| The Arlington Voice | |
| The Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Arlington | |
| Affiliated with -- and Supported by -- NAMI of Northern Virginia Families and Consumers Advocating Together that Mental Illnesses are Brain Disorders | |
| Vol. 11, No. 5/6 | January/February 2003 |
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UPCOMING AMI ADVOCACY MEETINGS Tuesday, January 14 – As part of the continuing examination of the mental health civil commitment process by NAMI-Arlington’s Criminal Justice Committee, the January advocacy meeting will focus on the Mental Health Hearings in Arlington. The special magistrates who preside over these hearings have been invited to discuss the process. This is good time to learn about civil commitment procedures and how it works in Arlington. Tuesday, February 11 – Supportive Housing Programs. This meeting will feature a discussion of programs that may serve as models for Arlington to follow in developing supportive housing programs under a new $7.7 million initiative endorsed by the County Board. The NAMI-Arlington Housing Committee is sponsoring this meeting, which is part of its continuing work in advocating for appropriate housing and supportive services for those with mental illnesses. See related stories on this page and on page 8. |
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NAMI-NORTHERN VIRGINIA SPEAKER’S MEETINGS Monday, January 27 – NAMI-Northern Virginia supports four nonprofit organizations that, in turn, support programs for individuals with serious mental illness – Pathway Homes, Laurie Mitchell Employment Center, Friends of Clarendon House and PRS (formerly Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services). The January Speaker’s Meeting will feature representatives from these organizations, who will talk about their programs. Check the NAMI-Northern Virginia website — www.aminv.org — for the February program. |
BOARD TARGETS $7.7 MILLION FOR HOUSING FOR DISABLED PERSONS
The Arlington County Board unanimously approved $7.7 million in November for supportive housing for low- and moderate-income individuals with disabilities – including those who suffer from mental illnesses.
“I am very pleased to vote for supportive housing,” said Board Chair Chris Zimmerman. “There has been extensive discussion about the needs of housing [for those with disabilities], and it is one area that we haven’t done much about. I think this is a good recommendation.”
Board Member Barbara Favola praised the process that recommended the use of nearly one-half of more than $18 million of one-time federal funds for supportive housing. The County received these funds for its work in Fiscal Years 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 under the Local Public Assistance Cost Allocation Plan (LPACAP) program. “This need [for housing] was recommended by our community through an inclusive process,” Favola said.
Community involvement included a day-long workshop in June when 75 to 100 persons listed priorities for the LPACAP dollars, and a public forum in September when 62 persons testified before County Manager Ron Carlee.
The Board vote followed more than four months of staff work in developing recommendations for the use of the federal funds.
Approved in addition to the housing funds were $4 million to renovate the Fenwick Center, $3.5 million to purchase and upgrade the Human Services Department computer system and $250,000 to renovate space for the Arlington Community Action Program’s Head Start Program.
Specifically, $7.6 million will be placed in a Supportive Housing Fund to be available to “support projects and programs that provide transitional and permanent housing for persons with mental and/or physical disabilities or other special needs,” Carlee said in his recommendation.
“A full range of residential environments would be needed to house these consumers – such as congregate living with full-time staffing (live-in or 24-hour awake staff) for crisis stabilization and long-term residence; semi-independent group living with varying levels of residential supervision or support; independent group liv- ing; and independent living with drop-in or off-site day support,” a report to the Board said.
The types of housing could be single-family housing, adjacent or grouped townhouses or apartments or scattered site housing units.
