Wednesday, April 30, 2003

Can’t Make the Grade: Report to Assess State Mental Health Priorities
NMHA press release - "Investment in mental health services across the country is so inadequate that even basic services are in jeopardy, according the National Mental Health Association’s forthcoming Can’t Make the Grade: State Mental Health Assessment Project." The full report will not be available online until early May, but from this page you can currently view an Executive Summary (in Adobe Acrobat format) and a fact sheet.  
  

SAMHSA To Host Conference on Eliminating Use of Seclusion and Restraint of Patients with Mental Illness SAMHJSA press release on a May 5 event in Washington DC - "Seclusion and restraint of patients with mental illness continues to be an issue of concern and controversy for many in the mental health field. Attention surrounding issues of patients’safety and use of alternative measures challenge fundamental aspects of mental health systems/"  
  

Legislators meet with advocates (Arizona)
Story in the Arizona Republic - "It was a message they said legislative leaders did not want to hear while building a budget that cuts services to the poor, mentally ill and disabled by nearly $500 million. About 100 social-service recipients and advocates for the state's safety net programs got their chance to tell a panel of lawmakers Tuesday: We can care for the needy now, or we will pay higher costs later at emergency rooms and jails."  
  

National Study Shows Barriers to the Diagnosis and Treatment of ADHD Among African American and Hispanic Children
PR Newswire story reprinted at PsycPORT - "Fear of social stigma, lack of knowledge, and fear of over-diagnosis probably inhibit many African American and Hispanic parents from seeking diagnosis and treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) for their children. A recent survey by Harris Interactive(R) compared the experiences, attitudes and levels of knowledge of African American and Hispanic parents with other American parents. The survey found significant differences between them..."  
  

County was defrauded millions (California)
Press-Telegram story - "Facing one of its worst budget crises ever, Los Angeles County has uncovered a long- term, multimillion-dollar problem of systematic overbilling by private contractors, officials said Tuesday. Nearly $4 billion of the county's $16 billion budget is spent for 2,800 contractors that provide critical services in child protection, to senior citizens, mental health, welfare and probation programs."  
  

County cuts aid for mentally ill (California)
Story in the Press-Democrat - "Despite mental health profes-sionals' pleas to find another way to balance the budget, Sonoma County supervisors Tuesday voted to close three psychiatric treatment clinics and cut several other services for the mentally ill."  
  

Retirements allow state to rehire workers (Connecticut)
New Haven Register story - "Scores of laid-off state workers have been rehired in recent days to fill critical vacancies created by the state’s new early retirement program, according to Gov. John G. Rowland’s top budget aide." The story notes that most of the initial rehirings "are expected to take place in 'direct care' and public safety agencies," including the state departments of mental retardation, mental health and addiction services, children and families.