| 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. 12, No. 5/6 | January/February 2004 |
| Wishing You and Yours |
| Happy Holidays |
| Happy New Year! |
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UPCOMING AMI ADVOCACY MEETINGS
This is a great way to learn about our Arlington services and programs. If there is a program that you would like to hear, contact Betsy Greer at 703/525-8616. |
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NAMI-NORTHERN VIRGINIA WEBSITE Seeking information about activities in Northern Virginia - including NAMI-Northern Virginia's monthly Speaker's Meeting? Check the NAMI-Northern Virginia website at www.naminova.org. Mental health consumers also have a website at http://members.aol.com/nvmhca. |
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NAMI-NV SPEAKER’S MEETING SPORTS NEW TIME NAMI-Northern Virginia is changing the time for its monthly Speaker's Meeting to 7:30 p.m. with the social hour starting at 7 p.m. Previously meetings started at 8 p.m. with the social hour beginning at 7:30 p.m. Every fourth Monday, NAMI-NV sponsors speakers who talk about issues relating to serious mental illness. Speaker's programs for Monday, January 26, and February 23, are still being planned. Details will be available on the NAMI-Northern Virginia website at www.naminova.org.
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Service Delivery Tops Services Board's Agenda
The most important function of the Arlington Community Services Board is the delivery of mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse services, said Arlington Community Services Board (ACSB) Chair Dean Bonney.
Addressing NAMI-Arlington's initial advocacy meeting of the 2003-2004 year, Bonney predicted the Board would have strong, stable leadership with the selection of Cindy Kemp as its new executive director. "We've had good programs," Bonney said, "but weak leadership." In praising Kemp, Bonney cited her 21 years' work experience with the County, most of which was with what he called "cutting-edge programs."
Bonney, who is serving his second term as Board chair - he was also chair in the mid-1990s - said his willingness to be on the Board stems from his desire to work with individuals with disabilities. This motivation stems from his own experience with depression and from his desire to give something back to his Arlington community. He is also active with CR, the nonprofit agency that provides much of Arlington's housing for those with mental illness and mental retardation.
Community services boards were introduced some 30 years ago during the Carter Administration when Virginia, like other states, was discharging individuals from state hospitals for care in the community. In Northern Virginia, the boards cover a single jurisdiction. In other areas, such as southwest Virginia, the Board is multi-county.
Beginning in the late 1990s, Virginia required that one-third of every board's membership represent consumers and family members of those who use the board's mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse services, Bonney said. Arlington's Board has 18 members and meets every month. Its Executive Committee is the body where contentious issues are aired, he said.
The Board's operation in Arlington is unique, he said. Since the 1990s, the Board has integrated its services with the County's Human Services Department. "This has meant more funding and better services for consumers," he said.
Bonney cited several new Board initiatives. One is the use of Local Public Assistance Cost Allocation Program (LPACAP) funding. These federal dollars are for the bricks and mortar for housing for individuals with disabilities. Oak Springs, a recently purchased South Arlington assisted living facility, is the first project. The ACSB's population will be a priority for admission, Bonney said. The Board is also working to secure eight units for 40 years in the Columbia Grove garden-apartment complex along Columbia Pike for its clients. The Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing is developing Columbia Grove as affordable housing.
A second initiative has been a review of the Services Board's programs by an outside consultant, who submitted "a wonderful report," Bonney said. Of critical importance are the recommendations on governance and whether the Arlington Board should model itself under the state code as an Administrative Policy or a Policy Advisory board. It is now categorized as Administrative Policy, like 38 other CSBs in Virginia. A Policy Advisory board exists in Norfolk, and Richmond is classified as a Behavioral Healthcare Area. "What is important is how the Board can best serve its consumers," Bonney said.
The Board will review the consultant's report on a regular basis, studying the recommendations and making decisions on them.