Included as part of the funding is $150,000 for a residential services assessment to help staff determine the types of supports to meet the needs of consumers. The assessment would look at possible models of supportive housing and services for individuals with disabilities, and would include:
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MANY THANKS Thanks are in order to the many individuals who assisted in the advocacy effort before the Arlington County Board for the investment of LPACAP dollars for supportive housing for those with disabilities. We thank the Board members themselves for their support, and County staff for its good work. It is all appreciated. NAMI-Arlington specifically recognizes the good work of its Housing Committee – and especially its chair, Kathy Donovan, and key Committee member, Sue Lowry. Also to be recognized is the work of David Leibson, vice-chair of the Arlington Housing Commission and a NAMI-Arlington member, and Dean Bonney, chair of the Arlington Community Services Board. We wouldn’t have the $7.7 million without these collective efforts. Congratulations. |
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VIRGINIA GOVERNOR WARNER SEEKS MH FUNDS SHIFT TO COMMUNITIES
Governor Mark Warner has offered his budget recommendations to the General Assembly, which maintain existing funding for mental health programs. No further budget cuts for mental health programs were announced for the Fiscal 2003/2004 years. But the governor proposed shifting $22 million of state dollars that support state psychiatric facilities to fund community-based programs instead. This would reduce the number of facility beds by 450. The state dollars would be used by community services boards, which incurred an 11 percent cut in state funds in October, to develop regional community programs, such as jail service teams to provide assessments and counseling. The proposal closely follows what Commissioner James Reinhard of the Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Department outlined in his December talk at the Legislative Breakfast of the Northern Virginia Coalition for Mentally Disabled Citizens. [See story on page 6.] Val Marsh, executive director of NAMI-Virginia, termed Warner’s proposal “a progressive move,” saying that reform of Virginia’s mental health system is long overdue. NAMI-Virginia has long urged greater state investment in community-based programs. Marsh, however, expressed concern whether there would be enough money “to do it right.” System reform in other states, she said, needed added dollars, not “just shifting” funds from the same pot of money. A Washington Post editorial echoed her words. “While Mr. Warner’s plan does not involve further budget cuts – at least not yet – it also does not promise sufficient resources or energy to guarantee success. In the current fiscal climate, good intentions aren’t enough,” the editorial said. The Coalition for Mentally Disabled Citizens of Virginia, which opposed further cuts in mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse programs, expressed gratitude that Warner heard the plea of “no more cuts” in programs serving these vulnerable populations. “Everyone knows that the public safety net is stretched might thin. The Governor’s action means that it will not break,” the Coalition said. “We strongly endorse the Governor’s decision because it recognizes that services to Virginians with mental disabilities are, in fact, a core State responsibility. While we recognize the State’s precarious budget situation, the availability of these services is critical to our consumers and their families,” said Raymond Burmester, Coalition co-chair. “Virginia can’t afford to go backward and Gov. Warner’s action holds the line.” In his budget plan, Warner would add $1.4 million for the state pharmacy to address a deficit in that program. He would maintain existing Medicaid rates. A preferred drug list under Medicaid would be developed in conjunction with the Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Department. |
TRUMBULL DETAILS DISCHARGE AND DIVERSION PROGRAM
A 1997 innovative state program brought 11 individuals, each of whom had extended hospital stays at state psychiatric facilities, to Arlington to be cared for in the community.
These were folks who wouldn’t fit into a traditional group home.
“The challenges are different from those involving stable individuals living in a community,” said Lyanne Trumbull, program director of the Fellowship Health Resources, Inc. Discharge and Diversion (DAD) Program. As a hospital social worker, Trumbull worked with, and eventually followed, the 11 from the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute to the Arlington homes where they were placed.
What was unique about DAD was the $88,000 of state dollars attached to each to pay for the intensive residential treatment programs that he or she needed. This permitted the development of specific programs to meet individual needs.
“The hospital turned these individuals into fine patients” with its “can’ts,” “ought nots” and “should nots.” Fellowship had to turn the “I can’t” into “Yes, you can.” It did this by explaining that, yes, the individual has mental illness, that mental illness is tough to live with, but that an individual can do things – the very everyday tasks that we take for granted, said Trumbull, who is a graduate of George Mason University, and has a Master’s Degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.
