 | December
2001 NAMI Stigma Busters alerts - Parity bill dies, A Beautiful
Mind, and more. |
| Hearing
in Sacramento on Jan. 8th on prescriptions of psychiatric drugs for
children. |
| Action
Alert: Possible repeal of the Santa Cruz County Utility
Tax will reduce county mental health services funding
by nearly a million dollars, resulting in severe cuts. |
| Action
Alert: Contact your local PBS station.
Award winning documentaries are available for local PBS
scheduling (NAMI E-News). |
| Action
Alert: Possible repeal of the Santa Cruz County Utility Tax will
reduce county mental health services funding by nearly a million
dollars, resulting in severe cuts. NOTE: The Santa
Cruz Utility Tax was REPEALED in the March
election. |
| Action
Alert: MHCAN will picket UC Symposium on Crafting
Public MH Policy as it does not include
consumers/client representation and supports forced
psychiatry. |
| December
2001 NAMI Stigma Busters alerts - Parity bill dies, A
Beautiful Mind, and more. |
| The Bush Administration's preparation of an executive order to further push it's "States' Rights"
ideology threatens the American Disabilities Act due to
the patchwork of inconsistent --
and often nonexistent -- state laws. |
| NAMI
launched a protest of products marketed by Sony
Corporation of America and Mattel,
Inc. that violate the U.S. Surgeon General's call on the
entertainment industry to eliminate the stigma that
surrounds mental illness. |
| The
National Commission on Correctional Health Care Standards
has extended its period for comment on the proposed new
standards until Sept. 30, 2001. |
| The
rusted iron chains that once shackled the woman are
gone, but she is still bound by the horror of the fire
that killed 28 other mental patients chained to stone
pillars. |
| Bazelon
Center legislative alerts - while Congress is on recess, contact
your representatives regarding mental health legislation, such as mental
health parity, access to appropriate mental health care for children,
special education, and jail diversion programs for mentally ill
offenders. Note: some survivor groups voice concerns about these bills. |
| Input
requested from the public for the New
Freedom Initiative on Community-Based Alternatives for
Individuals with Disabilities. |
| Invitation
to participate in NIMH grant review boards. |
| Discipline amendments
to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and
the Individuals with Disabilities Education ACT
(IDEA) effectively deny educational services to many
students with disabilities. |
| A Human
Rights Statement against Psychiatric Persecution
Petition to The UNO Human Rights Commission in Geneva was
created by people who suffer from psychiatric persecution,
psychiatric incarceration and psychiatric torture and
written by Hagai Aviel/chairperson
of Israeli Association Against Psychiatric Assault (IAAPA)
. |
| You
are encouraged to contact your House members and urge
them to support a strong,
enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights that ensures access
to needed treatments and services for persons with severe
mental illnesses and their family members. |
| MHCAN
Client Research Opportunity - a program has been
started to research effectiveness of consumer run mental
health programs in conjunction with country
services. |
|
The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) has launched a new grant
initiative called "Systems Change Grants for Community Living."
HCFA's goal is to improve community services for children and adults of any age
who have a disability, including persons disabled due to a severe mental
illness. |
| As
the Memorial Day Congressional recess is just beginning,
over the next week and a half Senators and Representatives
will be back at home, presenting a prime opportunity to
attend a town hall meeting, schedule a visit, or call or
write on the issues of concern to you. |
| Mental
Health Equitable Treatment Act - As action on S 543,
the Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act of 2001, nears,
more co-sponsors of the bill are needed to ensure passage
of this critical legislation that would end discriminatory
insurance practices against people with mental illnesses
and their families. Your help is needed. |
| Your
chance to advocate - Click to join the NAMI email list
for advocacy and issues. |
| Metro
Center Threatens Pioneer House - The Santa Cruz City
Council is considering a site in Harvey West that will
displace the day treatment services for mental health
clients provided by the Pioneer House. (April,
2001) Email comments to: Metrobase@scmtd.com |
| Something
CAN be done about the Santa Cruz Housing shortage - Read
what Judy Williams did to provide housing for mental health clients in
Santa Cruz County.
(Feb., 2001) |
| Urgent
Action Alert - On February 23, 2001, Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS) Secretary Tommy Thompson announced plans to review the new federal health privacy regulation, issued by the Clinton Administration in December. Members of the health care industry have pressured the Secretary to delay and weaken the regulation and it has been opened up for a further 30-day period of public comment.
(March, 01) |
| The Indiana Board of Licensed Psychologists
proposes legislation that restricts the use of 201 tests and assessment instruments commonly used in mental health, educational, and rehabilitative treatment settings.
Such a restriction will increase cost and reduce access to these tests.
FACT urges a letter writing campaign. (March, 01) |