The Board is also looking at transitional housing. "This is something we want to do." Bonney said the Board is seeking $1.6 million for additional group-home housing, which if gained, would add 10 percent to the existing group home slots.
Another initiative is one of substance abuse prevention, especially at the secondary school level. Bonney said the Board is working on targeting use of alcohol and tobacco products among school-aged children in the hope of preventing abuse of these substances.
On other issues:
Bonney said the Services Board is moving away from awarding "sole source" contracts to a more competitive bidding process. Bonney said for a number of years CR, a nonprofit sanctioned by the County Board, provided all of the housing services for those with mental retardation and mental illness. In the late 1990s, the Board began moving away from sole source contracts when it used competitive bidding for the housing in its Discharge and Diversion (DAD) program.
Bonney said the Board is working on transitional services for County teens with disabilities. "This is an issue that is closest to Cindy Kemp's heart," he said. It is also a top priority for Barbara Wallace, the chair of the Board's Child and Youth Committee.
Planning Group Incorporates Regional Mental Health Initiatives
The state's initiative to have more regional collaboration in the delivery of mental health services will change the way the public system does business, says the executive director of Arlington's Community Services Board.
Cynthia Kemp addressed a well-attended December NAMI-Arlington advocacy meeting on the Northern Virginia Regional Planning Partnership. It marked the first time that the long-time Arlington mental health professional spoke to NAMI-Arlington members in her new position as Arlington's top official for mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse services. Kemp previously appeared in her roles as manager of Arlington Clarendon House clubhouse program, as chief of Community-based Services and as acting Mental Health chief.
The Partnership includes the executive directors from Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church and Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William Community Services Boards (CSBs). Representatives from regional advocacy groups, family members and consumers also serve on the Partnership planning committees.
The planning effort started in August 2002 when Commissioner James Reinhard of Virginia Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services (MHMRSAS) announced plans to take state general fund dollars supporting the operations of state psychiatric facilities and moving these dollars to community-based programs. The commissioner's initiative recognized that each of seven state regions would have to do different things with these dollars, Kemp said.
The second part of Reinhard's initiative is to have more regional collaboration among the CSBs. "He recognized we had to expand and improve the state capacity. We need more funding or better sharing of resources," she said. "We have to do what is best in our region."
Kemp said that in August 2003 each region issued an interim report that the MHMRSAS Department is using to support initiatives with the 2004 General Assembly. The Northern Virginia planners focused on adult mental health services in their initial effort. Kemp said issues will be discussed in 2004 that affect forensic services and services for children and adolescents, senior adults, those with mental retardation and those who abuse substances.
Among the Partnership's accomplishments for its first year, Kemp listed:
o Identified key issues for consideration next year.
o Identified a number of areas for increased collaboration, including information technology, training and quality assurance and improvement.
o Endorsed a federal WorkFORCE grant application by vaACCESS in collaboration with state and regional agencies.
These were among the Partnerships initial recommendations, Kemp said:
o Maintain the existing bed numbers at the Institute at this time.
o Increase Virginia's Medicaid eligibility levels to 100 percent federal poverty level, from current 80 percent.
o Expand PACT services.
o Fully fund the continuum of community care.
o Promote the Recovery Model
o Establish a State Office of Consumer and Family Affairs.
o Establish and fund Consumer Empower Training.
The challenge in community-based care is to meet the needs of choices for consumers. "We need to meet the consumers where they are and to provide those services," she said. The difficulty is the lack of these services.
Partnerships work this year
The Partnership this year had three main workgroups. The Structural Work Group studied how the CSBs can increase collaboration. The Mental Health Work Group studied, among other things, who enters the state hospital, how long are hospital stays and how individuals can be diverted from the hospital.
A new group, the Private Hospital Work Group, studied how the private psychiatric facilities can be more involved. Kemp said state Discharge and Diversion (DAD) dollars will be used in the region to purchase private psychiatric beds in the private facilities as one way to reduce use of state beds. This work group wants to educate the private hospitals on state facility policies, such as informed consent and seclusion and restraints, to ensure greater uniformity of processes. The group also worked to see how these private facilities could help the state in caring for those who are ill.