“Recovery makes the program works,” Trumbull told a NAMI-Arlington Advocacy meeting in November. The consumers joining the program averaged 14 years of hospitalization, with one person having been hospitalized for 35 years.
Eight individuals were in an intensive support program with around-the-clock support staff, including evening awake staff. Services were provided at the consumers’ homes, which are among the town homes in Concord Village in South Arlington.
The DAD program focused on teaching skills. The challenge was how to teach someone to do something others take for granted. Fellowship trained its staff to work “like you’d want someone to teach a family member,” said Trumbull.
Those in the supportive living program didn’t need round-the-clock staff. They also participated in County programs.
Consumers have the right to refuse treatment and services, including medications. “We ask them ‘what happens when you refuse your medications? Let’s talk about it,’” Trumbull said. It is part of Fellowship’s model of working with consumers as a partnership. “We ask, ‘What do you want to do? Where do you want to be in five years?’” The individuals pick out what he or she wants to do, which makes for consumer choice.
Today, one consumer is working full time and has just bought a car. Fellowship employs a second individual as a driver who takes individuals to Clarendon House, and still another cleans the Fellowship office.
Three women, all hospitalized for many years, attend Clarendon House. One has a temporary employment placement (TEP). Another lady joined the DAD program with the reputation as a “head-banger,” and in fact, wore a helmet while at the hospital. Fellowship worked with her so that she no longer wears a helmet. Although she still needs lots of support, she is today walking to her church, enjoying cooking and is looking forward to a job.
“We see a lot more smiles. Individuals are becoming part of the community. Two even voted in the 2002 elections,” Trumbull said.
Today the focus is on a new consumer who has been hospitalized for 18 years, and has been out of the hospital for two months. “It will take time, but she will get there,” says Trumbull.
The need for good assessment of an individual is one lesson learned from the program. “Once you know who the clients are going to be, determine what they are going to need.”
Trumbull said Fellowship seeks as staff individuals with bachelor’s degrees, and pays them between $22,000 to $25,000 annually. Fellowship has retained all but one staff member during the program. “Staff are not from mental health professions, but from educational systems. They know how to teach skills.”
For the most part the program has been successful, although Trumbull notes, there were two clients who failed to make the adjustment to community living and asked to return to the hospital.
COALITION SETS ANNUAL RALLY FOR JANUARY 20
The Coalition for Mentally Disabled Citizens of Virginia has set Monday, January 20, 2003, at 10 a.m. for its annual Legislative Rally in Richmond. The Rally, which is held annually on Martin Luther King’s birthday, will take place at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 9th and Grace Streets, Richmond. Afterwards, individuals will walk to the General Assembly Building to meet with lawmakers.
For further information, call the Coalition at 804/649-8481.
EARLY ALERT!!
Mark your calendars for the ever-popular Taste of Arlington, which will be held Sunday, May 18, 2003, 12 noon to 5 p.m. in Ballston. This is an annual fund-raiser for Community Residences (CR), one of Arlington’s major providers of housing and related services for those with mental disabilities (including mental illnesses). Individuals purchase a booklet of tickets that pay for “tastes” of specialties offered by participating Arlington restaurants.
Taste of Arlington last year netted $55,000 for CR’s programs and services.
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NAMI-NORTHERN VIRGINIA WEBSITE Seeking information about NAMI activities in Northern Virginia – including speakers at the NAMI-Northern Virginia monthly Speaker’s Meeting? Check the NAMI-Northern Virginia website at www.aminv.org. Mental health consumers also have a website. Check out http://members.aol.com/nvmhca. It’s as simple as that! |
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AMI COMMITTEE NEWS
NAMI-Arlington has several committees to support its advocacy work, and invites interested individuals to become actively involved in these committees. These are a Criminal Justice Committee, which is working to improve the way that Arlington handles those with mental illness who become involved in the criminal justice system; a Housing Committee, which is ensuring NAMI-Arlington’s voice is heard in the continuing work to obtain housing for those who suffer mental illness; and a Budget Committee, which formulates NAMI-Arlington positions – and makes sure these positions are voiced – on state and local expenditures for programs that serve those with mental illness.
