LAVA Strategies

05/08/2024

May is ! This year marks 75 years of increasing awareness and advocacy for mental health wellness during the month of May.

In support of this conversation, we want to highlight one of our clients, inseparable, which is campaigning to improve mental health policy through championing youth mental health, improving crisis response, and closing the treatment gap. Our bodies and minds are inseparable - so it's critical to give our the same attention as other health concerns. LAVA Strategies is proud to be working with Inseparable on this very important movement.

Check out inseparable's video with Governor Laura Kelly of Kansas as she shares her own journey in protecting her mental health and advocating for better mental health policy in Kansas.

Don't forget to this month!

04/23/2024

Congratulations to our dear friend and fellow advocate, Brian Johnson, on the upcoming release of his inspiring new book, "The Work Is the Work"! 📚

Brian draws on his profound experience with nearly twenty-five years in social justice and LGBTQ+ advocacy to offer this powerful collection of letters to his daughter. These letters are not just personal notes, but a beacon of motivation for anyone dedicated to public service and advocacy.

Whether you are just starting out or are a seasoned activist needing a burst of inspiration, this book reminds us of the vital impact of our efforts and the importance of persevering in the fight for justice.

Join us in celebrating this significant contribution to the world of social change. Here's to inspiring the current and next generation of changemakers. Keep up the great work, Brian!

Brian C. Johnson

03/11/2024

It’s Day 1 of ! From March 11–15, this week brings together students, educators, advocates, and private and public sector leaders to energize the movement for civic education as a nationwide priority.

At LAVA, we believe civic education is essential in equipping each and every person with the tools for active participation in our self-governing society. Optimal civic education, both inside and outside classrooms, is a lifelong endeavor that touches every aspect of our society. Civic education lays the foundation for an informed and engaged populace, sustaining and strengthening our democracy.

Check out the full list of online and in-person events to celebrate this monumental week: https://civiclearningweek.org/events

02/23/2024

As part of Governor Pritzker's visionary transformation plan, Illinois is stepping up it’s game in mental health care with the launch of BEACON -- an innovative, AI-powered portal designed to connect families with vital behavioral health resources for children.

BEACON, powered by Google AI’s natural language processing, streamlines the process of finding relevant services tailored to each family's unique needs. This user-friendly portal marks a significant leap forward in accessibility and efficiency, eliminating the hassle of navigating decentralized resources across various platforms.

The new portal addresses the urgent need to tackle the youth mental health crisis head-on. With skyrocketing rates of su***de among young people, this resource couldn't come at a more crucial time. Kudos to Governor Pritzker and his team for leveraging AI tech to spearhead this groundbreaking initiative!

The State of Illinois teamed with the search giant to launch a new website for families searching for behavioral health resources.