Tuesday, March 23, 2004

NAMI Maine launches Campaign for the Mind of America
Press release at the NAMI web site - "NAMI Maine and over 15 organizations released The State of the Mental Health System in Maine in the state’s largest city today, as part of a national campaign to build community support for access to services and treatment for people with mental illness. Nearly 35 thousand of Maine’s over 1.3 million residents has a severe mental illness, yet most do not receive treatment. ... Advocates and experts will present report findings to legislators and other policymakers on the scope of the mental health crisis in Maine, and recommend solutions that are evidence-based, cost-effective, and safe."  
  

CMH blames unpopular decisions' on cutbacks in state, county funding (Michigan)
Story in the Flint Journal - "A lack of state funding is affecting the flexibility of Genesee County Community Mental Health Services to offer certain kinds of programming, Danis Russell, a local mental health leader, recently told politicians. At a local legislative breakfast on changes at CMH, policy makers learned the reasons for staff turnover and layoffs, and the closing of a popular job training site, Community Industries Services..."  
  

Mental Health Plan Compromise (Nebraska)
WOWT story - "A compromise reached on a mental health reform plan will ensure that both the Hastings and Norfolk regional centers remain open until they are operating at less than 20 percent of capacity. The agreement was reached Tuesday with proponents and opponents of the reform plan. Senators involved with the talks said Governor Mike Johanns has signed off on the accord. Johanns spokeswoman Terri Teuber declined to immediately comment."