Wednesday, May 28, 2003

National Resource Center on Homelessness and Mental Illness - 2003 Exemplary Programs Nominations Sought
Notice at the NRC web site - "The Homeless Programs Branch of the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) is seeking nominations for the 2003 Exemplary Program Awards. The purpose of this initiative is to identify and recognize programs that are using evidence-based and promising practices to serve people who are homeless and have mental illnesses and/or substance use disorders." The page includes a link to the nomination form.  
  

Tips make sense of mental health maze (Oregon)
Story in the Oregonian - "Clackamas County will offer a free series of mental health classes beginning Monday that will include tips on navigating the county's mental health system amid deep state budget cuts. The classes are an annual event, and topics vary from year to year."  
  

Mental health funding looks 'optimistic' (Illinois)
Story at the News-Gazette Online - "A campaign to avert further funding cuts for mental health and other human services programs appears to have found an ear in Springfield. The House and Senate last week approved legislation that would drop a proposed 1.25 percent cut for mental health and developmental disabilities in fiscal 2004. And a bill that would restore other funding to those programs is scheduled for a hearing before the Senate appropriations committee Thursday morning."  
  

New York mental health official tapped to join Bush administration Newsday story - "The head of New York state's mental health program has been tapped to join the Bush administration, officials said Wednesday. James Stone, the Commissioner of the state's Office of Mental Health, will become a deputy administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration." See also the related SAMHSA press release.  
  

Mental health treatment hinges on question of law (North Carolina)
Citizen-Times story - "Last week, an administrative law judge ordered the state Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services and Blue Ridge Center to offer after-hours crisis care to children [who need 24 hour help available].... Now the state must decide whether to comply with the decision or appeal. If there's an appeal, the case will go to federal court."