ADVOCACY NEWS FROM NAMI NEW JERSEY:
1. BECOME A HOSPITAL MONITOR
2. WEB SITE ANSWERS MENTAL HEALTH PARITY QUESTIONS
3. DCA, HMFA ANNOUNCE FUNDING SUPPORT FOR SPECIAL NEEDS HOUSING
4. MOTHER’S MISSION: HELP AT-RISK VETERANS
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BECOME A HOSPITAL MONITOR
The New Jersey Division of Mental Health Services (DMHS) is establishing a new program to monitor the quality of care in New Jersey's state psychiatric hospitals. Mental health advocates, including family members and mental health consumers, are invited to an orientation on July 31.
This program supports the notion that mental health professionals and families, working together, can produce concrete, positive improvements in the delivery of services and in the conditions of treatment.
To learn more:
http://www.naminj.org/advocacy/enews/archive/enewsJuly8_10.html
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WEB SITE ANSWERS MENTAL HEALTH PARITY QUESTIONS
Regulations for the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA) have gone into effect for plan years beginning on or after July 1, 2010, meaning expanded access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment for millions of Americans. In the absence of final regulations, plans have been required to make a good faith compliance effort since the law went into effect on October 3, 2009.
The Parity Implementation Coalition, a group of addiction and mental health consumer and provider organizations, has announced a new online resource center to assist individuals and families with accessing their new rights and benefits under the law. At the site, individuals and organizations will be able to document any enforcement problems with MHPAEA. committed to the implementation of the 2008 parity law.
Go to the Parity Implementation Coalition web site:
http://www.mentalhealthparitywatch.org/Pages/mentalhealthparity.aspx
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DCA, HMFA ANNOUNCE FUNDING SUPPORT FOR SPECIAL NEEDS HOUSING
New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ (DCA) Commissioner Lori Grifa today announced that the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency’s (HMFA) Board approved a financing commitment from the state’s Special Needs Housing Trust Fund to a non-profit mental health organization. The Special Needs Housing Trust Fund is administered by the HMFA and provides capital financing to create permanent supportive housing and community residences for individuals with special needs, with priority given to individuals with mental illness. The purpose of the fund is to develop special needs housing and residential opportunities as alternatives to institutionalization or homelessness for those who would benefit from these programs and to ensure the long-term viability of such housing.
Read more:
http://newjersey.realestaterama.com/2010/07/14/dca-hmfa-announce-funding-support-for-special-needs-housing-project-in-morris-county-ID0397.html
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MOTHER’S MISSION: HELP AT-RISK VETERANS
Last week, Linda Bean was sworn in at a hearing in Washington, D.C., and gracefully advised a congressional panel on how the Veterans Administration can improve treatment resources for veterans. Bean’s son took his own life at the age of 25, only a few months after returning from his second tour in Iraq. He had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after his first tour, but was called back to duty without receiving treatment.
Rep. Rush Holt (D-New Jersey) has introduced legislation that would fill a void in the military’s suicide prevention efforts. The measure, named after Coleman, would require the secretary of defense to ensure that members of the IRR receive a counseling call from trained personnel at least once every 90 days.
See the full story:
http://ebs.gmnews.com/news/2010-07-22/Front_Page/Mothers_mission_Help_atrisk_veterans.html