Regional community forums and consumer focus groups were held. The need for more funding, more regional approaches to specialized services, better services for homeless individuals and more Assertive Treatment Teams (PACTs) were among the points made in community forums. Consumers wanted jobs, housing and transportation supports, more time with psychiatrists, a greater range of vocational services and options.
Kemp said these are some of the issues facing the regional planners:
o Inadequate state funding. Virginia is 50th in community-based funding. "We need more state funding every year, but state funding goes down," Kemp said.
o Virginia makes less use of Medicaid funding than do other states. In addition, Virginia's Medicaid reimbursements do not pay for services.
o The number of uninsured patients, many of whom are immigrants, in Northern Virginia has increased. Kemp said 28 percent of psychiatric and substance abuse patients treated in 2002 were uninsured.
o Forensic patients and those who successfully pleaded not-guilty-by reason of insanity are hospitalized for long stays at the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute.
o Increased numbers of those with mental illness are in local jails.
"The need for hospital beds [in the region] is going up at the same time the number of beds are going down," Kemp said, noting the psychiatric bed closures at Alexandria Hospital (20 psychiatric beds) and proposed closures at Dominion (100) and Northern Virginia Community (20) hospitals. "We're heading for a bed crisis," she said. Arlington staff once had to call 20 hospitals seeking a needed bed. "This is at the same time the state wants to move dollars from the Institute to the community."
Kemp said the regional planners responded by moving the $2 million state DAD dollars to the community to provide more flexibility. To keep people out of the hospital, Kemp said, we need more crisis and stabilization facilities and alternative facilities.
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Northern Virginia Planning Partnership Vision
This is the statement developed by the Northern Virginia Regional Partnership to guide its endeavors. |
Arlington Fills Post of Consumer Advocate/Educator
Lauren Spiro has been named Arlington's Recovery Advocate/Educator, a new part-time post in the Behavioral Healthcare Division.
In this position, Spiro will be responsible in educating both clients and division staff about innovative recovery techniques and models. She will lead or facilitate trainings about the Recovery Model, including the issues that are important to recovery. As an advocate for recovery-based services, Spiro will be responsible for overseeing that recovery principles and techniques are used throughout the division. She will also work with her peers on wellness issues.
Spiro, who was appointed in October, came to Arlington from PRS in Falls Church. Her experience includes licensure issues. She is familiar with, and has worked with, the Commission on Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), which sets standards for programs, such as the Clarendon House clubhouse.
Production Staff for The Arlington Voice
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The Arlington Voice is the product of many hands. For their help and support, thanks go to: Editor: Betsy Greer Proofreaders: Wayne Bert, Bob Jack, Tom Quinn Formatting: Christina Kozyn Mailing: Barb Keish |
Planning Continues for Oak Springs Facility
The hiring of an architect to oversee renovation of the Oak Springs assisted living facility is the next step toward getting the 39-bed South Arlington program in operation.
Arlington County purchased the facility last spring to serve those with mental retardation and serious mental illness and elderly individuals with dementia with psychotic and psychiatric symptoms. Individuals will also have difficulty with at least one activity of daily living or instrumental activity of daily living, needs precipitating the increased care offered by assisted living. Activities of daily living include bathing, dressing, eating or toileting. Instrumental activities of daily living include meal preparation, housekeeping, money management, transportation and/or shopping.
An ad hoc subcommittee of the Arlington Community Services Board has been working with Human Services Department (DHS) staff in developing admission criteria and budgeting. The ad hoc committee seeks to bar discrimination against individuals who need greater supports because of disability - i.e., help with more than one activity of daily living - or who may lack financial resources to contribute to their care at Oak Springs. A proposed annual DHS budget of $1 million was deemed too restrictive to provide state of the art programming that would distinguish Oak Springs from other assisted living facilities.