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CHANNEL 31 AIRS MIAW SYMPOSIUM
Individuals who subscribe to Arlington Cable TV have the opportunity to see the 2002 Mental Illness Awareness Week symposium on Arlington’s government access cable channel – Channel 31 – during the month of January. The symposium will be airing on Thursday, January 2, 9, 23 and 30, at 2, 7 and 11 p.m. It is also airing Thursday, January 16, at 2 p.m. |
FRIENDS, INC. SEEKS DONATIONS
The Friends of Clarendon House, Inc. (FOCH) is again seeking contributions to support those in Arlington who experience serious mental illness, and to help them become productive, taxpaying members of the Arlington community.
The Holiday Appeal helps Friends, Inc. with its Emergency Fund that enables many to live independently in the community. This includes helping individuals to pay needed security deposits to rent an apartment, to prevent evictions while awaiting a housing subsidy, to help with an electrical bill or to obtain needed items. The Friends, Inc. Emergency Fund also provides support for medical and dental appointments and medical prescriptions.
The Friends, Inc. also sponsors social activities and The Job Avenue’s annual Employers’ Breakfast, when Arlington-area businesses and government agencies are recognized for their work in employing those with mental illnesses.
The Friends is a unique way that Arlingtonians can provide monetary support for those who are seriously mentally ill.
All contributions are tax-deductible, and can be mailed to the Friends of Clarendon House, Inc., 3141 North 10th Street, Arlington.
INSTITUTE SEEKS MEMBERS FOR ITS HUMAN RIGHTS PANEL
The Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute urgently needs three mental health consumers or family members for its Local Human Rights Committee (LHRC). The purpose of the LHRC is to ensure the rights of consumers at the Institute.
The state Human Rights Regulations require the LHRC to have at least seven members, of whom one-third must be persons currently receiving mental health services or family members of consumers. Two members must be consumers. Three members of the Institute LHRC resigned at its last meeting, and none of the four remaining members qualifies as a current consumer or family member.
The LHRC meets for two hours on the second Thursday of the month to hear reports from the NVMHI director and staff, and from the Human Rights Advocate. The LHRC also reviews Institute policies and hears or raises issues concerning patients being treated at the Institute.
Members are also asked to serve, as available, in two or three person groups to respond to patient requests to appeal complaint resolutions or certain other decisions made by the Institute regarding their treatment.
Transportation to meetings is available if needed.
Please contact Carol Ulrich at (703) 904-8448 or at amiofnv@hotmail.com for more information.
CLARENDON HOUSE STAFF HONORED FOR ACCREDITATION WORK
Several Clarendon House staff were among those who received end-of-the-year $250 Human Services Department awards for their work in getting Clarendon House and The Job Avenue accredited for three years by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. Those honored included Jose Campos, Sue Hill, Audrey Moss, Margaret Smith, Jamie Walters, Leslie Weisman and Becky Wright.
BUDGET CRISIS SPURS COMMISSIONER’S CALL FOR SYSTEM RESTRUCTURING
The state’s top mental health official says the time has come to restructure state support for the care of its citizens who suffer from mental illness.
“Our citizens deserve the best care available. We have to redirect state resources from our [psychiatric] facilities to community care,” said Dr. James Reinhard, a psychiatrist and lawyer by training, and commissioner of Virginia’s Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services.
Reinhard addressed the 22nd Annual Legislative Breakfast, sponsored by the Coalition for Mentally Disabled Citizens of Northern Virginia. The breakfast brings advocates together with members of the Northern Virginia delegation to the General Assembly.
