Legislative Priorities
Health and Wellness
Mental Health and Substance Use
It is time to rebuild a coordinated system for mental health care and substance use treatment in Vermont. I will use my experience navigating our system and working within it as well as my robust background working alongside leading experts in behavioral health systems change to shape policies that improve lives of the families and importantly, of health care providers themselves, who are ready for innovation, sustainability and integration.
Improving the quality of our mental health and substance use support system must not be sidelined amid the progress toward universal primary care. We are at a tipping point with the stigmatization and criminalization of people with serious illnesses. By investing in our workforce, preventative care, housing and community connections, we can continue to lift Vermont up together.
Health care is a human right and I commit to advocating for universal health care for Vermont. We all should have the care we need, when we need it-regardless our ability to pay.
Health Equity
Winooski is a diverse gem but too often the people who make it such, live with greater health disparities than people in any other district in the state. I will continue to work across sectors to increase representation in the workforce, access to culturally appropriate care and eliminate policies that perpetuate racism and inequity.
My vision is that when our elders need care, they aren’t worried about payment. They have local providers who look like them, understand them, who they feel safe with and trust.
When a deaf person needs a therapist they should easily find one who knows ASL and understands deaf culture in Vermont.
health equity must be embedded in all angles of our system design and evaluation.
Housing
Housing is health care and as a renter I will advocate for legislation that invests in all people being well. That means emergency, temporary or permanent, supportive housing. All residents in our state should be housed and have the option to connect with the great services and communities we have to help them achieve their best health, make meaningful contributions for Vermont and experience a sense of belonging and purpose.
Health, or sobriety, should not be a prerequisite for housing. Housing is health care.
I will support policies that increase safe, affordable housing and promote shared equity models like Butternut Grove that improve mobility, making it possible to build equity and break cycles of poverty.
Housing is a public Health Issue and it is one we can solve.
Since 2023 we have made great progress to increase civics education and engagement with our government but we still have a long way to go. I have a track record of engaging with the next generation of leaders to pass meaningful legislation like school-based mental health support. With youth voices and vision at the table, we can create a future that is more inclusive, equitable and innovative.
I support all-resident voting rights, including voting by mail and access to linguistically appropriate election information.
we need to fight for this democracy. First we need to improve Access and participation.
Access
प्राथमिकता - Priorities
Winooski मा, हामी भाषा, संस्कृति, जाति र अन्य धेरै विविधतामा बलियो भएकोमा गर्व गर्छौं।
तर हाम्रो लोकतन्त्रमा पहुँच सुधार गर्नु सधैं मेरो महत्त्वपूर्ण लक्ष्य भएको छ। र भाषा पहुँच यसको लागि आधारभूत छ। धन्यबाद त्यो अहिले राज्यभरका उम्मेद्वारहरूको लागि सार्वजनिक फोरमहरूमा छलफल भइरहेको छ।
हामी सँगै बढ्दै जाँदा कृपया कुराकानीमा सामेल हुनुहोस्।