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Legislative Advocacy for SUD Employees
Some of these changes have already gone into effect and are having positive impacts on clients, staff, and programs. Here are the some highlights:
Immediate changes making opioid overdose medications readily available in programs.
Expanding paths to licensure—Hazelden Betty Ford’s Graduate school had about 20 students entered this fall who do not have the traditional bachelor’s degree but demonstrated to the satisfaction of faculty their readiness for master’s level work.
The Behavioral Health Fund Affidavit form has been updated and made available. This will reduce barriers and delays for people to access SUD treatment through the BHF.
Ratios eliminated for licensing candidates reduce administrative burden.
Reduced barriers for programs providing co-occurring and/or medical services.
Deadline for Paperwork Reduction Report moved to December. The vendor (Advocates for Human Potential) and stakeholders have been actively working on draft recommendations.
In this training, you will learn about the legislative process, how MARRCH develops proposals, works with legislators and state agencies. There will be an overview of how SUD workers can support their clients to vote.
For attendees to gain an understanding of the MN Legislative process and how an idea gets turned into a law.
For attendees to learn how and when to engage elected officials and state agencies in advocacy for Substance Use Disorder Policy and Payment.
For attendees to learn how to access voting for themselves and any clients they serve.
Brian Zirbes has a master’s degree with a dual focus in adolescent counseling and alcohol and other drug addictions. For more than 20 years, he has focused his career on behavioral health. He has held direct service and leadership roles in community mental health clinics, detoxification programs, Substance Use Disorder programs, and the MN Department of Human Services. In his current role as Executive Director of MARRCH, he leads MN's largest trade association of Substance Use Disorder programs and professionals with membership impacting 150 organizations and more than 2,500 licensed professionals. In these roles he has utilized his leadership skills, experience in change management, and drive for innovation and outcomes to champion systems improvement to create a system of care that will be person-centered and attain positive outcomes for the people we serve.
