The Ally: A Time for Reflection and Hope
The end of one year and the start of the next is often a time for reflection and hope—although I know many of us have become a bit more cautious in what we hope for…
Letter from Joy: Celebrating Many Good Things
I've written many intros to our weekly editions of the Ally since we began publishing it in April 2020. This one is particularly sweet to me. The day this newsletter…
Judge Reeves Issues Partial Stay in Mental Health Lawsuit
On Friday, October 15, Judge Carlton Reeves issued an order granting the State of Mississippi's motion for a partial stay of the remedial order in the ongoing mental health lawsuit pending…
State Files Appeal and US Files Response to Motion for a Stay in Mental Health Lawsuit
On October 6, the third day of Mental Illness Awareness Week and a few days before World Mental Health Day, the state of Mississippi filed its appeal of Judge Reeves' ruling and related orders in the…
Call to Action: Mental Health Lawsuit at a Crucial Juncture
Background: In 2011, after an extended investigation of Mississippi's mental health system, the United States Department of Justice found that Mississippi was “unnecessarily institutionalizing persons with mental illness” in violation of…
Olmstead Anniversary: How Will the State of Mississippi Respond?
Last Tuesday, June 22, was the 21st anniversary of the ruling in the landmark Supreme Court case, Olmstead v L.C., which established that people with disabilities, including mental illness, have the…
We Treasure All Moms on Mother’s Day
Mother's Day is Sunday, May 9. We hope it is a sweet and wonderful day for all the moms reading this, but we also know it can be a day…
In Loving Memory of Jack Schweitzer
by Joy Hogge This past October the world lost an amazing, charming, larger-than-life advocate and icon when the much-beloved founder of Families as Allies, Tessie Schweitzer, passed away far too…
Finding Ways to Stand Together When Horrific Things Happen
We typically finalize our plans for the weekly edition of the Ally in our Monday morning staff meeting. This Monday morning we shared our horror in response to the shootings…
When the School Calls … and Your Mom Heart Aches
Reflections from Joy Hogge during Women's History Month ... I recently watched the movie Sunshine Cleaning. I was moved by it, but it's an unusual movie and may not be to…