Judge David L Bazelon Center For Mental Health Law

Litigation the Bazelon centers lawyers engage in cutting-edge litigation to protect and advance legal rights for people with Mental disabilities. The litigation uses and is founded upon federal laws that protect and benefit people with disabilities, including the americans with disabilities act (equality of opportunity), the individuals with disabilities education act (special education), and the medicaid act (Health and Mental Health care). The Bazelon Center files class actions cases, amicus (friend of the court) briefs in important appellate cases and represents individual clients in cases with the potential for broad impact. The Bazelon Center partners with local advocates, large private Law firms, and other public interest Law groups.

Policy advocacy the Bazelon Center pursues a comprehensive Mental Health policy agenda, particularly at the federal level, to reform systems and programs to protect the rights of children and adults with Mental disabilities. The Bazelon centers staff promote these goals in federal legislation and regulation, policy analysis and research and grassroots advocacy. Recently, the Bazelon centers policy advocacy has focused on expanding community- based Mental Health services, diverting people with Mental disabilities from the criminal justice system, increasing the supply of affordable housing, protecting unaccompanied minors, and technology and ai.

Lobbying advocating for the Bazelon centers program objectives through federal policy and strategic policy development. The Bazelon Center also provides newsletters and email alerts in addition to sections of the reporter that urge people to contact their congressional delegates.

Technical assistance and education the Bazelon Center provides technical assistance to state and local governments, attorneys and other advocates, and other organizations working to advance the Law and improve public services systems. The Bazelon Center publishes materials on a wide range of issues, including Health care, education, housing, employment, criminal justice, and foster care. The Bazelon Center has some contract work, usually from larger nonprofit organizations, to provide technical assistance on disability Law.