#Vote4MentalHealth Region 8 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI Greater , NAMI Gulf Coast, NAMI Golden Triangle The candidates were asked the following open-ended questions:

1. is experiencing a shortage of mental health and addiction care providers, especially in rural and underserved areas. How will you make sure more people have access to mental health treatment and services? 2. State and federal law requires mental health parity, or the NAMI Texas staff and NAMI volunteers sent out a mental health equal treatment of mental health conditions and substance use policy six-question questionnaire on Google Forms to every individual disorders, compared to physical health conditions, in running for a state legislative seat in a contested race. Candidates were insurance plans. However, individuals in Texas still often also provided information on NAMI Texas’ public policy platform. receive unequal coverage for mental health treatment and For now, we are only sharing the results for candidates who are in a services. What will you do to improve coverage for mental contested primary race. If we have not received a completed health care? questionnaire from a candidate, we will indicate that we have not 3. At least 30% of individuals in local Texas jails have a severe received a response yet. mental illness, and more than half of justice-involved individuals nationwide have at least one mental health NAMI Texas is a non-partisan 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We condition. What will you do to divert people with mental DO NOT endorse any candidates, or rank or alter their answers in any illness from the criminal justice system? way. We provide this information to educate you on where candidates 4. Almost a quarter of individuals experiencing homelessness in your district stand on key mental health issues and let you use this have a severe mental illness, and mental illness has been information to inform your vote on March 3rd. A candidate’s inclusion identified as the third leading cause of homelessness of answers here does not indicate a preference or endorsement by nationwide. How will you help people with mental illness NAMI Texas. We encourage NAMI members and mental health who are struggling with housing? advocates to continue asking important questions of legislative and 5. Half of mental health conditions begin by the age of 14 and local candidates and #Vote4MentalHealth! 75% begin by the age of 24, but these issues often go undetected and untreated until they reach a crisis point. How will you promote earlier intervention for people experiencing mental illness? 6. Texas has the highest uninsured rate in the country, and has faced serious challenges in ensuring individuals in underserved areas have access to health care. What will you do to improve access to health care and reduce our high uninsured rate?

#Vote4MentalHealth Region 8 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI , NAMI Gulf Coast, NAMI Golden Triangle

Senate District 4 3. What will you do to divert people with mental illness from the criminal justice system? (R, Incumbent) Brandon Creighton is running unopposed in the Republican primary. As a district judge and Chair of the Gulf Coast Task Force on Jail Diversion for the Mentally Ill I worked on a multi-disciplinary task Jay Stittleburg (D) force to find ways to improve the criminal justice system in Galveston Jay Stittleburg is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. County for the mentally ill. Mental Health courts and treatment dollars as well as process changes are critical.

Senate District 6 4. How will you help people with mental illness who are struggling with housing? (D, Incumbent) Housing is a major component of diversion and yet the least dealt Carol Alvarado is running unopposed in the Democratic primary and in the general election. with. Miami has a great program with this component. I would explore ways to set up programs like theirs.

Senate District 11 5. How will you promote earlier intervention for people experiencing mental illness? Larry Taylor (R, Incumbent) This has to be something that school officials are taught and Larry Taylor is running unopposed in the Republican primary. encouraged to look for. The juvenile justice system has begun this now

with their intake procedure. Susan Criss (D)

1. How will you make sure more people have access to 6. What will you do to improve access to health care and mental health treatment and services? reduce our high uninsured rate? When I was a district court judge I was Chair of the Gulf Coast We must accept the federal Medicaid dollars. MHMR Task Force for Jail Diversion for the Mentally Ill. I lobbied for treatment dollars. This is a budget priority. Margarita Ruiz Johnson (D) Margarita Ruiz Johnson has not responded to the questionnaire yet. 2. What will you do to improve coverage for mental health care?

I spoke on the Capitol steps for parity for the mentally ill at a rally many years ago. I will fight for parity.

#Vote4MentalHealth Region 8 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI Greater Houston, NAMI Gulf Coast, NAMI Golden Triangle

Senate District 13 As my full page ad in the Houston Chronicle (2/23/2020) noted I think people with addictions and other mental health conditions are at (D, Incumbent) greater risk for contact with law enforcement. By removing felony Borris Miles has not responded to the questionnaire yet. penalties from simple drug use/possession (as Oklahoma showed) we can keep these Texans out of prison and jail. Similarly for providing Richard Andrews (D) alternative responses to people who have been arrested, and proper evaluation-treatment for those who meet criteria for mental health. 1. How will you make sure more people have access to mental health treatment and services? 4. How will you help people with mental illness who are struggling with housing? I am a family doctor who has provided addiction care, although in the past that was mostly alcohol and nicotine. But I am now DEA-waived to provide opioid MAT care myself, and plan to do so as soon as my Texas should systematically review national municipal and state clinic sets up a comprehensive program that includes the important models for addressing homelessness. Certainly, marked increase in integrated behavioral health component. This will all be done via availability of affordable housing is high on the list -- affordable FQHC clinics, which provide affordable care to uninsured and housing is a right, not a luxury, and our policies should reflect that underinsured Texans all over the state. I will also endorse legislation to priority. ensure much improved availability of such care to all Texans via other mechanisms. I also think Texas drug policy needs to more evidence based, which means a harm reduction approach. 5. How will you promote earlier intervention for people experiencing mental illness?

