The Fellowship Advocates are a committed group of members who work tirelessly for change in legislation that impacts the mental health community. Fellowship Advocates have written letters and have made countless phone calls to State Senators and State Representatives in efforts to make their collective voices heard. The Fellowship Advocates testified before the Select Committee on Housing asking them to establish a process to continue the Next Steps Housing Initiative and add 650 additional units of affordable housing and support services. The Advocates also testified before the Human Services Committee on raising the Medicaid income limit. The Advocates attended a press conference on mental health parity and were listed as press contacts at the event. Recently the Advocates initiated conversations with Rep. Toni Walker, Rep. Peter Villano, Rep. Patricia Dillon, Rep. Robert Megna, and Rep. Bill Dyson at the Legislative Office Building while the house was in session. The Advocates' level of knowledge and dedication has earned them recognition from both NAMI CT and the Keep the Promise Coalition.

On September 18th, 2008, Fellowship Place in New Haven received two awards at the Annual Keep the Promise Award Ceremony in Hartford, CT.  Kristina Zallinger received the Individual Advocate Award and Sarah Petela received the Advocacy Leader Award.  Fifteen members of Fellowship Place received awards for their letter writing efforts, their testimonies, and their participation in local and statewide advocacy events.  A Photographic Journey to Recovery in New Haven was presented at the event.  In addition, Fellowship Place has been selected to participate in the Keep the Promise Steering Committee.  This committee will help to set the tone for Keep the Promise’s legislative agenda for the coming year.

“Fellowship’s Advocacy Group is a voice for more fairness in the mental health care system, which acknowledges the political aspects of being a client in this part of the health care system.” - Thomas

“I feel that being an Advocate gives me the confidence and the power if you will, to speak for myself and others, on issues of mental health.”- Kristina

“Fellowship’s advocacy group gives, in our togetherness, a powerful voice to those of us who have had a hard time speaking for ourselves.
Advocacy empowers the least of us along with the strongest.” - Lee