Lessons learned from a Maryland citizen advocacy group's experience in impacting health reform: the seven Cs of effective citizen advocacy.

The Affordable Care Act and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, in conjunction with state reform efforts, provide opportunities for increased access to mental health care, but advocates must engage throughout the process to ensure consumers' needs are met. This article describes the advocacy experiences of the Mental Health Association of Maryland (MHAMD) and provides a historical perspective for current advocacy efforts. It discusses current health care reform initiatives in Maryland, similar to other states' efforts, and highlights critical issues of concern for advocates. Using examples from MHAMD's recent experience, 7 effective advocacy strategies are illustrated.