2. What will you do to improve coverage for mental health care? Expanding Medicaid and improving support for low-cost clinics will be key. My own FQHC has had NO state support for the last five year, for example. That is unconscionable. I would also ensure that I strongly support parity, not simply in words but in actions. All stakeholders such as patients, patient advocates, and mental health private and public insurance should be mandated to cover both mental professionals are engaged in terms of suggested evidence based and medical conditions. And where necessary the state should provide interventions, and "models that work". subsidies for getting providers into underserved rural and urban parts of Texas, for example loan payback programs. 6. What will you do to improve access to health care and reduce our high uninsured rate? 3. What will you do to divert people with mental illness from the criminal justice system? See my answers above. As a family doctor who has worked my whole career in FQHCs I know there are available solutions to the #Vote4MentalHealth Region 8 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI Greater Houston, NAMI Gulf Coast, NAMI Golden Triangle affordability issue -- recognizing health and mental health care as a House District 15 right is the first step. (R, Incumbent) Melissa Morris (D) Steve Toth is running unopposed in the Republican primary. Melissa Morris has not responded to the questionnaire yet. Lorena McGill (D) William Booher (R) Lorena McGill is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. William Booher has not responded to the questionnaire yet.

Milinda Morris (R) House District 16 Milinda Morris has not responded to the questionnaire yet. (R, Incumbent) Will Metcalf is running unopposed in the Republican primary and in Senate District 18 the general election.

Lois Kolkhorst (R, Incumbent) Lois Kolkhorst is running unopposed in the Republican primary. House District 18

Michael Antalan (D) (R, Incumbent) Michael Antalan is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. Ernest Bailes is running unopposed in the Republican primary and in the general election.

House District 3 House District 19 Cecil Bell (R, Incumbent) Cecil Bell is running unopposed in the Republican primary. James White (R, Incumbent) James White is running unopposed in the Republican primary and in Martin Shupp (D) the general election. Martin Shupp is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.

House District 21 House District 13 (R, Incumbent) (R, Incumbent) Dade Phelan is running unopposed in the Republican primary and in Ben Leman is running unopposed in the Republican primary and in the the general election. general election. #Vote4MentalHealth Region 8 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI Greater Houston, NAMI Gulf Coast, NAMI Golden Triangle

House District 22 Rhonda Seth (R) Rhonda Seth has not responded to the questionnaire yet. Joseph "Joe" Deshotel (D, Incumbent) Joseph "Joe" Deshotel is running unopposed in the Democratic Mitch Thames (R) primary. 1. How will you make sure more people have access to Jacorion Randle (R) mental health treatment and services? Jacorion Randle is running unopposed in the Republican primary. We need to place a major focus on mental health and our rural hospitals. Our hospitals are underfunded and underserved. We are House District 23 losing quality health care to the surrounding big cities and our citizens are suffering. I want to do a comprehensive review on our healthcare (R, Incumbent) Mayes Middleton is running unopposed in the Republican primary. system in our rural area, fixing the areas that need to be addressed.

Jeff Antonelli (D) 2. What will you do to improve coverage for mental health Jeff Antonelli is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. care?

House District 24 This is quite a shame. Mental health care is so important and needs to be addressed. It is necessary to look at our mental health care systems (R, Incumbent) to make adjustments based on need. Everyone, from postpartum Greg Bonnen is running unopposed in the Republican primary. mothers to veterans to people with PTSD to children with special

needs, needs to have the access to quality mental health care. I intend Brian J. Rogers (D) to focus on this issue as the State Rep for District 25. Brian J. Rogers is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.

3. What will you do to divert people with mental illness from the criminal justice system? House District 25

Troy Brimage (R) Our criminal justice system needs a major overhaul, including their Troy Brimage has not responded to the questionnaire yet. mental health. Those with mental illnesses need help outside of the jail system. It's not fair to the jailors and it's not fair to the individuals Ro'Vin Garrett (R) suffering in the prison system. This definitely needs to be addressed, Ro'Vin Garrett has not responded to the questionnaire yet. giving those people a different option that helps, instead of hurts, them. #Vote4MentalHealth Region 8 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI Greater Houston, NAMI Gulf Coast, NAMI Golden Triangle

4. How will you help people with mental illness who are (R) struggling with housing? Cody Vasut has not responded to the questionnaire yet.

Patrick Henry (D) I appreciate this question so much, because I have seen firsthand the Patrick Henry is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. hardships that people go through and the terror on their faces living on the streets. I appreciate clinics and health care systems, like Legacy Community Health, for doing their part to provide comprehensive House District 26 health care coverage to all patients, especially those on the streets. I plan to continue to support that work, whether it be by volunteering or Leonard Chan (R) legislatively, to ensure that all of our citizens have access to quality health care, stigma free. 1. How will you make sure more people have access to mental health treatment and services?

5. How will you promote earlier intervention for people First step is ensuring our first responders are equipped with the skills experiencing mental illness? to handle mental health emergency incidents. Mental health should be

incorporated into the initial and continuing education of emergency I would love to bring mental health awareness into the schools. I medical technicians, police, and firefighters. believe that our young people need our support from a young age so that they are able to grow into successful adults. I plan to implement Physical and mental health needs are intertwined, and additional these plans, as well as plans to help them transition from the bubble of efforts are needed to integrate their systems of care. Primary care school to their adult careers. physicians should develop partnerships with mental health professions in screening and treating mental health issues. This would include encouraging sharing of administrative services and space to lower 6. What will you do to improve access to health care and overhead costs. Another possibility is to increase the use of reduce our high uninsured rate? telemedicine for mental health concerns.

