Policy Development & Advocacy to Improve Access to Services

MHARI founded and facilitates a virtual biweekly Parity / Behavioral Health Advocacy Coalition. Members include consumers, mental and behavioral health professionals, community health centers, hospitals, and advocates. The coalition collectively identifies policy priorities, develops advocacy strategies, and collaborates on events and educational activities. To learn more about the coalition and MHARI’s advocacy work, contact info@mhari.org.

Learn About the Coalition’s 2025 Policy Priorities and How to Get Involved

Education & Research: RI Mental Health Parity Initiative

Our Rhode Island Mental Health Parity Initiative educates consumers and providers about their rights to mental and behavioral healthcare treatment covered through health insurance. Mental health parity laws are federal and state laws that prohibit insurance companies from covering mental and behavioral healthcare more restrictively than they do medical services. The Initiative also conducts community research related to consumers’ and providers’ experiences navigating the health insurance system and access to services. We publish reports and use the data in our advocacy.

Get Information and Resources from RI Mental Health Parity Initiative

Check Out Our Reports

Integration For All: Rhode Island’s Olmstead Plan

Since 2020, MHARI has chaired the Integration for All Olmstead Sub-Committee of the Governor’s Council on Behavioral Health. The Sub-Committee, which is composed of community partners, people with disabilities, family members, state partners, and advocates, successfully advocated for a commitment from the state to develop an Olmstead Plan for Rhode Islanders with disabilities at risk of unnecessary institutionalization. In 2024, MHARI and our partners successfully advocated for a state-community Olmstead Advisory Group to serve as a partner to the state in the development of Rhode Island’s first Olmstead Plan, which will be finalized in 2025.

Learn More About Olmstead Plans 

Check out the RI Executive Office of Health and Human Services’ Olmstead Planning website

Youth Behavioral Health Navigation and Education

Our Youth Behavioral Health Liaison provides education and resources to community educators and professionals, and works with families to get children and teens the behavioral health care that they need. Families can get answers to questions about behavioral health and referral to community services. For more information, contact Laura Shank at laura.shank@mhari.org, or click below for more information.

Learn More About Youth Behavioral Health

Rhode Island Mental Health Parity Initiative

Mental health parity is the law. In most cases, your health plan must cover mental health services, including for addiction, the same way it covers physical health services. It cannot discriminate. If your health plan denied services unfairly, you’ve got rights.

Learn More About RI Parity

Your Voice Matters

Get involved and make a difference.