituency. Materials that assist
with advocacy include position papers and the agency’s
Election Guide, which outlines issues such as client-centered
care and provides candidates’ responses to a survey
on a variety of questions related to addiction. Think Advocacy
enlists supporters to translate their passion on issues into
action. Members receive updates on legislation and are sent
Action Alerts to forward to their state representatives when
a bill concerning addiction is up for a vote. In 2007, lawmakers
received 137,000 e-messages from members of NCADD-NJ’s
Think Advocacy network urging them to act on health insurance
parity and other issues.
NCADD-NJ’s Advocacy Leadership Program is designed to foster, support and promote a generation of leaders in New Jersey committed to confronting the state’s most pressing addiction treatment, prevention and recovery issues. The program will accept up to 30 New Jersey residents.
A-4199, A-4201, A-4202
A-4199 requires correctional officer training and establishes the Department of Public Advocate as the depository for all inmate complaints; A-4201 eliminates post-release Medicaid enrollment gap, establishes prisoner re-entry commission, mandates the use of c community corrections for all those released from prison, requires the Department of Corrections to provide certain information to inmates upon release; A-4202 gives inmates special credits toward further remission from time of sentence, allows inmates to enter into agreement for education and training that decreases parole, allows formerly incarcerated persons to visit any prison in the state for motivational purposes, and reviews vocational programs in order to meet demand job skills and standards.
