ADVOCACY NEWS FROM NAMI NEW JERSEY:
1. CODEYS CELEBRATE SIGNING OF BILL
2. GREYSTONE WATCHDOG GROUP MAY FOLD
3. OPPOSITION TO CORZINE'S PLAN BUILDS IN SENATE
4. ADVANCED DIRECTIVES FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE POSTED
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CODEYS CELEBRATE SIGNING OF BILL TO HELP TROUBLED MOMS
There was no cake and candles, but Mary Jo Codey was celebrating.
The occasion was the delivery of a new law that will help
women in New Jersey cope with depression after childbirth.
"Today feels like my birthday," the former governor's
wife said Thursday, shortly after Governor Corzine signed
a bill requiring health care professionals to screen all
new mothers for postpartum depression and provide them with
prenatal education about the disorder. The bill, which includes
$4.5 million for education and screening, takes effect in
six months.
The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is
operating a 24/7 Family Health Line (1-800-328-3838)
to provide callers with information regarding Post Partum
Mood Disorders.
Read the Record story:
http://www.bergenrecord.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkyJmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2OTE2OTg2
Governor Corzine’s press release:
http://www.state.nj.us/governor/news/news/approved/20060413.html
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GREYSTONE WATCHDOG GROUP MAY FOLD WITH OLD HOSPITAL
A 29-year-old Greystone watch dog group, whose searing
2000 report about conditions at the state psychiatric hospital
prompted a governor to demand major changes in psychiatric
care, may go out of business by the end of the decade. The
Doe vs. Klein Monitoring Committee, in its annual report
to Superior Court Assignment Judge Theodore Bozonelis in
Morristown, said it might retire from service after a new
Greystone opens in Parsippany in 2008.
Read Lawrence Ragonese’s Star Ledger report:
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/morris/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1144992103306650.xml&coll=1
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OPPOSITION TO CORZINE'S SALES TAX INCREASE BUILDS IN
STATE SENATE
Democratic Gov. Jon S. Corzine's plan to increase New Jersey's
sales tax has run into serious trouble in the state Senate,
where lawmakers in the governor's own majority party say
the plan doesn't have enough votes to pass. Republicans
had already lined up in opposition to the plan to raise
the tax from 6 percent to 7 percent. It's a key component
of the governor's first proposed budget, which seeks to
overcome a projected, $4.5 billion deficit.
Two Senate Democrats told The Associated Press they oppose
the plan, which would be enough to kill it in the chamber
where Democrats have a 22-18 seat edge. Bills that receive
tie votes in the Senate do not pass. Sen. Stephen Sweeney,
D-Gloucester has asked Corzine's administration to show
him a budget plan that doesn't include tax increases, even
if that means deep budget cuts. Sweeney suggested cutting
the budgets of all state departments and agencies by 10
percent.
Read the full AP story:
http://www.nj.com/newsflash/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-19/1144953555146850.xml&storylist=jersey
View the FY 2007 State Budget in
brief:
http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/omb/publications/07bib/pdf/bib.pdf
View the department of Human Services
budget:
http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/omb/publications/07budget/pdf/54.pdf
Read the Senate budget testimony:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislativepub/govbudget2006-2007.asp
Listen to the Assembly budget testimony:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/media/archive_audio2.asp?KEY=ABUB&SESSION=2006
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ADVANCED DIRECTIVES FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE POSTED
The Division of Mental Health Services has posted on
its web site a template and instructions for Advanced Directives
for Mental Health Care. This document allows one to
make decisions in advance about their mental health treatment,
including medications and voluntary admission to inpatient
treatment. One may register their directive with the state
by completing the registry page that accompanies the form
and sending the original of that page and a copy of the
advance directive to: DMHS Registry, P.O. Box 727, 50 E.
State Street, Trenton, NJ 08625-0727.
To learn more about Advanced Directives for Mental Health
Care:
http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dmhs/advance%20directive%20intro%20pg.htm
