ADVOCACY NEWS FROM NAMI NEW JERSEY:
1. N.J. TO DELAY OUTPATIENT MENTAL-TREATMENT LAW
2. SPEAKER OLIVER: COMMITTEE TO HOLD HEARING INTO CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION'S FAILURE TO IMPLEMENT MENTAL HEALTH LAW
3. EXTENDED FEDERAL MEDICAID FUNDS SIGNED INTO LAW
4. INMATE SUICIDES CHALLENGE AREA JAILS
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N.J. TO DELAY OUTPATIENT MENTAL-TREATMENT LAW
Sen. Richard J. Codey (D., Essex), a sponsor of the bill, which was signed into law by Gov. Jon S. Corzine a year ago, making New Jersey the 43d state in the country with laws for assisted outpatient treatment, said the delay would put patients, family members, and the general population at risk.
"The ability to give families the tools to protect loved ones, who due to mental disability are a threat to themselves and others, should be a priority not just for them, but for us all," said Codey, a longtime advocate on mental-health issues.
Read more:
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/nj/20100811_N_J__to_delay_outpatient_mental-treatment_law.html
Watch the NJN TV Coverage:
http://www.njn.net/television/webcast/njnnews/wednesday.html
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SPEAKER OLIVER: COMMITTEE TO HOLD HEARING INTO CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION'S FAILURE TO IMPLEMENT MENTAL HEALTH LAW
Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver (D-Essex/Passaic) on Tuesday released the following statement after the Christie administration delayed implementing a law she sponsored last session (A-1618) to allow for involuntary commitment to outpatient treatment for some individuals struggling with mental illness:
"This law wasn't created in a vacuum. It was created after several tragic incidents involving individuals who had been diagnosed with mental illness yet refused treatment. These incidents involved deaths that could have otherwise been avoided. It will be tremendous help to families and those trying to overcome mental illness. It will save lives. It is the right thing to do.
"The executive branch must do its job properly and implement this law as required, while continuing appropriate treatment for other patients.
"I expect the Assembly Human Services Committee under the leadership of Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle to soon call a hearing into this matter to get an explanation of this unfortunate decision by the administration."
Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle’s statement:
http://www.assemblydems.com/Article.asp?ArticleID=2945
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EXTENDED FEDERAL MEDICAID FUNDS SIGNED INTO LAW
President Obama has signed into law a $26.1 billion package of aid (HR 1586) that includes a six-month extension of higher Medicaid federal matching funds for states – a major contribution toward fighting additional cuts to state and local mental health budgets. The President’s signature of the package followed House passage by a vote of 247-161. The package provides $399 million to help New Jersey cover some Medicaid expenses for the first half of 2011 — $180 million less than Gov. Chris Christie planned for in this year’s budget.
Read more:
http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=104673&lstid=275
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INMATE SUICIDES CHALLENGE AREA JAILS
If a 24-year-old’s hanging death in June is ruled a suicide, it will be the sixth since 2005 at the Atlantic County Jail in Mays Landing, the same number as at the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton. The prison has about 1,900 inmates, the jail has about 800.
The situation is far from unique. Inmate suicide is the single leading cause of unnatural deaths in local jails, according to a federal Bureau of Justice Statistics.
See the full report:
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/top_three/article_0095c26e-a422-11df-9e42-001cc4c002e0.html
