January 2008 NACBHDD Newsletter
The Newsletter of the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors
In this Issue...
Legislative Conference: A Chance to Participate in Special Capitol Hill and Veterans Sessions February 27-29
NACBHDD's Annual Legislative Conference will be held February 27-29, 2008 at the Jurys Hotel in Washington, DC. The Legislative Conference is an important opportunity for members to talk with federal and national advocacy partners and to hear about current topics of critical concern.
Following is a preview of some conference highlights:
Registration information will soon be available on the web site, and a preliminary program has been mailed to members. To access a copy of the registration form and hotel information, click here. Members are urged to fill out the registration form and fax it to (202) 661-8871 or mail it to NACBHDD headquarters, even if payment is made later online. In addition, hotel reservations should be made as soon as possible by calling the Jurys Hotel registration number at 1-866-534-6835, and mentioning the NACBHDD affiliation.
NACBHDD Members Appointed to National Positions
NACBHDD Chair and Members Have Active Roles in NACo
Leon Evans, Chair of the NACBHDD Board and Executive Director, The Center for Health Care Services, in San Antonio, Texas, was recently sworn in as a member of the National Association of Counties (NACo) Board of Directors. (NACBHDD is an affiliate of NACo.) In addition to being a NACo Board member, Evans will work with several key NACo groups. Other NACBHDD members are also busy working with NACo committees.
Many thanks to Deborah Donaldson for facilitating the relationship with NACo. Evans received a warm welcome at his first NACo Board meeting, and he credits Debbie Donaldson, a past chair of the NACBHDD Board and Director of Human Services for Sedgwick County Kansas, for his enthusiastic reception. Donaldson's dedicated tenure on NACo committees has greatly facilitated NACBHDD's relationship with NACo. (Donaldson continues to serve on the NACBHDD Board and as Vice Chair of NACo's Behavioral Health Subcommittee.)
Evans will work with the following NACo groups:
Other NACBHDD members serve on the Behavioral Health Subcommittee of the Health Steering Committee. The subcommittee is chaired by David Wiebe, Executive Director, Mental Health Center, Johnson County, Kansas, and Deborah Donaldson is the Vice Chair. Lynn Ferrell, CPC Administrator, Polk County, Iowa, and Karen Scherra, Executive Director, Mental Health & Recovery Board Clermont County, Ohio, are members.
Looking forward to a busy year working with NACo. Evans is proud to be a member of the NACo board and looks forward to representing NACBHDD. "Our organization and membership are having a positive effect in supporting national initiatives with Congress." And, Evans says he is "very impressed with NACo's board of dedicated people interested in public policy and the citizens they serve."
For more information, see www.naco.org.
Virginia Member Appointed to SAMHSA's National Advisory Council
George Braunstein, Executive Director, Chesterfield Community Services Board, in Chesterfield, Virginia, has been appointed to the National Advisory Council of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Braunstein is the first NACBHDD member ever appointed to the National Advisory Council.
The National Advisory Council advises and makes recommendations to the Administrator of SAMHSA and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) about agency activities and policies. In addition, the National Advisory Council may review applications for grant and cooperative agreements and may appoint subcommittees and hold workshops and conferences.
Braunstein is looking forward to the two-day Advisory Council meetings, with the first one scheduled for March 11 and 12, 2008. And, while he only has preliminary information about the Council at this point, he is very much concerned with addressing "the needs of the people on the front line" and making sure that there is not a "disconnect" between federal policymakers and what is needed in the field. Specifically, he hopes he can play a role in addressing:
For more information on SAMHSA's National Advisory Council, see https://www.nac.samhsa.gov/NACcouncil/index.aspx.
NACBHDD Executive Director Speaks at Ohio MR/DD Boards Association Meeting, Attends Carter Center Symposium
NACBHDD Executive Director Ellen Witman attended the Ohio MR/DD Boards Association meeting on December 6. She provided a legislative update in one session, and participated in a panel discussion about what the developmental disabilities field may look like in ten years. In the panel discussion, Witman commented on likely improvements for individuals with disabilities that may be possible because of advances in medical and communications technology, participation in electoral politics and the democratic process, and improved educational practices and work options.
