September 17, 2010


ASSEMBLY TO MEET ON CLOSING HAGEDORN

ADVOCATES MUST BE HEARD

The Assembly Human Services Committee will meet on Monday, September 20th at 1PM to accept testimony on the decision by Div of Mental Health Services in DHS to cease admitting new geriatric patients to Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital & redirect patients under 65 yrs of age to Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital.

BACKGROUND
Last June, after the Governor's transition team recommended closing Hagedorn, funding for the hospital was initially stripped from the current budget. The money was reinstated, to keep Hagedorn open into 2011, as part of legislation that also created the task force to study current and future need of inpatient psychiatric beds in New Jersey, particularly how it applied to the looming wave of geriatric patients, a Hagedorn specialization. Since the bills passage the state has begun diverting the admission of all patients between the ages of 18-64 to Greystone Psychiatric Hospital sparking concerns about an unannounced plan to depopulate the facility. On Tuesday Governor Christy conditionally vetoed the legislation that would have created the hospital study commission causing more concern on the part of advocates.

ACT NOW
Plan to attend the Assembly hearing and let your representatives know that we must not repeat the mistakes of other "deinstitutionalization plans". Before any hospital is closed we must have a publicly vetted study on the immediate and long term effects that a hospital closing will have on individual patients and on the mental health system as a whole.

WHAT: Assembly Human Services Committee
WHEN: Monday, Sept. 20, 2010 - 1:00 PM
WHERE: Committee Room 16, 4 the Floor, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ

If you are unable to attend you can contact the Governor's office at (609)292-6000 or Governor's contact page.

DIRECTIONS
The State House is located at 125 West State Street in Trenton, NJ. The zip code is 08625.

From the East: Take 195 west to Route 29 north (toward Lambertville). Exit right at Memorial Drive. Follow signs for the Capitol Complex and proceed through the light at the end of the ramp. After the light, make a sharp first right and proceed making a semi-circle around the parking area. Pass through the light into the Capitol Complex.
From the South: Take Route 206 north or 295 north, and follow directions to 195 west to Route 29 north (toward Lambertville). Follow directions above for traveling from the east.
From the West: Enter Trenton via Delaware River toll bridge (Route 1 north). Exit at Route 29. Take Route 29 north (toward Lambertville). Exit right at Memorial Drive. Follow signs for the Capitol Complex and proceed through the light at the end of the ramp. After the light, make a sharp first right and proceed making a semi-circle around the parking area. Pass through the light into the Capitol Complex.
From the North: Take Route 1 south to the last New Jersey exit ("Capitol Complex"). Turn right onto Warren Street and go to the light where you will make a left onto Market Street. Pass through the next light at William Trent Place and bear right following signs for the Capitol Complex.

PARKING
Limited free public parking is available in the State House Garage. It is accessed from the rear entrance to the Capitol Complex, off Route 29. Proceed to the guard booth and have picture ID ready to gain access to the garage.

Metered, on-street parking is available along West State Street. Several pay lots are located within walking distance. Handicap parking is available in the parking garage and on West State Street in front of the State House and Annex and across the street from the State House.

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PLEASE FORWARD THIS ALERT TO OTHER MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES