Program areas at Judge David L Bazelon Center For Mental Health Law
Ensuring access to opportunity- people with Mental disabilities are entitled to exercise all the rights, benefits, and responsibilities of citizenship. Quality services and support in the community can enable them to participate equally with others and residents of neighborhoods and members of families, to contribute as part of the workforce, and to enjoy the social, recreational, political, educational, and cultural benefits of community life. Services in stable family or family-like settings allow children with Mental Health needs to realize their potential.
Holding public institutions accountable - people with Mental disabilities should not be separated from families, friends, and communities, nor should they be consigned to correctional facilities or other institutional settings because the Mental Health system has failed to help them. Children must not be deprived of educational services as punishment for behavior associated with Mental or emotional disability, and families should not have to relinquish custody of children with emotional disorders in order to access needed treatment. The Bazelon Center is committed to the idea that people with Mental disabilities should not be punished for the Mental Health system's failures to provide access to the resources they need for stable lives and meaningful participation in the community.
Promoting self-determination - people with Mental disabilities must be able to exercise their choices in all aspects of daily life. This involves access to voting and other forms of civic participation, and an end to discrimination against them in housing and employment. It also means that individuals should have a voice in their treatment decisions and control over who has access to their treatment records.
Lobbying - advocating for the Bazelon centers program objectives through federal policy and strategic policy development. The Bazelon Center also provides newsletters and email alerts in addition to sections of the reporter that urge people to contact their congressional delegates.