Witman also attended the 23rd Annual Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy on November 7 and 8, 2007, held at The Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The theme of this year's symposium was "The Time is Now: Creating a Public Policy Action Agenda on Preventing Mental Illnesses." Witman participated with other mental health advocates in discussions focused on recovery.
New, Improved Web Site Debuts Soon
The launching of NACBHDD's new web site has been delayed in an effort to further improve it and make it the best possible for the membership. With the debut now projected for late January, the web site will have a new, improved look (including a new logo), and it will be much more informative and interactive. The home page will include access to the latest news from Capitol Hill, newsletters, and news about past and future conferences. In addition, members will have the opportunity to communicate with each other through online message boards and to advocate for their local interests in Congress through the Advocate, an online advocacy tool. An email will be sent to all NACBHDD members notifying them as soon as the site is up and running.
Membership Brochure Is Now Available
The 2008 membership brochure has been distributed. If you have not yet received one, please contact the NACBHDD office at (202) 661-8816.
Award Winning Housing Program Incorporates Housing First and Tenant Based Rental Assistance
Salt Lake County, Utah's Homeless Assistance Rental Program (HARP) is the winner of a 2007 National Association of Counties' (NACo) Model Program Achievement Award. Kerry Steadman, Community Services Manager, Salt Lake County Resource and Development, was presented with the award at NACo's Annual Conference in July. Steadman and the program also have been recognized by the National Association of Housing and Rehabilitation Officials. NACBHDD recently spoke with Steadman about HARP.
Salt Lake County, like other localities in the nation, has developed a plan to end chronic homelessness in ten years. Salt Lake County is addressing this goal with three strategies: 1) constructing new housing, 2) maintaining or rehabilitating existing facilities for the homeless, and 3) using tenant-based rental assistance in scattered sites and providing ongoing case management and other services. HARP is based on the Housing First Model and utilizes tenant based rental assistance for existing properties, along with providing ongoing case management and other services. Housing First works with individuals with mental illness by securing housing first and then introducing programs to sustain and support ongoing recovery and living in and maintaining the housing. Clients in HARP pay 30 percent of their monthly income toward monthly rent or $50, whichever is greater.
A well-coordinated effort. HARP, which began in January 2006, involves a coordinated effort among a variety of entities. As Steadman describes it, individuals must "go through one of the four doors to get into housing" – the Division of Mental Health, the Division of Substance Abuse, the Division of Youth Services, and the Criminal Justice System. (Steadman says about 10 percent of the jail population is estimated to be homeless.) And, the program has a free clinic for healthcare and works with the county housing authority on developing agreements with landlords. "All these groups come to the table to offer services."
Study gathering data on progress and achievements of individuals in the program. The University of Utah School of Social Work's Criminal Justice Center is collecting data on the progress of individuals in the program since they have been housed, what resources they are using, and their educational and employment achievements since they have obtained housing. Final written and oral reports are expected this year.
Steadman emphasized that HARP is a "brand new program and a paradigm shift," but he hopes the study is able to demonstrate the following:
On the other hand, Steadman is anticipating that the study may demonstrate:
Steadman points to the upcoming January 2008 Point-In-Time Homeless Count" as an opportunity for data on the numbers of homeless in communities and information on factors related to homelessness including veterans, mental illness, and domestic violence.
The importance of case managers as advocates, mentors, helpers. Steadman cites the case managers' central role in the success of the program and in acting as what he described as "advocates, mentors, and helpers." In addition, case managers also act as liaisons with the landlords. Landlords know they can go to case managers with questions and to seek help for clients. Case managers are not county employees, but are employed by agencies.