Unfortunately the supply for both physical and mental health providers Insurance is so important in our world. I have always stressed the is lacking in rural areas. I would be in favor of creating and expanding important of having good, quality insurance to my kids and have loan forgiveness programs for those serving in rural areas. always worked hard to contribute that to my family. I will absolutely look into this issue and how we can raise the number of Texans with 2. What will you do to improve coverage for mental health insurance. At any time our Texas families can be hit with a major care? tragedy and I would hate to see those families hit with a huge bill because they weren't prepared. #Vote4MentalHealth Region 8 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI Greater Houston, NAMI Gulf Coast, NAMI Golden Triangle Texas Department of Insurance needs to receive the resources to 5. How will you promote earlier intervention for people investigate parity issues. Insurance companies should demonstrate experiencing mental illness? good faith efforts in including additional mental health providers in their networks. Prior authorization requirements to obtain mental health treatment should be reduced. Routine mental wellness screenings should be encouraged in the same manner routine physical wellness screenings are encouraged, 3. What will you do to divert people with mental illness from especially for the youth. This includes eventually providing similar the criminal justice system? types of insurance coverage. Time and expense can be reduced with an increasingly integrated health care system.

I would advocate enhancing funding in the Texas Correctional Office I support the efforts of the previous legislature in establishing the on Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments as recommended Texas Mental Health Care Consortium. The funding for those efforts by the 84th Legislature's Mental Health Select Committee Interim should be sustained. Additional training opportunities for public Report. I favor investments in reducing recidivism for those suffering school personnel to recognize mental health issues need to be provided from mental illness, as this will reduce long-term human and financial -- and be part of their continuing education requirements. Programs costs. I would be favor of requiring judges across the state to complete noted for best practices such as those at Elgin ISD, Hutto ISD, and periodic mental health education training. Austin ISD should be expanded elsewhere.

4. How will you help people with mental illness who are 6. What will you do to improve access to health care and struggling with housing? reduce our high uninsured rate?

I am in favor of integrating housing and mental health efforts. Houston Increased accessibility will reduce overall health care costs, as reduced homelessness by having an integrated system for sheltering, individuals and families will seek treatment before conditions worsen. food, and clothing rather than relying on disparate, silo-ed systems. I would advocate that the health and human service agencies engage in Proven effective in multiple cities since the 1990s, a "housing-first" an outreach efforts to enlist individuals that are already eligible for strategy should be pursued, as it provides a basic level of stability. Medicaid or CHIP. Currently, 15 percent of the uninsured fall into this Services can be delivered more efficiently if individuals have a known category. Renewal periods should also be extended to reduce location. inconvenience and inefficiencies. I would also favor the use of healthcare exchanges for individuals and families to find appropriate I support collaboration between Texas Department of Housing and insurance coverage that meet their respective needs. Community Affairs and Texas Health and Human Services. Despite seemingly different missions, these two state agencies serve the same (R) constituents and clientele. Jacey Jetton has not responded to the questionnaire yet.

#Vote4MentalHealth Region 8 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI Greater Houston, NAMI Gulf Coast, NAMI Golden Triangle Matthew Morgan (R) 2. What will you do to improve coverage for mental health Matthew Morgan has not responded to the questionnaire yet. care?

Lawrence Allen Jr. (D) Lawrence Allen Jr. has not responded to the questionnaire yet. The question as stated here requires a two front approach- one from the patient and one from the provider. From the patients viewpoint, L. Sarah DeMerchant (D) education on asking for the care as it is law the treatment must be L. Sarah DeMerchant has not responded to the questionnaire yet. provided. Patients need to know their rights. From the provider, education on providing equal treatment. Of course, there has to be Rish Oberoi (D) payment for the services provided and it has to be equitable for the Rish Oberoi has not responded to the questionnaire yet. provider and patient. But education has to be key from both sides. And this has to be the focus on continuing education and patient panels. Suleman Lalani (D) Suleman Lalani has not responded to the questionnaire yet. 3. What will you do to divert people with mental illness from the criminal justice system?

House District 27 Jails need more support to have those trained to work with mental Ron Reynolds (D, Incumbent) illness on staff. I will support initiatives that provide for more staffing Ron Reynolds has not responded to the questionnaire yet. to help our jail system identify and treat mental illness.

Byron Ross (D) 4. How will you help people with mental illness who are Byron Ross has not responded to the questionnaire yet. struggling with housing?

Manish Seth (R) We have to provide for facilities that treat and house mentally ill 1. How will you make sure more people have access to people. This has to be done jointly at the state and local level. I will mental health treatment and services? support initiatives that work with state and local authorities to help the homeless who have mental illness. In order to provide proper mental health and addiction care, we have to attract and retain the best providers. This can be done by providing 5. How will you promote earlier intervention for people education and business initiatives to providers. In this manner, they experiencing mental illness? can establish a suitable facility to care for patients. We will also have to provide additional incentives for areas that are underserved. Education on how to detect mental illness by school teachers and counselors is an initiative will support. Providing proper training to understand the signs of mental illness can result in early treatment and #Vote4MentalHealth Region 8 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI Greater Houston, NAMI Gulf Coast, NAMI Golden Triangle support. And, I will support continued support for organizations that House District 85 work with families to help identify and work with those experiencing mental illness. Phil Stephenson (R, Incumbent) Phil Stephenson has not responded to the questionnaire yet. 6. What will you do to improve access to health care and reduce our high uninsured rate? Abolaji Tijani Ayobami (R)

1. How will you make sure more people have access to As someone who has served on a board of a safety net provider, I will mental health treatment and services? continue to support and fund safety net providers. I will also bring my experience with the healthcare industry to provide heath care coverage I will promote a legislation that will mandate the State Ministry of to Texans and reduce the uninsured rate. Health to specially create the Mental Health Assistance commission that will monitor Pre-existing Conditions and follow up with those Tom Virippan (R) patients that is in this condition so that they will have immediate and Tom Virippan has not responded to the questionnaire yet. direct access to medical treatment that is needed before any health crisis occurs. If such provision is already existing I will find the reasons why it was not performing and overhaul the provision to be House District 28 able to take care of the Mental Health Situation at once in full. Insurance provider will also be given the opportunity to offer Mental (R, Incumbent) Health Gary Gates has not responded to the questionnaire yet.

