Thursday, March 20, 2003

Interagency Committee on Disability Research
A new web site to gather comments and recommendations on research needs for Americans with disabilities - "The ICDR is collecting input from the public on their view of research needs related to disability and rehabilitation."  
  

Diversion Programs Prevent the Criminalization of Mental Illness
A March 14 NMHA press release - "The National Mental Health Association and the National Association of Mental Health Planning and Advisory Councils today independently released position papers in support of diverting people who have a mental illness and are accused of nonviolent crimes from the criminal justice system to voluntary mental health treatment programs as a reasonable alternative to criminal punishment."  
  

Group home may serve as model for state (Vermont)
Bennington Banner story - "An innovative new group home for the mentally ill may serve as a model for the state, a state official said at its opening Wednesday. United Counseling Service redesigned the home at 329 South St. to offer three new apartments where people can learn to live on their own while receiving suppport from UCS staff."  
  

Judge issues temporary order against psych center closings (New York)
Ithaca Journal story - "A judge ordered the Pataki administration Wednesday to halt preparations for the July 1 closure of three psychiatric centers -- a move the state Legislature has not authorized Gov. George Pataki to make. State Supreme Court Justice Louis Benza granted unions' request for a temporary restraining order and told the parties to be back in court on April 2 to hear arguments over whether he should extend it to an injunction against the state."  
  

Senate acts to protect neglected mentally ill (Oregon)
Story in The Oregonian - "The Oregon Senate on Tuesday unanimously approved a bill that would make it illegal to neglect the mentally ill receiving public care and would require "thorough and unbiased" investigations of suspected abuse cases. But the proposed reforms will do little to protect thousands of Oregon's most vulnerable citizens who have lost mental health benefits because of budget cuts." See also the story Mental health funds defended on advocacy efforts in the legislature.  
  

Jackson Hospital Will Discontinue Mental Health Services (Alabama)
WAKA story on Montgomery's Jackson Hospital, which is set to close its mental health services as soon as next week. See also Montgomery hospital lays off 136 in cost-cutting measure (Tuscaloosa News).  
  

Nusbaum on mental health center: ‘Build the building’ (Wisconsin)
Green Bay Press-Gazette story - "In what is likely to be her final address to the Brown County Board, County Executive Nancy Nusbaum implored county supervisors Wednesday to move ahead and build a new mental health center, now that the option of privatization appears dead." See also Human Services doesn't force MHC vote yet (Green Bay News Chronicle).