The County Board revisits Oak Springs in February when it votes to give title to the facility to the Arlington Health Center Commission, an entity that already holds title to the Cherrydale neighborhood land that supports a nursing home. The transfer of title permits the Commission to borrow funds, if needed, to renovate the facility - something the County is unable to do by law.
A key member of the Warner Administration called on advocates for those with mental disabilities to support the governor's plan to reform Virginia's tax system.
"We need your voices," said Secretary Jane Woods of Health and Human Services. "This is truly a chance for Virginia to make history and to make its mark for Virginians who need services."
Woods, who long represented Fairfax County in the state senate, addressed the annual Legislative Breakfast of the Coalition for Mentally Disabled Citizens of Northern Virginia last month. Nearly 200 advocates braved wintry weather for the breakfast, which is used to articulate Northern Virginia's unmet needs for mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse services.
"We can see the results of funding streams," Woods said. "We can see how funding streams can make a difference in the lives of our consumers and family members." But, the secretary noted that Virginia is not known for big spending for health and human services programs. "We are a conservative state. There is, however, a difference between being conservative and being foolish."
She recounted how in 2002, more than 5,000 state jobs were eliminated and agencies absorbed 20 percent in administrative cuts "to make sure services remained available." In 2003, however, reduced revenues forced cuts in services.
The outlook today, she said, is that Virginia lacks sufficient revenues to maintain services. "We will face a 12 to 15 percent cut [in services] unless we take another road. It is a road less taken because no one wants to pay taxes," she said.
Woods said there is an estimated $1.5 billion gap between mandated spending and revenues. She promoted Governor Mark Warner's proposal to revamp Virginia's tax code as one way to help close the gap. The proposed reform is a first for Virginia's tax system since the 1920s and the time of President Calvin Coolidge.
Warner's plan would:
o Continue the phase-out of the car tax, which would be eliminated in 2008.
o Restructure the income tax so that the burden on lower-income wage earners is eased. It would add a new bracket of 6.2 percent for the 8 percent of Virginia taxpayers who earn more than $100,000.
o Add 1 percent to the state's 4.5 percent sales tax, but remove the state tax on groceries. Warner's plan would allow localities to maintain their sales tax on groceries.
o Increase Virginia's present 2.5 cent-a-pack tax on cigarettes to 25 cents. Localities would also be able to phase in their own tax on cigarettes up to 50 cents a pack.
o Begin a means test in 2005 for those over age 65 who are eligible for the $12,000 income-tax exemption. Taxpayers, who turn 65 after January 1, 2005, would not automatically get the current $12,000 deduction. In 2005, the exemption would be phased out according to income level. As an example, Woods said it would be eliminated for a single individual with income of $77,000 or more.
o Close corporate loopholes.
"Without the money from the increased sales tax, there will be 12 to 15 percent cuts in services," she said.
"We know there are waiting lists and that every person on the waiting lists needs services. We know that services affect individuals and family members. We know that staying at No. 50 [on the list of states in providing community-based services] will hurt a lot of people," she said.
"We need your help."
The proposed budget for the next fiscal year is now in the hands of the County Manager, who will present his recommendations to the County Board on Saturday, February 7.
As part of its deliberations, the County Board will hold two hearings in March - one on expenditures, which is set for 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 23, at the Thomas Jefferson Middle School Auditorium. The hearing on revenues (tax rate) will be held at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 25, at the County Board hearing room. The Board will adopt its final budget on Saturday, April 24.
NAMI-Arlington will be seeking support for the Arlington Community Services Board's (ACSB) request for $1.64 million in Fiscal 2005 County funding for urgent housing needs for 21 individuals who suffer mental illness and mental retardation or who abuse substances. Specifically, NAMI-Arlington is supporting $1.3 million for the placement of at least 10, and possibly 12, adults, adolescents and children with mental illness or substance abuse issues. These funds cover the operating expenses for intensive care or transitional residential services.