2. What will you do to improve coverage for mental health Schell Hammel (R) care? Schell Hammel has not responded to the questionnaire yet.

I will work to place legislation and even walk across the Party Lines if Elizabeth Markowitz (D) need be and in tandem with the Executive arm of the government to Elizabeth Markowitz is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. mandate the Medical Insurance providers to provide an affordable

Insurance coverage as part of Medical Insurance that will take care of House District 29 Mental Health pre-existing conditions and also cover any routine red- flag cases that may be exposed to care givers during routine medical Ed Thompson (R, Incumbent) checkups. Any Insurance providers that will not offer an affordable Ed Thompson is running unopposed in the Republican primary. Mental Health Care Insurance will be penalized by fines and dis- allowed from further selling all other lines of Medical Insurance Travis Boldt (D) Product in the State of Texas. I will also place a legislation that will Travis Boldt is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. give Tax Incentives to those Insurers that offers an affordable and Robust Mental Health care Coverage. #Vote4MentalHealth Region 8 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI Greater Houston, NAMI Gulf Coast, NAMI Golden Triangle

3. What will you do to divert people with mental illness from One of my Campaign Agenda on My Election Manifesto is to the criminal justice system? provide access to Affordable and Dependable Health care. I will promote and create an enabling environment that will bring the Prevention is Better than Cure. I will ask the Criminal Justice Healthcare Provider, The Health Insurance Company, The Department to create a monitoring Task Force that will access the Government Policy Makers, The Healthcare Consumers (Patients) criminal justice department and found out the best way to separate especially those with Pre-Existing conditions to sit together on the those with severe mental illness from the Jails and create an round table of decision and develop a robust affordable and environment that will specially accommodate this group of mutually benefited Health care system access without individuals, with a view to getting them required treatment discrimination and allow many uninsured to be able to access the constantly. Health care system in an affordable manner. This is a very important policy that the State Legislature and the Executive arm 4. How will you help people with mental illness who are of the government must work hand in hand to find a permanent struggling with housing? solutions to in the 21st Century.

The State Government will have to develop a great relationship Robert Boettcher (R) with the FHA in the State and request that People with Mental Robert Boettcher has not responded to the questionnaire yet. Illness is provided with the type of Secondary Assistance during the period of Housing procurement to re-evaluate their Joey Cardenas III (D) qualification clause to having Housing. The inability to secure a Joey Cardenas III is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. house could trigger Mental Health Crisis that will endanger the society. Section 8 type of structural adjustment transition to a House could be employed to solving this kind of Crisis. House District 126

5. How will you promote earlier intervention for people (R, Incumbent) experiencing mental illness? Sam Harless has not responded to the questionnaire yet.

Make a budgetary provision that will Release more funding to the Undrai Fizer (D) Healthcare system that do early, thorough and constant Health evaluations in potential patients that have exercised certain 1. How will you make sure more people have access to behavior relative to Mental Health Symptoms. Early detection, mental health treatment and services? diagnosis and containment will be helpful and healthier for the Mental health is "health for the mind!" I would advocate for all society. systems and modules that focus on the health of the Whole Person. It

naturally should be perceived as a right of human dignity to do so. My 6. What will you do to improve access to health care and nature would see that everyone is cared for. However, it will take us reduce our high uninsured rate? #Vote4MentalHealth Region 8 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI Greater Houston, NAMI Gulf Coast, NAMI Golden Triangle defeating the "systems" of those who control the allotment, budget, We need to provide innovative and significantly certified counselors and the priorities. who have the ability to community and bring strategies and wisdom to various life problems that happen to effect many of us who happen to 2. What will you do to improve coverage for mental health reside in underserved communities. Mental illness is not a money care? problem, but it is more exposed in its negativity when it relates to people of color, impoverished areas, and communities that cannot I would seek to establish unique legislation that takes mental "health" afford to "hide or conceal it" through what we see or perceive. The just as seriously as physical "health." We would seek to bring worst of it is seen in suburban life. It goes undetected when we feel awareness of the effectiveness of Humanity when it is truly Whole. that certain individuals have everything going for them in life, only to These rights are not political, but true and human. Whenever it is find out later, after a certain tragedy, that all was not well. perceived as a mere "politic subject," it loses its significance. 6. What will you do to improve access to health care and 3. What will you do to divert people with mental illness from reduce our high uninsured rate? the criminal justice system? Health care, on all fronts, is the catalyst of my run for office. I was I have set up community ambassadorships and inter-faith alliances to recently diagnosed as a end staged renal patient. I too, am considered help with the counseling, housing, and personal development of disabled, even though I seek this office. I have personally experienced individuals who suffer from various aspects of mental illness. I believe the inhumane servicing and lack of significant benefit from the health when we connect with the spiritual core of individuals who happen to industry. I seek to bring change and a new awareness to action as it suffer with these conditions, we can issue in new realms of healing, relates to how the disabled and the mentally ill are treated by social understanding, and rehabilitation. I simply speak from the experience services. I was also recently endorsed by the Texas Democrats with of what we are doing already! Disabilities as a result of my fight for the disabled!

4. How will you help people with mental illness who are Natali Hurtado (D) struggling with housing? Natali Hurtado has not responded to the questionnaire yet.

First, we must develop a system of healing, discipline, and rehabilitation. Secondly, we can provide benefits and reward those House District 127 private groups/individuals who provide certain "goodwill housing" to those who seek to get back on their feet. Our city is full of good (R, Incumbent) samaritans who give from the goodness of their heart and Dan Huberty has not responded to the questionnaire yet. consciousness. A good heart and spirit is always greater than a mere ordinance. Dwight Ford (R) Dwight Ford has not responded to the questionnaire yet. 5. How will you promote earlier intervention for people experiencing mental illness? #Vote4MentalHealth Region 8 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI Greater Houston, NAMI Gulf Coast, NAMI Golden Triangle

House District 128 things, through Rehabilitation, give them a new HABIT and counseling. (R, Incumbent) Briscoe Cain has not responded to the questionnaire yet. 4. How will you help people with mental illness who are struggling with housing? Robert Hoskins (R) Robert Hoskins has not responded to the questionnaire yet. I have always visioned helping with housing and to do that by helping Josh Markle (D) with counseling, helping with training, helping with jobs, providing Josh Markle has not responded to the questionnaire yet. state funds to give hope and a better future.

