IT'S TIME TO "GET SMART" ABOUT EFFECTIVE ACTIVISM
HEAL Mission has been active for nearly 20 years (since 2002) in working to make the world a better place for all life. Our primary campaign is Teen Liberty (exposing and closing abusive youth facilities and stopping institutionalized child abuse), but, we participate in and support all legitimate actions for human rights, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare. We've learned what actions create change and which ones are nothing more than spectacle and lip service.
We want to help you, no matter what your primary cause, campaign, and issue, become a better activist and advocate. We are providing this page, and the videos and links provided here, to help all legitimate activists improve their success rate in creating positive change.
We suggest you begin by reading the free e-book, Activism 101 available for free download (pdf) here: http://www.heal-online.org/activism101.pdf. This book and the videos below will help you understand how to take effective action on your issue. To be effective, you need to decide whether you want to volunteer to provide direct care or service in your community, work on legislative change, or both. The above linked book and the videos below will assist you no matter what you choose. However, the videos are focused primarily on how to take effective legislative action in your state.
| In the video to the left, you will find episode 58 of The HEAL Report web series. This episode is titled "Legislative Action Primer" and provides you with step by step instructions on taking legislative action as well as an easy online action you can take today to support our efforts to stop institutionalized child abuse. You can take the action mentioned now at http://www.heal-online.org/actionone.htm. We appreciate your support! | |
| In the video to the left, you will find episode 59 of The HEAL Report. This is part 1 of our "Our Demands" series of videos which will also be embedded to this page along with other instructional videos to help you regardless of your primary issue or campaign learn take action and get involved in improving things in your State. After watching this video, if you live in Washington State and would like to join us in calling on Washington State legislators to pass HB 1290, please visit https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill//1290 and follow the directions as shown in this video to make a public comment in support of the bill. | |
| In episode 61, we take you through the steps of taking legislative action at the state level. For this episode, we are looking at making the title II mandate of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prominent and strictly enforced state law in Washington State. We take you through the steps of identifying the problem (choosing a cause and issue), finding a solution, and taking action. You can take action to support our efforts discussed in today's episode by visiting http://www.heal-online.org/teen.htm#action and taking the action alert featured in this episode or taking any of the listed action alerts to support our efforts. | |
| In episode 62, we provide an update for episode 61 and ask that you sign the petition now available at: https://www.thepetitionsite.com/118/661/727/demand-that-individuals-with-disabilities-be-integrated-into-the-community./ In addition, we go over our current request to see HR 927: The Keeping All Students Safe Act (2015-2016 congressional session) re-introduced at the federal level and ask that all states introduce a state version of this legislation. You can support this effort both at the federal level and in your own state by taking the easy online action described in this video and available at http://www.heal-online.org/safestudents.htm. Thank you for watching and participating! | |
| In episode 63, we provide information on problems facing mandated reporters and provide an easy online action you can take today (in Washington State) to get Washington State laws amended to better protect mandated reporters and require mandated reporting of institutionalized abuse. You can take action now at http://www.heal-online.org/teen.htm#action. | |
| In episode 64, we provide information on issues with failures to protect children and vulnerable adults from abuse and suggest changes to Washington State law to better investigate and prosecute criminal abuses of those populations. You can take the action alert mentioned in this episode now at: http://www.heal-online.org/stopcrimewa.htm. | |
| In episode 65, we provide part 6 of our "Our Demands" episodes and
provide a call to action to help provide fast track emancipation for
orphaned and abandoned youth in Washington State. You can take the
action alert mentioned in this episode now at: http://www.heal-online.org/emancipationfasttrack.htm. |
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| In episode 66, we provide information on how to track your federal legislators, federal legislation, and the congressional voting record. Please begin tracking the feds at www.congress.gov today. If you create an action alert (i.e. online petition or letter writing campaign) on federal legislation that is aligned with HEAL's agenda, please e-mail it to us and we will help promote and support your efforts. | |
| In episode 67, we share with viewers how to track state legislators and state legislation in Alabama. The links available with this episode are included in the video description on youtube at: https://youtu.be/etoVVwU5qBY | |
| In Episode 68, we show you how to track state legislators and state legislation in Alaska. The links available with this episode are included in the video description on youtube at: https://youtu.be/ra0qVz4L5rE | |
| In episode 69, we show you how to track Arizona state legislators and legislation. The links in this episode are available in the video description on youtube at: https://youtu.be/X8G1UzlmMSI. | |
