NATSAP Celebrates 25th Anniversary in 2024! 
Washington, DC
2024 will be another politically charged year! Regardless of party affiliation, NATSAP members will again go to Capitol Hill to educate Congressional offices on the incredible impact of therapeutic schools and programs. Join other advocates in this annual event and register early to save a seat!
Activists will learn how to be effective voices for the field, understand the legislative process, and hear directly from their elected officials. This must-attend event is specifically for therapeutic schools and program administrators, therapists, educators, alumni, family, and friends who continue to make a difference in the legislative and regulatory environment. You have the expertise, the experience, and the enthusiasm to positively change the way mental and behavioral health policy is perceived and supported.
We need your participation! Register soon, as space is limited. Tell your story by speaking truth to power!
Sponsorships Available!
Comprehensive event sponsorship includes -
- Signage and logo placement at the Opening Reception, Hill Day Breakfast, and the Congressional Briefing on Capitol Hill.
- Logo placement on our printed materials, including over 40 congressional leave-behind packets.
Forms can be emailed to Maddy Schoap, Public Affairs Director, at maddy@natsap.org.
Registration
If you're registering more than one person, please register them separately to ensure name badges and meal counts are as accurate as possible.
Event Details
The goal of NATSAP's Advocacy Day is to advocate for the field as a whole and encourage Congress to see residential treatment as a valuable piece of the mental health system. The aim is to shed light on the positives of the field and advocate for elevated programs that prioritize safe, healthy, and effective treatment for youth.
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Leading up until day of, you will be provided speaker training, meeting guidelines, handouts, etc. to prepare you for your meetings. A group leader will help guide you through the day.
All meetings are private and confidential. Everything that occurs during your meetings will remain in confidence. No videos or recordings take place during the day. Any photos taken will be at each persons consent.
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You'll be meeting with your own legislators, the representatives you vote for, and whose districts you live in. As their voter, you want to illustrate to them that this is a valuable field and helps a lot of families; and encourage them to improve the field with higher safety standards & stronger oversight in the field.
For alumni/parents- The biggest thing for you to do as an alumni/parent is to tell your story, the journey that led you to residential treatment, and the impact it's had since. You may provide as much or as little detail as feels comfortable to you.
For program members/individual professionals- Speak to your experience as a mental health professional, the need for individualized care, measurable results, and why specialized programs are critical to success of at-risk youth.
Accommodations
Hotel block information will be provided to you after registration.
*Note*- Some programs offer to cover the cost of alumni/families coming in to advocate, but that is at the discretion of each individual program.
Agenda
Lunch with your groups, based on group schedule