Mary E. Williams (D) 5. How will you promote earlier intervention for people experiencing mental illness? 1. How will you make sure more people have access to mental health treatment and services? To promote earlier intervention for people experiencing mental illness it starts from early detection in the home to the medical care, so the I would champion my time to providing more Healthcare state funds to medical care must be more alert and aware of it's patients. Healthcare Medicaid we need to expand Medicaid for the use of providers care for must have more training mental health treatment on all points and parts of mental health. Texas must provide help for underserved and rural areas. 6. What will you do to improve access to health care and 2. What will you do to improve coverage for mental health reduce our high uninsured rate? care? We must have Healthcare for everyone and EXPAND the current I will fight to improve coverage for MH and expand Medicaid and Medicaid plan mental health care. Texas must be willing to rehabilitate substance use disorders and funds to help. House District 129

3. What will you do to divert people with mental illness from (R, Incumbent) the criminal justice system? Dennis Paul has not responded to the questionnaire yet.

Ryan Lee (R) To divert someone with mental health from the criminal justice system Ryan Lee has not responded to the questionnaire yet. we must offer them a better way, change the way they have been doing

#Vote4MentalHealth Region 8 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI Greater Houston, NAMI Gulf Coast, NAMI Golden Triangle Kayla Alix (D) Mike Schofield (R) Kayla Alix is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. Mike Schofield has not responded to the questionnaire yet.

House District 130 House District 133

Tom Oliverson (R, Incumbent) Jim Murphy (R, Incumbent) is running unopposed in the Republican primary. Jim Murphy is running unopposed in the Republican primary.

Bryan J. Henry (D) Sandra Moore (D) Bryan J. Henry is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. Sandra Moore is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.

House District 134 House District 131 Sarah Davis (R, Incumbent) Alma A. Allen (D, Incumbent) Sarah Davis is running unopposed in the Republican primary. Alma A. Allen has not responded to the questionnaire yet. Lanny Bose (D) Deondre Moore (D) Lanny Bose has not responded to the questionnaire yet. Deondre Moore has not responded to the questionnaire yet. (D) Carey Lashley (D) Carey Lashley has not responded to the questionnaire yet. 1. How will you make sure more people have access to mental health treatment and services? Elvonte Patton (D) Elvonte Patton has not responded to the questionnaire yet. The first step is to opt in to Medicaid expansion. One of my top priorities when I reach the is ensuring all Texans have access to quality healthcare and that includes mental health care. House District 132 I support the expansion of Medicaid in our state and will work to see Gina Calanni (D, Incumbent) that that happens. Gina Calanni is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. 2. What will you do to improve coverage for mental health Angelica Garcia (R) care? Angelica Garcia has not responded to the questionnaire yet.

#Vote4MentalHealth Region 8 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI Greater Houston, NAMI Gulf Coast, NAMI Golden Triangle Texas must enforce its laws requiring insurance companies provide 5. How will you promote earlier intervention for people equal coverage for all mental health services and treatment. experiencing mental illness?

3. What will you do to divert people with mental illness from the criminal justice system? We must improve the mental health care system for our young people with a special focus on children in foster care. The earlier we can start services to children, the better chance they have. We need to put more Our local law enforcement in Houston and Harris County have been funds into the programs that exist now and provide for new programs. very pro-active about working with the mentally ill persons they come We need to increase education about mental health in our schools for across as part of their daily work. They have special units that work both parents and students, especially in areas such as suicide with the mentally ill and coordinate with government agencies and prevention. We must also ensure that young people in the criminal non-profits to try to keep them out of the criminal justice system and justice system have access to mental healthcare. put into programs that will help them. 6. What will you do to improve access to health care and I fully support diversion of persons with mental illness to special reduce our high uninsured rate? courts, which can see that they receive the assistance they need rather than warehousing them in jail. Texas has the highest rate of uninsured of any state, and more than I would like to see these types of programs utilized statewide and am one-fifth of Texas children (21.5%) have no insurance. We are failing prepared to support that. our families. We have to expand Medicaid and CHIP and ensure that mental health services are part of this coverage. 4. How will you help people with mental illness who are struggling with housing? Ruby Powers (D)

1. How will you make sure more people have access to It’s not just housing the homeless need but housing with wraparound mental health treatment and services? services. This includes mental health care but also help such as job training. In Houston, The Way Home, a coalition of more than 100 The mental health workforce shortage is driven by factors that affect non-profit and governmental agencies, have done a good job housing recruitment and retention of individual practitioners. Chief among the homeless and reducing that population significantly. We need to these factors, as studies and stakeholders suggest, is that the current follow this example statewide and all work together to provide housing payment system fails to provide adequate reimbursements for and services. That is why I am so passionate about increasing providers, especially in light of the extensive training necessary for Medicare and Medicaid in Texas. practice. Furthermore, more students may be attracted to the mental

health professions by strengthening graduate medical education and by

exposing them to opportunities in the mental health and addiction field earlier in their education.We need to address the bills that are in place #Vote4MentalHealth Region 8 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI Greater Houston, NAMI Gulf Coast, NAMI Golden Triangle that advocate for mental health aid. Mental health is a preliminary other issues that are better addressed outside prison walls. I will help issue that faces America and the lack of attention that goes into by diverting individuals from confinement to effective treatment and resources and funding such as health care providers, that could help other supportive services and require local behavioral health those in need. I will work tirelessly for legislation to address and help authorities to coordinate their information and operations with the insure and facilitate mental health resources that could help all Texans criminal justice system practitioners. In turn, valuable law enforcement live a healthy and better life. and corrections resources can instead be concentrated on higher-risk offenders and legitimate threats to public safety. 2. What will you do to improve coverage for mental health care? 4. How will you help people with mental illness who are struggling with housing?

