Monday, August 25, 2003
Task force seeks input on mental health proposal (Michigan) Detroit Free Press story - "A Wayne County mental health task force is planning to hold the first of three public hearings Tuesday on whether it should change the Detroit-Wayne County Community Mental Health Agency to an authority, giving it greater autonomy. Since last fall, some community mental health -- or CMH -- service providers have had trouble getting paid; some clients say services were cut. Both have said it's hard to know who is in charge, said Wayne County Commission Chairwoman Jewel Ware. The concerns led to commissioners setting up the task force. Now that task force is considering changing the CMH to an authority, like 37 of the state's other 47 CMHs."
Mental health care lacking for children in foster system (Kansas) Story in the
Lawrence Journal-World on a daylong discussion organized by Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita and chairwoman of the Joint Committee on Children's Issues -discussions which made it apparent that "despite repeated efforts to fix the problem, much-needed information still does not follow children through the foster care system."
Mental health advocates get voice in own future (Canada) Story at
CBC - Calgary - "People with a mental illness and those who care for them will now work together to determine the best way to revamp the province's mental health system. Mental health advocates had complained that they weren't being given a voice in how the system would work for them. Only bureacrats and health care managers were given a place on the government committee. Now Alberta Health has changed its mind and agreed to include representatives from the Alberta Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health in the discussions."
Medicaid proposal stirs mental health fears (Kentucky) Story in the
Courier-Journal (Louisville) - "A poorly worded Medicaid proposal has stirred fears that the state's 14 community mental health centers will be forced to scale back a program that helps adults and children stay out of hospitals. The proposed regulation, which is subject to approval by a legislative committee, addresses Medicaid payments for case management for adults with chronic mental illness and children who are severely emotionally disturbed."
Mental Health agency tells judge waiting list nearly eliminated (South Carolina) Story at
The State - "A waiting list of nearly 70 mentally ill people who needed treatment but instead sat in jails has been reduced to three and should be eliminated by the end of the week, the state Mental Health Department says. Circuit Judge Henry Floyd called for the hearing Tuesday after the agency's director said administrative problems led to the waiting list. Previously, many had thought the problem was caused by state budget cuts."
Broward expands experimental court for mentally ill defendants (Florida) Sun Sentinel story - "Broward County, which created the nation's first court for the mentally ill, is poised to take another groundbreaking step by expanding the concept to include low-level felony cases. The 17th Judicial Circuit will launch the new criminal court within a few weeks, if all goes as planned. The project will put Broward County, again, at the forefront of a nationwide movement to stem the rising number of cases involving mentally ill defendants by directing more to treatment rather than jail."
Mental health issues facing blacks overlooked, panel says (Wisconsin) Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel story - "While a voluntary, pilot program at North Division High School will allow troubled students to receive counseling this fall, broader mental health care issues remain unaddressed in many families, a group of mental health professionals and advocates conceded Saturday. A panel of experts told the monthly gathering of the Community Brainstorming Conference that the best means of facing the problem - particularly among African-Americans - is by becoming politically active and not relying on politicians or agencies to solve the dilemma."
Mental health reforms coming (North Carolina) Herald Sun story - "County mental health officials will travel to Jackson, Mich., next month, expecting to learn how an area similar to Durham overhauled its mental health system and reinvented itself in much the same way the state is mandating that Durham County do."
