Friday, April 11, 2003

Ministers differ on mental health program (Canada)
Edmonton CBC story - "Two Klein cabinet ministers are at odds over expanding a program that helps keep mentally ill people out of jail. Solicitor General Heather Forsyth would like to see the diversion program in place across the province, while Health Minister Gary Mar is only willing to expand it to Edmonton. A pilot project has been running in Calgary and has kept 50 people out of jail by getting them health care support."  
  

Henry County mental health case work duties divvied up (Iowa)
Mt. Pleasant News story - "Lines have been drawn and claims have been staked regarding who will provide services to Henry County's mental health consumers. The details of how the 76 county cases will be divvied up between two providers were worked out at Tuesday's Henry County Board of Supervisors meeting, and the transition will begin for those consumers moving under the jurisdiction of a new case manager."  
  

Mental health officials agree to keep AMHI ward ready (Maine)
Kennebec Journal story - "Mental health officials agreed Wednesday to keep a ward ready at Augusta Mental Health Institute after a new psychiatric hospital opens. As part of the legislative deal, they also want to monitor the number of patients turned away from the new hospital..."  
  

Weyerhauser Family Foundation
The Weyerhauser Family Foundation provides funding to health programs in the U.S., with a special emphasis on chemical dependency. Alcohol and other drug programs are among the priority areas under the foundation's health program, along with mental illness, communicable disease, and population/family planning. The foundation also makes awards in the areas of education, environment, and international affairs.  
  

Mental health forum confronts Hispanics' needs (North Carolina)
Fayetteville Online story - "Mental health workers met with residents Thursday to discuss improving services for the Hispanic community.... The Mental Health Center sponsored the forum at the Kiwanis Center in Honeycutt Park. Officials want to examine the needs of the Hispanic community as part of a statewide mental health reform plan."  
  

Group to study mental health (New York)
Post-Standard story - "At a time when the state is preparing to close Hutchings Psychiatric Center, the Onondaga Citizens League has decided to study the county's mental health care system."  
  

State takes over mental health agency with $6.5 million deficit (Georgia)
AccessNorthGa.com story - "The state took control of an agency that provides mental health services to thousands of people in coastal Georgia Friday, after an audit revealed it had a $6.5 million operating deficit. The Department of Human Resources called in an outside management team to run the Gateway Community Service Board, a not-for-profit agency that contracts with the state to provide mental health services. The DHR says it has assumed the agencys debt."