Monday, April 26, 2004

Top U.S. Physicians, Lawyers Tackle National Drug Policy
A "newsmaker interview" at Medscape Medical News with David C. Lewis, MD, a professor at Brown University and a member of the board of directors of a nonpartisan organization, Physicians and Lawyers for National Drug Policy formed "to advocate for a public health approach to federal and state substance abuse policies." The introduction to the interview notes, " Since its inception in 1997, the group has believed that drug and alcohol policies must be based on evidence rather than on politics, that prevention and treatment are more cost-effective than incarceration, and that substance abuse should be afforded equal footing with other chronic, relapsing conditions in terms of access to care and insurance coverage. The revised and expanded group, now incorporating members from the legal profession, met on April 20 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., to discuss these and other issues, including the need for widespread alcohol screening in trauma centers and emergency rooms." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

Lost and Found: Voices of the Forgotten Generation
A report, in Adobe Acrobat format, from the British not-for-profit organization Rethink - " Mental health has for decades been treated as the 'Cinderella service,' though for the past six years, it has sat alongside cardiac care and cancer as one of the government’s three health priorities. Its priority status has led to a period of dramatic reform and, in certain areas, dramatic investment. However, this period of reform has bypassed many people. The reform process has focused predominately on crisis support but not on those who have been within the mental health system for some years. We are launching this campaign to highlight the needs of a group of people we call the ‘forgotten generation’. These are people with severe mental illness living in the community who have been largely forgotten by mainstream mental health services..." See also the Rethink web site.  
  

Comparing two models of supportive housing for people who are homeless
Item in CMHA/Ontario's newsletter, Mental Health Notes - "Homeless people with chronic mental illness and addiction issues respond positively when they are provided with independent housing without first requiring psychiatric treatment or sobriety, according to two recent studies. Contrary to the 'continuum of care' traditional service delivery model that requires clients to complete treatment prior to receiving housing, the 'housing first' model provides a direct transition from the streets or psychiatric hospital to an apartment. There are two requirements to the 'housing first' program: the client must pay 30 percent of his or her income toward the rent through a money management program, and must meet with a staff member at least twice a month..."  
  

U.S. Finds Fault With Child Welfare Programs in All 50 States
New York Times feature story - "Federal investigators have found widespread problems in child welfare programs intended to protect children from abuse and neglect, and no state has received passing grades from the Bush administration in reviews conducted over the last three years. As a result, states face tens of millions of dollars in penalties. State officials said the penalties could make it more difficult for them to pay for the needed improvements. ... Federal officials repeatedly cited states for certain deficiencies: significant numbers of children suffering abuse or neglect more than once in a six-month period; caseworkers not visiting children often enough to assess their needs; and not providing promised medical and mental health services." [Viewing New York Times resources requires registration, which is free].