"Without these services, consumers will remain in the hospital or in residential treatment facilities, be discharged to our shelters or remain homeless," the ACSB said in making its request.
As its top priority, the Board's Mental Health Committee urged development of three 24/7-group homes for severely, persistent mentally ill individuals with behavior problems, and individuals dually diagnosed with mental illness and mental retardation or substance abuse issues. Operating these homes carries an estimated annual cost of $2.3 million.
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Consumers Advocate for Needed Services As is the tradition at the Annual Legislative Breakfast of the Coalition for Mentally Disabled Citizens of North Virginia, consumers stated the case for increased state funding for mental retardation, mental health and substance abuse services. Community-based substance abuse services for her and for her son "saved the County and the state a lot of money," said Mary Bentley, executive director of the Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery Alliance (SAARA). Bentley celebrated six years of sobriety December 10 thanks to the services of the Prince William County Community Services Board. Her son, who also abused substances, is currently serving with the Army in Iraq. Without services and support, neither would be where she and he is today, Bentley said. Chris Ensrude was an elementary school teacher when she became ill in 1974 and was hospitalized with a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder. She also worked as a drapery consultant for J.C. Penney. With community support, Ensrude has Section 8 housing and residential supports. "We need more money for support services. We need more money for Medicaid. We need more money for psychiatric medications," she said. Through the Fairfax County's Engleside clubhouse program, Ensrude has worked for the Fairfax County Juvenile Court and at a Sunrise Assisted Living Facility. In explaining the importance of local services, she said, "I would hate to be homeless or to be in the hospital for the rest of my life." Terry Hall represented those with mental retardation. A Chantilly High School graduate, Hall is currently employed at Fairfax Hospital and lives with two friends in a home in the community served with drop-in support. Cuts in funds, however, have curbed transportation services and recreational services. "I have deep concern about budget cuts," Hall said, reading a letter she sent to public officials on this issue. Reduced funding results in reduced recreational and social activities - and transportation to church, she said. "I have a right to have services that keep me independent." |
Arlington Lawmakers Set January 5 Hearing
Members of the Arlington delegation to the General Assembly hold their annual pre-session hearing Monday, January 5, 2004, at 7 p.m., at the Arlington County Board Hearing Room, 2100 Clarendon Boulevard - 3rd Floor. This is the time to make your views known about issues, including the Fiscal 2005-2006 biennial budget, which will come before this General Assembly during its session, which starts in January. Speakers sign up at the hearing. Speakers have three minutes to speak and are heard on a first-come, first-served basis. If you prefer, you can write to them.
Advocating for State Funding
State legislators need to know how services affect the lives of those who suffer from mental illness. Virginia ranks 50th among the 50 U.S. states in funding community-based services, which is where most of those who are mentally ill receive help. Reduced funding limits the services that can be provided, preventing those with mental illness from functioning at their highest levels. What can YOU do?
Stay informed. Join organizations that provide information about services, budgets and legislative activities. Join an e-mail listserve that shares information on budget reductions, changes and legislative actions. Jessica Burmester has an excellent email-listserve. To join, contact her at
Write letters - to public officials or to newspaper editors. We have stories to tell. You don't need to be an expert in anything but your family's situation to write a great article or letter. This is an excellent way to make policymakers - at both the local and state levels - aware of the problems you face. The more letters they get on an issue, the more likely they are to pay attention. Don't worry about being an expert. Just tell your personal story.
Know your elected representatives. Know your state delegate and your state senator. Know your County Board members. Meeting face-to-face with a legislator or designated staff is an excellent way to establish a relationship and convey your point of view. These personal relationships are likely to have an effect on the system and on the services that your loved one receives. You don't need to have special knowledge to do this. Politicians don't need expert advice on how to solve a problem - just expert advice from a family on what life is like in your situation.