The restructuring would take state funds supporting facility bed care and move those dollars to community-based programs. The proposal follows the October action by the Warner Administration to cut the state Fiscal 2003 budget by $858 million. This included an 11 percent cut in funds for community-based services for those with mental illness and mental retardation and for those who abuse substances.
The 2003 General Assembly faces a further $1 billion deficit when it convenes this month in Richmond, but advocates have called on the Governor and legislators not to make any further cuts in mental health, mental retardation or substance abuse services. [See related story on page 3.]
The restructuring proposal would use funds that pay for facility care, but redirect their use for community services. The plan follows Governor Mark Warner’s remarks when he proposed as part of his budget recommendations to “redirect some resources from institutional to community care.” Warner emphasized this would not involve any facility closures. Virginia, Reinhard noted, lags behind other states in supporting community care. “Community-based services have not had the funding support.”
Reinhard said he plans to establish seven planning groups to “add to and build on reinvestment projects in the restructuring process.” Besides realigning facility programs to community-based services, Reinhard wants to see more consumer-operated programs, more support systems and community-based intensive-care facilities. He also called for regionalization of services by combining an area’s administrative and clinical services to increase efficiencies.
The driving force behind the restructuring, Reinhard said, is community-based care because “this is the right thing to do.” Besides community-based care, the commissioner stressed the need for non-coercive treatments – the need to eliminate restraints, provide more education about mental illnesses and to involve individuals in their own treatment plans. Customer service and cultural competence were other goals as well.
In discussing his plans for restructuring Virginia’s system of delivering services, Reinhard noted that nationwide, mental health services are “falling apart.”
Quoting from an interim report of a Presidential Commission studying the mental health system, Reinhard noted “America’s delivery of mental health services is in shambles.” Investment in mental health services dropped to 8 percent in 1997 as compared to 12 percent 20 years earlier. Virginia’s own budget support has dropped form 2.1 percent to 1.7 percent in the last 10 years, he said.
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ARLINGTONIAN CITES EXAMPLE OF SERVICE SUPPORT
Karen Shoemaker felt lost at 46. At that time, she’d been homeless for two years, seven months and seven days. Today, she is working full-time as a staff member for 11 clinicians at PRS, Inc. in Falls Church. “I have major depression,” Shoemaker told the 22nd Annual Legislative Breakfast sponsored by the Coalition for Mentally Disabled Citizens of Northern Virginia. “If anyone believes I can pull myself up by my bootstraps, they can walk in my shoes.” Shoemaker’s road to recovery began when an outreach worker for homeless persons introduced her to Arlington County’s community-based programs of Clarendon House and The Job Avenue. “I would not have this job without The Job Avenue. I would not have this job without the clubhouse,” Shoemaker said. When ill, she was hospitalized several times. Today she needs neither food stamps nor rental assistance, and thanks to these supportive community-based services, Shoemaker is a productive member of the community. “The choice is yours,” Shoemaker told lawmakers attending the breakfast. |
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COALITION HONORS BURMESTERS FOR ADVOCACY
The Coalition for Mentally Disabled Citizens of Northern Virginia awarded its Nancy McDonald Beyer Exemplary Community Service Award to Raymond and Jessica Burmester for their long-time endeavors in advocating and working for services for those with mental disabilities. The pair was honored for their work in The Arc of Northern Virginia – both were president of the organization that supports individuals with mental retardation. In addition, both have been active in the Northern Virginia and Virginia Coalitions for Citizens with Mental Disabilities. Jessica Burmester serves as chair of the Fairfax-Falls Church-Community Services Board and is an officer of the Virginia Association of Community Services Boards. Also honored with the Coalition’s Distinguished Leadership Award was Deborah Volz, head of Vanguard Services, Inc., an Arlington-based substance abuse treatment service. |
COMPEER PROGRAM SEEKS VOLUNTEERS, DONATIONS
The Compeer Program of Greater Washington D.C., operated by PRS, Inc., Falls Church, is in jeopardy.
