Take Action:
Ask Candidates to Respond
Fierce Mamas has invited candidates for Shelby County Mayor to complete a questionnaire focused on complex medical needs, mental health, substance use, youth systems, caregiver experience, and public accountability.
These issues do not only affect families already living inside complex care systems. They shape what happens in our schools, emergency rooms, courts, neighborhoods, and public budgets. How Shelby County responds to mental health, addiction, disability, and family crisis affects the health and stability of the whole county.
We’re asking community members to help us encourage candidates to respond.
You can copy, personalize, and send one of the messages below.
Questionnaire link: HERE
Requested response deadline: May 1st
The campaign addresses:
Subject: Encouragement to complete Fierce Mamas questionnaire
Hello [Candidate Name],
My name is [Sender Name], and I’m a [brief identifier—e.g., provider / educator / advocate / community member] here in Shelby County.
I’m writing to encourage you to complete the questionnaire recently shared by Fierce Mamas. Their work reflects the lived experiences of caregivers navigating complex medical needs, mental health, and substance use—areas that intersect with many of the systems our community relies on every day.
While these challenges are often most visible within the CMC community, their impact extends far beyond it. They shape what happens in our schools, our emergency rooms, our courts, and our neighborhoods. How we respond to them affects the health and stability of Shelby County as a whole.
The questions they’ve put forward are thoughtful, grounded, and reflective of gaps that many of us encounter in our work and in our communities. They offer a meaningful opportunity to speak directly to how these systems are functioning—and where they need to change.
I hope you’ll take the time to respond. Your perspective will help community members better understand how you’re approaching these issues and what they can expect under your leadership.
You can access the questionnaire here: HERE
Responses are requested by May 1st.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
[Sender Name]
[Optional: Organization / Role]
Shelby County resident
If you are an ally, provider, educator, advocate, or concerned community member:
If you are a caregiver or part of the Fierce Mamas community, or concerned community member:
Subject: Fierce Mamas questionnaire – a quick follow-up
Hello [Candidate Name],
My name is [Sender Name], and I’m a caregiver and a member of the Fierce Mamas community here in Shelby County.
I’m reaching out to follow up on the questionnaire Fierce Mamas recently shared with candidates. As someone navigating these systems in real time, I wanted to underscore how much it matters to have clear, thoughtful responses to the questions being asked—particularly around mental health, substance use, youth systems, and the role of caregivers.
For many of us, these aren’t abstract policy areas. They shape our daily lives, and the well-being of the people we love.
I hope you’ll take the time to complete the questionnaire and share your perspective. It’s an important opportunity for caregivers and community members to better understand how you’re thinking about these issues.
You can access it here: HERE
Responses are requested by May 1st.
Thank you for your time, and for your willingness to engage with this work.
Sincerely,
[Sender Name]
Fierce Mamas community member
Shelby County caregiver and constituent