Testify at public hearings. Family members can provide compelling stories at County Board or legislative hearings, which can influence our decisionmakers regarding our programs. Most hearings limit presentations to two or three minutes, but a lot can be said in those 120 or 180 seconds. Most hearings take speakers on a first-come, first-served basis, with required sign-up prior to the hearing.
Contribute your ideas and energy. Attend a meeting of the Arlington Community Services Board, the citizen advisory board that has oversight for mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse services. Attend and participate in the meetings of the CSB Mental Health Committee and in NAMI-Arlington and one of its committees. Being a member allows you even more input into the services - and level of services - available for family members. - Adapted from May 2003 The Easel, the newsletter of the Northern Virginia Chapter of the Autism Society of America from an article by Kathy May, lead advocate of the Arc of Northern Virginia.
Two NAMI-Northern Virginia members were recently - and separately - honored for their advocacy work on behalf of those with mental illness.
At its December Legislative Breakfast, the Coalition for Mentally Disabled Citizens of Northern Virginia honored Joseph Hinshaw of Falls Church with its Nancy McDonald Beyer Exemplary Community Service Award. Hinshaw was cited for his more than 25 years of involvement with NAMI-Northern Virginia, including years as the organization's vice president and treasurer. He was also cited for his service with the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute Advisory Council, the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, Pathways Homes Inc. and Community Health Charities.
The Arlington County Human Rights Commission honored Betsy Greer, NAMI-Arlington coordinator, with its James B. Hunter Human Rights Award. Greer was cited for her "tireless advocacy for the human rights of persons with serious mental illness in Arlington for many years."
"She has embraced the cause of improving the lives of the seriously mentally ill by ensuring that they have access to treatment, that the treatment is 'best practice' and that there is a continuum of services to meet the needs of the people who require the services."
In accepting her award, Greer said she gets passionate in her cause.
"I see my friends with mental illness working toward recovery, but I know they cannot do it alone. They need treatment and services, and for many, this is support that we as a community provide through our County professionals and programs. Thanks to our dedicated and committed professionals, these programs are working. They are keeping individuals out of the hospitals. They are keeping individuals in the community. They are allowing recovery," she said.
"Recovery" plays a major role in our mission statement," says the director of the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute.
Lynn DeLacy, named last September as head of the state psychiatric hospital, addressed the NAMI-Northern Virginia November Speaker's Meeting, outlining her goals for the facility that serves Northern Virginia. Joining her was Dr. R. Maxmilien Del Rio, Institute medical director since last spring. Del Rio is trained as both a psychiatrist and lawyer.
"There are those who say we can't adopt a Recovery Model in the hospital, but I believe we can," said DeLacy, who previously served 20 years as the Institute's director of Nursing. "We are working on programs to achieve the Recovery Model." The Recovery Model focuses on the needs of the ill individual who is offered choices in services. Services are client-centered rather than trying to fit an individual into cookie-cutter programs.
DeLacy said her goal is to have the Institute become the "preeminent regional facility for the people we serve as well as for providers. We want to provide state-of-the-art care," she said.
The Institute has 129 beds and is filled to capacity. Twenty-three percent of those at the Institute are there for forensic issues, including those found not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity on criminal charges. The average stay ranges from 14 days for those who commit themselves voluntarily or who have substance abuse issues to 320 days for those who lack appropriate community placement due to lack of housing and services.
DeLacy said the hospital remains well staffed. There is a 12 percent nursing vacancy rate and, despite the difficulty in getting psychiatric nurses, the Institute has had good success in filling positions.
For strategic goals, DeLacy said, she wants to create a culture and service delivery framework that embraces recovery principles, improve community access to Institute beds while maintaining and improving quality care, and establish a leadership role in the regional delivery system of care. "I don't want a managed-care facility that puts people out [of the hospital] in two days or even a month."