| In episode 70, we show you how to track state legislators and legislation in Arkansas. The links shared in this episode are available in the video description on youtube at: https://youtu.be/IUDk9qoh5Lg | |
| In episode 71, we show you how to track state legislators and legislation in California. The links shared in this episode are available in the video description on youtube at: https://youtu.be/l457cPZcwMs | |
| In episode 72, we show you how to track state legislators and legislation in Colorado. The links shared in this episode are available on youtube at: https://youtu.be/pLkLlJO41A4 | |
| In episode 73, we show you how to track state legislators and legislation in Connecticut. The links shared in this episode are available on youtube at: https://youtu.be/XQ8SY3v9Y-I | |
| In episode 74, we show you how to track state legislators and legislation in Delaware. The links shared in this episode are available on youtube at: https://youtu.be/sW-r9hWXYe0 | |
| More to come... | In future episodes that will be shared on this page, we will be showing you step by step how we prepare for and take action to improve the laws on our primary campaign. In addition, we plan to do an additional series showing how you can get better informed and involved in your state as we take you through the process of learning how to navigate your State legislatures (for all 50 states) so you can become a better activist and advocate on your campaign(s) and issue(s). |
| SAMPLE LEGISLATION: Below are examples of initiatives and state legislation HEAL and our associates have worked on with our state legislators throughout the country. Some have passed and been made law, others require more work. You can use any of the existing bills below to help pressure your state to make the changes needed. Below is not a complete list of all of our legislative efforts. However, it should give you a good basis for calling for reforms in your state and provide you with additional resources and supporting documents to help with your efforts. For action alerts and additional information, see www.heal-online.org/teen.htm#action. |
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| STATE | BILL/PURPOSE /INITIATIVE | LINK |
| Washington State 2008 | Initiative 999: Purpose to provide for additional rights for youth regarding education and healthcare decisions. We did not get the signatures needed to get it on the ballot. | https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/initiatives/text/i999.pdf |
| Alabama 2017 | HB 440: To regulate residential youth programs, including secular and faith-based programs, in Alabama. This legislation was made law and was the result of efforts by Charles Kennedy, HEAL AL Coordinator. | http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/ALISON/SearchableInstruments/2017RS/PrintFiles/HB440-int.pdf |
| Washington State 2015-2016 | HB 5408: To require regulation and remove exemptions for faith-based segregated congregate care providers in Washington State. This has not yet become law (as of March, 2018). The most recent version of this legislation is HB 1290 (2017-2018). | HB 5408:
http://apps2.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5408&Year=2015&BillNumber=5408&Year=2015
HB 1290: http://apps2.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1290&Year=2017&BillNumber=1290&Year=2017 |
| Washington State 2015-2016 |
HB 2746: Sentencing reform preventing segregated congregate care and institutionalization for most juvenile offenses with some violent crime exceptions. This was made law. | HB 2746: https://legiscan.com/WA/bill/HB2746/2015 |
| Washington State 2013-2014 |
ESSB 5946 PL: Education reforms that included prohibiting school personnel from receiving compensation for enrollments or referrals to private schools/programs and prohibiting the removal of any student from public school for more than 10 days without a due process hearing open to the public. This was made law. | ESSB 5946 PL: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2013-14/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Passed%20Legislature/5946-S.PL.pdf |
| Massachusetts 2015-2016 |
S. 80 and H. 89: An act to ban use of aversive therapies on minors and the disabled. A bill requiring humane treatment of vulnerable populations. It has not yet been made law. | S 80:
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/Senate/S80 H 89: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H89 |
| Washington State 2015-2016 |
SB 5870: Banning use of aversive therapies on minors. This was not made law. It was reintroduced and revised to ban conversion therapy of LGBT youth only, removing the overall ban on aversive therapies we are seeking. The revised bill, SB 5722 has passed both branches of the legislature in 2017-2018 and is awaiting to be signed into law by Gov. Inslee (March, 2018). | SB 5870:
http://apps2.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5870&Year=2015&BillNumber=5870&Year=2015
SB 5722: http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2017-18/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/5722.pdf |
| New Mexico 2015-2016 |
SB 140: Requiring regulation of wilderness and alternative youth programs operating in New Mexico. This legislation "died" in committee and does not appear to have been reintroduced yet. | SB 140: https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=S&legtype=B&legno=140&year=15&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1 |
| Federal/Washington DC 2017 | Met with and presented multiple recommendations or suggestions to help stop fraud and human trafficking in segregated congregate care to Kentucky and Washington State legislators including Senator Rand Paul and Senator Patty Murray's offices. | 2017: HEAL Mission Legislative Request Delivered and Discussed In Person In DC. |