Without needed support, the program, which matches up volunteers with individuals who are mentally ill, will have to close.
Compeer is based on the concept that friendship can enhance recovery by offsetting the loneliness and stigma that so often accompanies mental illness.
Trained volunteers make a one-year commitment to the program and offer at least one hour a week or four hours a month to their Compeer friend. Unlike programs in many states, the PRS program receives no public funding and must rely on community donations.
The PRS program is seeking financial contributions. Checks should be made payable to PRS INC. – Compeer Program, and mailed to 500 West Annandale Road, Falls Church, Virginia 22046.
PRS is willing to make presentations about its program to community groups, civic organizations, churches or businesses. To arrange for a Compeer presentation, contact Jocelyn Mitchell at 703/531-6308.
ARLINGTON RESOURCE CENTER PUTS ON EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS
The Arlington Special Education Parent Resource Center is sponsoring these workshops in January and February:
Registration is recommended, but walk-ins are also welcome. Contact the Parent Resource Center at 703/228-7239 for further information.
HOUSING NEEDS CATALOGUED FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES
In his report to the County Board for allocating LPACAP funds, County Manager Ron Carlee estimated Arlington’s housing needs for those with disabilities as follows:
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING MODELS UNDER CONSIDERATION
County staff cited these as possible models for the supportive housing:
BOOKLETS PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY
The Center for Mental Health Services has published six booklets that provide practical and positive self-help guidance for individuals with mental illness to help in their recovery.
“The self-care skills and strategies outlined in the guides can be used to complement other mental health care treatment. The guides offer practical steps that people need to keep in mind as they work on their own recovery,” said Charles Curie, administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the parent agency of the Center for Mental Health Services.
The six booklets, which are free, are:
The booklets may be ordered singly or as packets of all six along with a booklet Recovering your Mental Health: A Self-Help Guide. They can be ordered through SAMHSA’s National Mental Health Services Knowledge Exchange Network at P.O. Box 42490, Washington, D.C., 20015.
Telephone is 1-800-789-2647.
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CONTACTING MEMBERS OF OUR ARLINGTON DELEGATION
Listed below are the members of the Virginia General Assembly who represent Arlington — and how to contact them.
It is important that they hear from advocates so that they know how our mental health programs are working
and how these programs can be improved.
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SPECIAL REPORT OF THE FRIENDS OF CLARENDON HOUSE, INC.
MEMBERSHIP NOTICE Friends of Clarendon House, Inc. members are reminded that it is time, once again, to pay membership dues for the 2003 year. Dues are $20 per person; $30 for a family. Friends, Inc. provides a great deal of help not only to Clarendon House, which itself does so much for family and friends, but also to all Arlingtonians served by the Arlington Behavioral Healthcare Division. Friends, Inc. helps with advocacy, with outreach to the business community, with public relations and with fund-raising. Friends, Inc. members are needed to rejoin and to pay the nominal dues. Please return the form below with your membership dues and plan to come to the next meeting of the Friends of Clarendon House, Tuesday morning, January 14, and Wednesday, morning, February 19, at 7:45 a.m. at Clarendon House, 3141 North 10th Street, Arlington. Please find my dues for membership in The Friends of Clarendon House, Inc. Single person ($20.00)__________ Family ($30.00)__________ I/We enclose an additional donation of $____________ Name______________________________________________ Address____________________________________________________________ Telephone_______________ Mail today to The Friends of Clarendon House, Inc., 3141 North 10th Street, Arlington, VA 22201 |
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CALENDAR
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THE ARLINGTON VOICE is published bi-monthly for the Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Arlington, an affiliate of the Northern Virginia AMI, by Richard and Betsy Greer, 4141 North Henderson Road -- 624, Arlington, VA 22203. The telephone number is 703/525-8616. The FAX number is 703/525-4080. E-mail address is rtgreer@erols.com. Comments and articles are happily solicited.