Treatment Mall heads programming
The Institute's "Treatment Mall" is in place, a program that offers a variety of activities 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The activities cover living skills, cooking skills and psychotherapy. There is general activity for individuals not involved in mall. One-on-one therapy sessions work on ways to relieve core stresses. The Institute is also working with local Community Services Boards to enroll consumers in local clubhouse programs prior to discharge.
In addition, the Institute is bringing back an on-site representative of the Virginia Rehabilitation Services Department to work with consumers on developing job skills.
DeLacy said a recent spot inspection by the Virginia Health and Human Services Inspector General especially cited the "high morale" of staff. "We need a satisfied workforce," DeLacy said, who is working to empower her staff.
Among current activities, DeLacy said she and the Institute staff are working to educate and train private hospital staff members on what's required by "informed consent." She is also working with them on ways to reduce the use of seclusion and restraints. Both efforts have the potential of improving quality of care in the region.
She's seeking to continue an active research program initiated under her predecessor Dr. Mohamed El-Sabaawi. State cuts, however, have eliminated funds for the Institute's research consultant. "We are trying to find small-scale research projects."
The Institute has seen a dramatic reduction in the use of seclusion and restraint. "We talked to the staff about successes. We built confidence with staff that enabled the staff to partner with the consumer," DeLacy said in explaining the drop in the use of seclusion and restraints from 1,000 hours a month to zero hours of seclusion and two hours of restraints a month.
The Institute director also wants to reconnect with families and to get families more involved. She hopes to promote a Family Day at the Institute.
Annual NAMI-National Convention
NAMI-National celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year at its annual convention, September 8-12, 2004, at the Washington Hilton and Towers Hotel, Washington D.C.
We in the greater Washington-area are fortunate that NAMI holds its convention in our capital city every three years, giving us the opportunity to hear about, among other things, the latest research and the latest state-of-the-art programming. It is also a terrific time to network and to meet other families from across the United States who share our concerns for a better service system for those who are ill.
It is well worth taking time off from otherwise busy schedules for the five-day convention and to celebrate NAMI's 25 years of advocacy, education and support. So, be sure to save the date.
For more complete information and to register, check the NAMI website at www.nami.org/convention. NAMI members in the greater Washington-area are also able to attend at reduced fees by volunteering to work at the Convention. Check the website for more information.
Fairfax-Falls Church Services Board Holds Jail Diversion Summit
Approximately 15 percent of those held in the Fairfax County jail are mentally ill, many arrested only for nuisance crimes.
The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) has decided that efforts are needed to divert many of these individuals from incarceration because 1) those with mental illness who are arrested cannot be properly treated in jail, and 2) the presence of these individuals in jail detracts the jail officials from their main job, which is dealing with the serious criminals who are being detained.
The CSB has therefore decided to spend one year creating a plan for diversion of those with mental illness. The CSB wants to determine what would constitute valid measures of success in obtaining this outcome, and then to create a strategy for implementing the plan.
The jail diversion summit November 21 was the kickoff meeting for that effort.
A particularly informative speaker at the summit was Dr. Fred Osher of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Osher pointed out that people with mental health problems appear in higher proportions among jail detainees than in the general population. Often these individuals also abuse substances, which increases the likelihood of violence.
Why are those with mental illness disproportionately represented in jails? They are arrested at a higher rate. They are incarcerated for longer periods of time, in part because they often don't follow rules because of their illness. The pathogenic nature of the incarceration environment retards recovery. And, there is a higher recidivism rate.
To improve this situation, there is a need to divert many of these individuals to non-jail environments, to provide better treatment, and to carry out better discharge planning and support for those who are released from jail.
Osher also stressed that many indirectly related issues have an important impact on the welfare of these individuals, such as the availability of affordable housing. Clearly, if an individual struggling with mental illness does not have access to adequate housing, it may increase his susceptibility to crime and arrest.
