Let's Become Aware

May 1st marks the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month. Since 1949, the National Mental Health Association has designated and sponsored it in order to increase awareness to Americans of the importance of mental health and the reality of mental illnesses.

Mental health means something different to everyone. For many, it means simply watching their stress levels as well as striking a healthy balance between work and home life. For those suffering from mental disorders, mental health means learning to manage and overcome their illness.

Regardless of any individual’s interpretations, the attention the nation focuses on physical health is disproportionate to the attention focused on mental health. In fact, many insurance companies still do not cover mental illnesses to the same extent as physical health problems. In recent years, there have been a number of efforts on both the state and federal levels to force insurance companies to cover mental illness at an equal level to mental illness. The effort is known as “Mental Health Parity.” The only effort to succeed recently was legislation authored by former Assemblymember Helen Thomson which was signed into law. It requires health care service plans or disability insurance policies to provide coverage for severe mental illness and for the serious emotional disturbance of a child.

This year Senator Don Perata (D-Oakland) has introduced Senate Bill 572 that would require a health care service plan and a health insurer to provide coverage for the diagnosis and medically necessary treatment of mental illness.

These are only first steps in recognizing and addressing mental health issues in California and across the nation

- Pedro Nava

For more information on Mental Health Awareness Month or more information on mental health issues please see:

National Alliance on Mental Illness
www.nami.org/

To find a local NAMI affiliate log on to www.namicalifornia.org


Pedro's Corner

Assemblymember Nava (center) working with workshop participants
Assemblymember Pedro Nava Hosts Medicare Part D Workshop

GOLETA- In an effort to assist seniors enroll in a Medicare Part D plan, Assemblymember Pedro Nava held a Medicare Part D workshop on Saturday, April 22nd at the Goleta Valley Community Center in Goleta. Seniors across the nation, currently under the Medicare program, had to enroll in a prescription drug plan by May 15, 2006, in order to avoid penalties from the federal government.

Assemblymember Nava and Congresswoman Lois Capps were on hand to welcome seniors attending the workshop. Co-sponsored by the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) of Santa Barbara County and staffed by local pharmacists and volunteers, the workshop was able to assist approximately 150 seniors anxious to get some help. Seniors were asked to bring a list of their prescription drugs and volunteers on laptops prepared the top three plans to consider based on cost, the type, and number of prescription drugs. Volunteers then explained how each plan differed and had print-outs for seniors to take home. The information accessed by the volunteers was provided by the Medicare website, (www.medicare.gov), which offers an array of resources for seniors wanting to enroll in a prescription drug plan. Seniors went home feeling more confident about their prescription drug plan options.

Out and About

Asm. Nava explains his Veterans bill,
AB 2750, to WWII Veteran, Fernando Vera, during Satellite District Office Hours in Oxnard

 For more information on Medicare Part D plans or if you missed the May 15th deadline contact:

Medicare
www.medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) 24 hours a day.

HICAP of Ventura County
(805) 477-7300

HICAP of Santa Barbara County
(805) 928-5663

Assemblymember Nava votes for new Infrastructure Bond Package.

SACRAMENTO-The legislature recently passed the largest public works bond package in California’s history. There are going to be four bonds totaling $37.2 billion dollars to improve the state’s roads, schools, levees, and provide affordable housing. The bonds will be placed on the November 2006 ballot for voter approval. Assemblymember Nava stated, “I believe that this is a much needed, long overdue investment in our state’s infrastructure. The investments will ensure that California continues to be an economic leader for our state and country.”

Assemblymember Nava chairs the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on Information Technology and Transportation.

Infrastructure Bond Package Summary

Transportation Bond of $19.9 billion

Housing Bond of $2.8 billion

Education Bond of $10.4 billion

Flood Protection Bond of $4.1 billion

Total: $37.2 billion

"Each bond will appear as a separate ballot measure in the November General Election"

Assemblymember Nava tours Ventura Unified’s Healthy School Project

VENTURA-On Friday, April 21st, Assemblymember Nava visited Lincoln Elementary School in Ventura and was briefed on the Ventura Unified School District Healthy Schools Project. Ventura Unified School District is entering its sixth year of their Healthy Schools Project, featuring a Farm-to- School Salad Bar in nine elementary schools, along with taste-testing, cooking in the classroom and garden-enhanced nutrition education. The program’s goals are to provide local students with healthy lunches and nutrition education programs.

To further enhance programs such as this one, Nava introduced AB 2121, the Farm Fresh Schools Program. The program will introduce California grown, farm-fresh produce in our kids school lunch programs, while providing nutritious and delicious school meals that create more markets for California farmers. Nava said, “I am proud to be working closely with many groups on this measure, the Healthy Eating Lifestyle Principles, Community Alliance with Family Farmers, the Western Growers and the California Farm Bureau.”

Capitol Office:
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0035
Tel: (916) 319-2035
Fax: (916) 319-2135		 District Offices:
Santa Barbara County
101 W. Anapamu Street, Suite A
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Tel: (805) 564-1649
Fax: (805) 564-1651
Ventura County
201 E. Fourth Street
Suite 209-A
Oxnard, CA 93030
Tel: (805) 483-9808
Fax: (805) 483-8182

Email: Assemblymember.Nava@assembly.ca.gov
Web Site: http://www.assembly.ca.gov/nava

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