While Steadman is currently doing some training for case managers, he is trying to develop a "certified" case manager program for HARP. He says that while many case managers may have been clinically trained, "we need people who are trained to assess readiness [to live in] and maintain living in housing." (He has suggested, but not mandated, the self-sufficiency matrix (www.hmis.info), as a valuable tool in assessing this readiness.) Case managers must visit the units routinely and "see how things are going." Steadman says some case managers still struggle with this, as they are accustomed to working in offices and having clients visit them.
Funding. The bulk of HARP's funding comes from federal sources, such as the Community Development Block Grant, Social Service Block Grants, and Home Emergency Shelter Grants. There is a significant increase in funding for next year.
Update on the Campaign for Mental Health Reform
The Campaign for Mental Health Reform (www.mhreform.org), of which NACBHDD is a partner, has been involved in several important activities including:
The Second Annual Awards Dinner for Leadership in Mental Health is scheduled for April 16, 2008. The fundraising event, which will be held at the Hyatt Regency, Capitol Hill, in Washington, DC, will honor members of Congress, the entertainment industry, and the business community, who have been instrumental in making mental health a national priority. Members of the NACBHDD leadership attended the First Annual Awards Dinner, and will be attending the upcoming dinner as well.
The Whole Health Campaign. The Campaign has been collaborating with many mental health and substance abuse organizations to insure that all Campaign partners are identified with the larger effort to help Presidential candidates understand that mental health and substance abuse need to be involved as an overall part of health and the national healthcare discussion. As Campaign Director Bill Emmet stated in an email to Campaign partners, "The Campaign for Mental Health Reform [CMHR] has served as the avenue for representation of many mental health organizations in the Whole Health Campaign."
The brochure can be accessed by clicking here. Hard copies of the brochure can be ordered by using the attached order form. In addition, the Whole Health Campaign has a web site at www.wholehealthcampaign.org.
April 6-12 National County Government Week Theme Is "Protecting Our Children"
The theme for NACo's April 6-12 National County Government Week is "Protecting Our Children." The NACo web site describes National County Government Week as "an excellent opportunity for county officials to raise public awareness and understanding about counties and highlight essential county services and effective programs." The theme incorporates NACo President Eric Coleman's two initiatives, the Campaign Against Sexual Exploitation and Aging Out of Foster Care. (NACBHDD Chair Leon Evans serves on the Aging Out of Foster Care Task Force. See preceding article, "NACBHDD Chair and Members Have Active Role in NACo.) To access a booklet on how counties can recognize National County Government Week and support efforts to protect and serve children, click here.
Access Nationwide Recovery Support Information Available Online
Individuals can now access information about recovery support programs around the country through the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) Connection at the NAMI web site (www.nami.org).
NAMI Connection is a recovery support group program for adults with mental illness, regardless of diagnosis. The confidential groups meet weekly for 90 minutes, free of charge. No medications or other medical therapies are specifically recommended or endorsed. Meetings are guided by NAMI Connection's Principles of Support, and facilitated by trained individuals living with mental illness who understand the ongoing challenges and can offer support and encouragement.
The recovery support program is offered in accordance with evidence that connection in the community is an important part of recovery. According to the NAMI web site, "Research has shown that having someone to talk to is instrumental in the recovery process. Too often, mental illness is an isolating experience. Recovery is possible but often requires a connection with community—a community that offers support, encouragement, and insight. NAMI Connection is meant to be only one avenue to recovery for people with mental illness. Support groups should add to and not replace the treatment plan determined by the individual and their mental health care provider."
For more information on NAMI Connection, contact the NAMI National Information HelpLine at info@nami.org or 800-950-6264.
View Presidential Candidates' Positions on Mental Health Online
Information about the Presidential candidates' positions on mental health can now be accessed online through the web site of the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI). The positions were obtained from a 24-item questionnaire distributed to both Democrat and Republican candidates.
The questionnaire is divided into the following general subject areas:
Specific questions address Medicaid, SCHIP, Medicare, parity, the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, IDEA, the mental health workforce, and active duty military, veterans, and reservists. To view the questionnaire and the individual candidates' positions, go to the NAMI web site at www.nami.org.