The payment/reimbursement system for mental health care services is insufficient and serves as a barrier to practice.Discrimination in health Texas’ overall homelessness rate is nearly half the national average, insurance coverage for mental health and substance abuse has existed nine per 10,000 people in Texas are homeless, compared with 17 per despite the passage of other anti-discrimination legislation. Mental 10,000 people nationwide, according to HUD. Unfortunately Health America calls on the federal and state government to ensure, as homelessness is often the byproduct of failures of societal institutions, a matter of law, that public and private health plans afford people such as the criminal justice system and health care providers. Because access to needed behavioral health care and treatment on the same up to 75 percent of unsheltered people struggle with substance abuse basis. Such services should be subject to the same terms and disorders, a one-size-fits-all “housing first” policy often ends up conditions as care and treatment for any other illness, without regard to harming the very people it's supposed to help, recovering addicts and diagnosis, severity, or cause. domestic violence survivors by placing them in close proximity to addicts and abusers.We need to advocate the access to mental health If elected will work tirelessly to push for Legislation to reverse this services, substance treatment services and quality affordable arbitrary discrimination. Voluntary measures have not worked to end healthcare for people experiencing homelessness. discrimination. All Texans deserve high-quality health care, whether it’s for a physical ailment or a mental health or substance use issue. 5. How will you promote earlier intervention for people experiencing mental illness? 3. What will you do to divert people with mental illness from the criminal justice system? Harris County’s population is projected to reach 4.5 million residents by 2020. Texas has the highest rate of medically uninsured citizens Texas prisons and jails house many people with mental health issues among the states; specifically, Texas is ranked last in per capita mental who have failed to receive proper treatment. County entities, including health funding compared to other states.Early intervention programs jails and emergency health providers, are struggling to address are an integral component of basic healthcare to enable early detection individuals’ chronic needs. It is critical to establish a community- and treatment of potentially serious health conditions. Premature based, public health approach to substance use, behavioral health, and management is a key for not only preventing the progression of mental #Vote4MentalHealth Region 8 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI Greater Houston, NAMI Gulf Coast, NAMI Golden Triangle disorders, but also for reducing the mortality and long-term morbidity so often associated with these disorders, including premature death, Merrilee Rosene Beazley (R) social isolation, poor functioning and reduced educational and Merrilee Rosene Beazley has not responded to the questionnaire yet. vocational productivity. I will propose to Texas legislature ways of capturing the various pathways to a range of disorders by the use of Justin Ray (R) trans-diagnostic services that can help capture a wider range of lower Justin Ray has not responded to the questionnaire yet. risk cases. The consequences faced by youth experiencing homelessness are vast and require coordination across the education, child welfare, juvenile justice, health and human services systems. House District 137

6. What will you do to improve access to health care and (D, Incumbent) reduce our high uninsured rate? Gene Wu is running unopposed in the Democratic primary and in the general election.

Last decade, then- Gov. Rick Perry did Texas a grave disservice by declining to run a state based exchange or expand Medicaid. This House District 138 shameful act left Texas behind the rest of the nation, and today more than 1 million Texans lack healthcare.The number of uninsured Josh Flynn (R) children in the US increased by more than 400,00 between 2016 and Josh Flynn has not responded to the questionnaire yet. 2018 bringing the total to over 4 million uninsured children in the nation. Approximately half of the nation's uninsured children reside in (R) six states, more than 1 in 5 live in Texas alone. Already, Texas has Lacey Hull has not responded to the questionnaire yet. more uninsured people than any other state, according to census data from last year. There are no signs that this disturbing trend in Claver Kamau-Imani (R) children's health coverage will abate unless national and state leaders Claver Kamau-Imani has not responded to the questionnaire yet. fully rededicate themselves on a bipartisan basis to the goal of ensuring that all children have access to affordable health care. We can Akilah Bacy (D) start to reverse this trend by reducing the extra rounds of red tape that Akilah Bacy has not responded to the questionnaire yet. knock eligible individuals out of Medicaid. When elected State Representative, I will work endlessly to ensure a healthier life for our Jenifer Rene Pool (D) youth and community. Jenifer Rene Pool has not responded to the questionnaire yet.

House District 135 Josh Wallenstein (D) Josh Wallenstein has not responded to the questionnaire yet. Jon E. Rosenthal (D, Incumbent) Jon E. Rosenthal is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. #Vote4MentalHealth Region 8 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI Greater Houston, NAMI Gulf Coast, NAMI Golden Triangle

House District 139 2. What will you do to improve coverage for mental health care? Jarvis D. Johnson (D, Incumbent) Jarvis D. Johnson has not responded to the questionnaire yet. The Legislature has seen the importance of mental health and has Angeanette Thibodeaux (D) dedicated more funding in mental health services, particularly in Angeanette Thibodeaux has not responded to the questionnaire yet. school safety. I understand the importance of having to get insurance companies to pay for certain health treatments and will support legislation for the equal treatment of mental health conditions and House District 140 substance abuse disorders I have passed several laws to make insurance companies pay for treatments such as anti-cancer oral (D, Incumbent) medication, 3D mammograms, HPV & cervical cancer screening tests Armando Walle is running unopposed in the Democratic primary and and contraceptives, like the IUD, diaphragms, Norplant. in the general election.

