Monday, September 09, 2002

Feds Probe Maryland's Juvenile Centers
AP story reprinted at The Guardian (UK) on a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into conditions at Maryland's juvenile detention facilities "to determine whether the civil rights of young offenders have been violated."  
  

Cuts end free mental help for many poor (Massachusetts)
Boston Globe story on a $13.8 million cut to the Department of Mental Health budget and new orders by Commissioner Marylou Sudders to community health centers "to provide free services only to people who are severely mentally ill, bypassing the pool of depressed mothers, recently released inmates, and illegal immigrants whose care has cost the state about $1.8 million a year."  
  

Mental health board, United Way join forces (Illinois)
News-Gazette Online story - "Two agencies that provide the bulk of financial support for human services programs in Champaign County will soon be official partners. The Champaign County Mental Health Board and the United Way of Champaign County have approved a draft collaboration agreement they hope will maximize limited dollars available for those in need."  
  

Mental Health Department found in contempt of court (South Carolina)
Herald Tribune story on the ruling by a circuit court judge that the Mental Health Department and its director "have three months to come up with a plan to treat mentally ill jail inmates". The ruling found the agency and its director in contempt of court for ignoring an order a month ago to treat the inmates.  
  

Equity for Mental Illness
Washington Post editorial on mental health parity legislation, which notes that "...time is getting short and the calendar is crowded, but Congress still should approve a parity bill, and Mr. Bush, recalling his pledge, should help make it happen."