Monday, August 25, 2003

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."  
  

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."