Deals means hundreds of people with mental illness will leave nursing facilities

A recent settlement of a case filed in Brooklyn federal court in 2006 means the State of New York has 3 years to move everyone who qualifies out of nursing facilities and into the community. They must also reform their assessment process. The state has promised to develop 200 new units of supported housing: units, typically apartments, where residents live along or in small groups and receive regular visits from social workers. Advocates say this will not be enough: it is estimated that 1,000 people would be affected by the lawsuit. Some people were moved to New Jersey and Massachusetts, even though they were originally New York residents.

Read more here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/13/nyregion/settlement-changes-new-york-housing-policy-for-the-mentally-ill.html?_r=1&emc=eta1&pagewanted=print

Community Health Network awarded 5-year contract in CT

Community Health Network (CHN), one of 3 health care companies that currently administers health care coverage mainly to people on the HUSKY program, won the 5-year contract to administer health care coverage for nearly 600,000 low-income children, families, seniors, and adults with disabilities. CHN will take over the entire Medicaid population starting on Jan. 1.

To read more about this in the CT News Junkie: http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/state_awards_billion_health_care_contract/

Families with Parents who have a mental illness

According to an analyses of the National Cormorbidity Study, data indicates that equal or greater percentages of people with “serious and persistent mental illness” compared to people without mental illness. A total of 67.2% of the women with SPMI are mothers and 75.5 % of men with SPMI are fathers. In fact, men with SPMI are significantly more likely to be fathers than men with no psychiatric disorder or substance use history. What do you think about the topic of “Families headed by parents with mental illness”?

Next year’s projected deficits – no cuts to mental health care!

With last year’s deficit being filled by use of stimulus funds and other one-time measures, mental health advocates must continue to reach out to decision-makers with real stories of why cuts to mental health services and supports, including housing and other safety net measures, will only compound costs and disrupt lives.

Read an article about the projected deficit in the Hartford Courant:

http://articles.courant.com/2011-09-01/news/hc-ct-state-budget-surplus-0902-20110901_1_comptroller-kevin-lembo-federal-stimulus-money-tax-revenue

CT State Budget not quite finalized

Gov. Malloy’s administration acknowledged last week that “despite ratification of a labor concession-and-savings deal”, the final details of the budget remain unresolved. This means that some critical safety net services may still be at risk – call your legislators/the governor today to let them know that mental health services and supports are cost-effective and critical to the individuals and families who depend upon them.

Click here to read the whole story from the CT Mirror: http://ctmirror.org/print/13645

Social Security Disability applications up 50%, on brink of insolvency

Whether due to laid off workers, aging baby boomers, economy, or structural defects, new Congressional estimates say the trust fund that support Social Security Disability (SSD) will run out of money by 2017. Meanwhile, this means longer waits for people with disabilities.

Please copy and paste or click on the link to read the whole story:
file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/ktpcoordinator/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.Outlook/DE1HZA8R/Social%20Security%20disability%20on%20verge%20of%20insolvency%20-%20politics%20-%20More%20politics%20-%20msnbc%20com.htm#.TlKWsV2E9aU

CT Unions Ratify Concessions Agreement!

The Union Concession Deal has been ratified! A tally of the vote has been released, excluding the police unions who will finish voting today, announcing that every bargaining unit passed the agreement: Final Popular Total = 73%; Per capita vote: 98.06%.

Read a press release from the Governor’s office here:

http://www.governor.ct.gov/malloy/cwp/view.asp?A=4010&Q=484798

Gov. Malloy of CT tells Superintendants “We Can’t Afford to Fail Any of our Students”

Behavioral health issues are the #1 reason for school drop-out amongst all disability groups.  Students with disabilities have additional barriers to overcome which are compounded by issues such as poverty, race & ethnicity to name a few.  Keep the Promise CT – make sure children with mental health issues and other disabilities have equal opportunities for success in school.

To read the CT Mirror article about Gov. Malloy’s speech to school superintendents, click on or copy and paste this link:

http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/malloy_to_superintendents_we_cant_afford_to_fail_any_of_our_students/

 

Suicide Prevention within CT Police Departments

Last Wednesday, August 10th, more than 300 police officers from police departments across CT were asked to examine their cultures in order to better prepare to identify, discuss, and prevent Department suicides caused by things like on-the-job stress buildup, P.T.S.D., depression and other conditions that can lead to suicide. Four CT police officers have committed suicide in recent months.

Click here to read the Hartford Courant article:

http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-police-suicide-prevention-0811-20110810,0,1863598.story?track=rss

CT’s Budget: Spending, Revenue & Cuts

Please check out this link to an article in the CT Mirror entitled:
“Study: Connecticut One of Few States Spending Above Pre-Recession Levels”

http://www.ctmirror.org/story/13521/new-study-finds-connecticut-one-few-states-spend-above-pre-recession-levels

Connecticut is one of just seven states that has elevated spending above the levels budgeted before the recent recession, after adjustments for inflation and federal assistance are made, according to a recent study by a nonprofit fiscal policy think-tank.

But the Washington, D.C.-based Center on Budget and Policy Priorities also reported that Connecticut has made “deep identifiable cuts” to key services and its workforce and is one of just five states that balanced its cuts with “significant revenue-raising” measures.