Crisis Intervention Team Model
Major Sam Cochran of the Memphis Police Department also spoke, discussing the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) as it functions in the Memphis department. The program has attained a national reputation and he is often involved in helping police departments around the country implement a similar plan. Cochran noted that the program began with an incident where a mentally ill person who was brandishing a knife was shot and killed by a policeman, creating an uproar in the Memphis community. The mayor of Memphis demanded action from the police department.
Beginning without any extra funds or any obvious solution in mind, the CIT program was created through hard work and cooperation with the community. The heart of the program is intensive training (40 hours) for a selected group of police officers on how to deal with mentally ill persons. One of these specially trained officers is then present on all police calls that appear to involve people suffering from mental illness. The specially trained officers are carefully selected for personality, disposition and attitudes that will allow them to work effectively with those who are mentally ill.
The Memphis model differs from the approach used in other departments where all officers receive a limited amount of training and are then presumed able to deal with mentally ill individuals.
The Memphis model has had substantial success, as measured by these indicators:
Printing and Mailing Costs - Help!
Many thank you's for the many of you who responded to our appeal for contributions to support the printing and mailing costs of The Arlington Voice. It is our way to help NAMI-Northern Virginia, which has generously supported the Arlington newsletter since it began in 1992.
We are hoping that you believe The Arlington Voice is worthy of support, and that you will join other NAMI-Arlingtonians in contributing to the production costs of the newsletter, which average more than $375 each issue.
If you are inclined to support this appeal, please make your check payable to the NAMI-Northern Virginia, a tax deductible 501(c)3 organization, and send it in care of Betsy Greer, 4141 North Henderson Road - 624, Arlington, VA 22203. We will record your contribution before passing it on to NAMI-Northern Virginia.
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How to Contact Our Arlington State Lawmakers
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A Greater Washington-area education and support group has formed for family members whose relative has been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. The group has been holding support group meetings, alternating between Northern Virginia and Montgomery County, Maryland. Under a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health, three members of the group recently received training to facilitate a free 12-week BPD family education course. For more information about the group, contact Martin and Diane Sterenbuch at 301/469-6101or by email at sterenbuch@comcast.net
NAMI-Arlington has three committees that support its advocacy work, and it invites interested individuals to become actively involved in one of these committees. The Committees are: Criminal Justice Committee under Wayne Bert (wbert@cs.net), which is working to improve the way that Arlington handles those with mental illness who become involved in the criminal justice system; Housing Committee under Kathy Donovan (kdonovan7@comcast.net), which is ensuring NAMI-Arlington's voice is heard in the continuing work to obtain housing for those who suffer mental illness; and Budget Committee (vacant chair) to formulate NAMI-Arlington positions - and make sure these positions are voiced - on state and local expenditures for programs that serve those with mental illness.
NAMI-Arlington has started a new support group for individuals who have a parent with serious mental illness. The support group, patterned after NAMI-Arlington's long-time support group for family members, meets the third Thursday monthly at 7 p.m. at the Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church, 1500 North Glebe Road. Help NAMI-Arlington spread the word about this new group, which is special because of its specific focus.
Of interest to NAMI-Arlington members concerned about affordable housing issues are two upcoming Board hearings - perhaps as early as February 21.
The Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) is seeking County approval for a 21-story, 267-unit apartment building in Rosslyn - Rosslyn Ridge. APAH plans to designate 142 of these units as "affordable." The project is still undergoing staff reviews, but has come under neighborhood attack for being too high and too close to a County park. APAH is looking for support from advocates for affordable housing.
In addition, the County Board is holding a hearing on February 21 on proposed affordable housing guidelines for site plan projects.
This follows the Board's December 6 reaffirmation, and refinement, of its general Affordable Housing Guidelines. Among its proposed targets is to provide permanent housing for 65 percent of those who are homeless, in shelters and who are disabled.
Other targets are to:
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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.