3. What will you do to divert people with mental illness from House District 141 the criminal justice system?

Senfronia Thompson (D, Incumbent) I joint authored the Sandra Bland Act in 2017 to make county jails

send persons with mental health and substance abuse problems to 1. How will you make sure more people have access to treatment. It also simplified the process on how a person with mental mental health treatment and services? health and intellectual disabilities can receive a personal bond. I also passed legislation in the Texas House to stop the execution of persons with IDD. I will continue to work on these issues. As chair of the Public Health Committee, my committee will be studying several bills that we passed relating to rural health care such as HB 3934 which provides rural hospitals with the authority to 4. How will you help people with mental illness who are establish a health care collaborative, SB 633 which provides the struggling with housing? authority to assemble LMHA in rural areas to ensure mental health services in those area and SB 11 that created the Texas Child Mental We know that lack of affordable housing is the main cause of Health Care Consortium to facilitate access to mental health services homelessness. I have supported several affordable housing projects in through telehealth. We look forward in making recommendations my district and voted for $25 million in state funds to address necessary that will improve access to care in rural and underserved homelessness, mental illness and drug addiction. areas. In addition, recent events across our nation and in Texas have begun the conversation about school and gun safety. The Texas Legislature #Vote4MentalHealth Region 8 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI Greater Houston, NAMI Gulf Coast, NAMI Golden Triangle began to see the importance of mental health and dedicated more We must expand Medicaid coverage so millions of Texans can get the funding to mental health services. We need to continue to do more. I health coverage they rightfully deserve. Texas should not be turning plan on refiling my bill and joint resolution that will create the Texas away valuable federal dollars that is much needed in keeping Texans Mental and Behavioral Health Research Institute. The goal is to bring healthy. I am listening to the calls for help from our county and city the state’s leading universities and provide them with the necessary officials warning us that if we don’t do something next session before funding to research mental health similar to the Cancer Prevention and the money runs out, many of the essential local health programs that so Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). Through their research, we can many individuals have come to depend on will have drastic cuts or find alternative treatments for individuals suffering from mental and simply shut down. We cannot have that happen and we must work behavioral health issues, substance abuse and addiction so we can together to continue preventative care and keep Texans from ending up improve their overall well-being and help prevent them from harming in the ER. themselves and others. I hope I can earn NAMI’s support on this legislation next session. Willie Roaches Franklyn (D) Willie Roaches Franklyn has not responded to the questionnaire yet.

5. How will you promote earlier intervention for people experiencing mental illness? House District 142

Harold V. Dutton (D, Incumbent) I was proud to work with NAMI to pass a bill that will allow mental Harold V. Dutton has not responded to the questionnaire yet. health screenings for adolescents. Children ages 12-18 that are enrolled in Medicaid now receive annual mental health screenings. Richard Bonton (D) Prior to the passage of the bill, only one screening was allowed Richard Bonton has not responded to the questionnaire yet. beginning at age 12. I look forward to continuing working with NAMI and other organizations to treat persons with mental illness. Jerry Davis (D) I also passed legislation that created the Collaborative Task Force on Jerry Davis has not responded to the questionnaire yet. Public School Mental Health Services to study our state-funded mental health programs in our public and charter schools and make any Natasha Ruiz (D) recommendations necessary in reducing bullying, reviewing the rate of Natasha Ruiz has not responded to the questionnaire yet. out-of-school discipline and preventing suicides and substance abuse. The recommendations will be submitted to the Legislature by Jason Rowe (R) November 1, 2020. Jason Rowe is running unopposed in the Republican primary.

6. What will you do to improve access to health care and reduce our high uninsured rate?

#Vote4MentalHealth Region 8 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI Greater Houston, NAMI Gulf Coast, NAMI Golden Triangle

House District 143 As a person living with HIV, I know that just like services centered around HIV, mental health services are scare in rural areas as well in (D, Incumbent) areas that tend to he in poverty. To address this issue, I believe in Ana Hernandez is running unopposed in the Democratic primary and pushing the legislature to pass requirements for services to be the in the general election. same across the board. This means that funding in rural areas and in underserved urban area must be increased while expanding to state run universal healthcare. House District 144

Mary Ann Perez (D, Incumbent) 2. What will you do to improve coverage for mental health is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. care?

Tony Salas (R) Tony Salas is running unopposed in the Republican primary. First, let me say that ableism is very real and laws are written while lacking scientific foundations. To improve mental health coverage, we must actually provide services accessible to all Texans that does not House District 145 involve using jails as mental health facilities while acknowledging that mental disabilities and illnesses as tangible and not just something that (D, Incumbent) folks can suppress. Christina Morales is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.

3. What will you do to divert people with mental illness from Martha Elena Fierro (R) the criminal justice system? Martha Elena Fierro is running unopposed in the Republican primary.

I would implement polices that courts must follow, that divert Texans House District 146 with mental illness and disabilities, Texans who deal with substance abuse and in crisis to life saving services. (D, Incumbent)

Shawn Thierry has not responded to the questionnaire yet. 4. How will you help people with mental illness who are Ashton Woods (D) struggling with housing?

1. How will you make sure more people have access to We must look at state run as well as partnership opportunities to mental health treatment and services? increase access to facilities that are easy to get to. Furthermore, we must work hard to provide access to transitional housing, facilities that have lockers that can serve as storage, mailbox and offices for #Vote4MentalHealth Region 8 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI Greater Houston, NAMI Gulf Coast, NAMI Golden Triangle providers to connect those living in homelessness to services they We must abolish and remove barriers to access like pre-existing need. The mail boxes are important, as the biggest barrier to access to conditions and/or inability to pay for health-related services. An services for homeless people is not having an address. Finally, I would ethical and transparent approach to providing healthcare that goes expand access to services that helps to replace identification and other beyond the Affordable Care Act exists. There is an opportunity to important documents. provide Medicare for all to all Texans that will place emphasis on preventative care that will greatly improve life chances and quality of life. 5. How will you promote earlier intervention for people experiencing mental illness? Improving quality of life means making access to care affordable and accessible… Affordable and accessible care means getting rid of premiums, deductibles, co-pays and prescription costs. Accessibility Preventative care requires a massive education effort that meets people where they are. Aside from expanding healthcare for all or a form of the removal of barriers of entry like bad policies that seek to violate women’s bodies and autonomy, are rooted in anti-LGBT sentiments, universal healthcare, we must assess what works and replace what crisis pregnancy centers that misrepresent their services and are does not. Meeting people where they are means inviting them to the racially biased. table and making policies that actually save lives. We must inform people that they have services to begin with, removing barriers to entry is the first step. We must ensure that Trans people and cisgender women have access to care that is non biased and respect the bodily autonomy that Women

and Trans masculine men have over their own bodies and are provided 6. What will you do to improve access to health care and access to medically sound reproductive health services. Every person reduce our high uninsured rate? with a uterus must have access to services that does not hinder any decisions regarding childbirth and should have access to contraception, counseling, family planning services, prenatal and postnatal care, Health care is a human right and every Texan should have access to affordable childcare, and all forms of reproductive care. high-quality, affordable health care. The systemic disinvestment in statewide healthcare services has created a gap in access to care for many Texans. Texas must lead the way in providing comprehensive House District 147 healthcare that is not only accessible to all Texans, but provides a level of service that warm and welcoming. We must protect all Texans’ (D, Incumbent) health with special emphasis on the most vulnerable in our state. 1. How will you make sure more people have access to Children mental health treatment and services? People with disabilities I have worked hard to increase access to mental health care during my Veterans nearly 30 years in the Texas Legislature. I have authored and passed Seniors bills to expand Healthy Community Collaboratives to rural areas of the state, make tele-psychiatry and tele-health more accessible, increase #Vote4MentalHealth Region 8 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI Greater Houston, NAMI Gulf Coast, NAMI Golden Triangle jail diversion, and provide tuition payback assistance to healthcare supportive housing require a private match. Next session I will be providers who serve these areas. I will continue to work to make sure filling a bill that will allow that match to come from a private or local that mental healthcare providers can practice to their full training and government entity. increase funding to make it economically feasible for providers to work in rural areas. 5. How will you promote earlier intervention for people experiencing mental illness? 2. What will you do to improve coverage for mental health care? This is personal to me because it was during my teenage years that my mental health conditions manifested. That is one of the reasons why I In 1997 I authored HB 1173, which got the ball moving on mental have authored and worked on bills that require mental health training health parity law in Texas. Then as a member of the President Obama's for teachers, school personal, and college professors. Having someone State Legislators for Health Reform, I helped develop and pass the who can see that a student may be struggling with a mental health Affordable Care Act, which gave us full mental health parity. condition and divert them to a professional who can make a proper However, I do recognize there is more work to be done, as insurance diagnosis is important because we need to reach students and people providers far too often reject mental health treatment claims. That is before they are in a crisis situation. We need to make sure that why I have authored a bill the last several sessions to make it easier for everyone who should be getting this training is getting it, and that patients to get their claims accepted as it relates to eating disorders, there are mental health professionals either in the school or in the and I will continue to fight to pass this bill. community for students to be diverted to. 3. What will you do to divert people with mental illness from 6. What will you do to improve access to health care and the criminal justice system? reduce our high uninsured rate? I passed the Sandra Bland Act in 2017 and passed HB 4468 last The number one thing Texas can do to address this is expand session, both which expand the use of Healthy Community Medicaid. That is why I have authored a bill the last several sessions to Collaboratives so that there will be a place for people to be diverted to. expand Medicaid in Texas. Even though some Texas leaders have The Sandra Bland Act also increased mental health training for both prevented us from expanding Medicaid, I have worked with my officers and jailers so that they are better able to identify and divert colleagues to improve healthcare access where we can, including the people to the resources they need. I will continue to build on these creation and extension of the 1115 Transformational Waiver, efforts next session to see where training can be improved and helping increasing the number of children eligible for CHIP, and extending to fund and create more places for people to be diverted to. healthcare to expecting and new mothers.

4. How will you help people with mental illness who are Colin Ross (D) struggling with housing? Colin Ross has not responded to the questionnaire yet.

The state needs to increase its funding for supportive housing and Aurelia Wagner (D) make it easier for local communities to access state funding for the Aurelia Wagner has not responded to the questionnaire yet. purpose of constructing and running supportive housing facilities. Unfortunately, right now matching state funds that could be used for #Vote4MentalHealth Region 8 Candidate Questionnaire For NAMI Affiliates: NAMI Greater Houston, NAMI Gulf Coast, NAMI Golden Triangle

House District 148 House District 150

Anna Eastman (D, Incumbent) (R, Incumbent) Anna Eastman has not responded to the questionnaire yet. Valoree Swanson is running unopposed in the Republican primary.

Pennhy Morales Shaw (D) Michael Robert Walsh (D) Pennhy Morales Shaw has not responded to the questionnaire yet. Michael Robert Walsh is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. Adrian Garcia (D) Adrian Garcia has not responded to the questionnaire yet.

Emily Wolf (D) Emily Wolf has not responded to the questionnaire yet.

Cynthia Reyes-Revilla (D) Cynthia Reyes-Revilla has not responded to the questionnaire yet.

Luis LaRotta (R) Luis LaRotta is running unopposed in the Republican primary.

House District 149

Hubert Vo (D, Incumbent) is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Lily Truong (R) Lily Truong is running unopposed in the Republican primary.