ADVOCACY NEWS FROM NAMI NEW JERSEY:
1. NEW JERSEY VOTES TO CHANGE DISCRIMINATORY LANGUAGE.
2. STATE UNVEILS NEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL
3. CHANGES AHEAD FOR MEDICARE DRUG PROGRAM
4. N.J. ALTERS ITS THERAPY FOR TROUBLED CHILDREN
5. MENTAL HEALTH EXPERT TO ASSIST SWAT CALLS
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NEW JERSEY VOTES TO CHANGE DISCRIMINATORY LANGUAGE.
New Jersey voters by a 60% to 40% margin approved a ballot
question to replace a section of the state constitution,
written in 1844 barring the right to vote to idiots and
the insane, words that are offensive to advocates for persons
with a mental illness and those with a developmental disability.
New language would bar voting by those ruled by courts "to
lack the capacity to understand the act of voting."
Observers have suggested that the lack of a greater margin
of victory was affected by the general opposition on the
part of voters to the other questions on the ballot tied
to increases in state spending.
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STATE UNVEILS NEW PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL
Governor Jon S. Corzine, Senate President Richard Codey
and Department of Human Services Commissioner Jennifer Velez
unveiled the new Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital during
a ceremony that also served as a farewell to the historic
facility that has treated patients since the 19th Century.
"This new, state-of-the-art facility will be a shining
symbol of the evolution of our state mental health system,"
Commissioner Jennifer Velez told the hundreds of people
who attended the ribbon-cutting. "I am glad to share
this historic day with all of the people who worked so hard
to make it happen. Today marks a new beginning that goes
far beyond just bricks and mortar."
Read the Press release:
http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/Press-2007/greystone.htm
Watch the video:
http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071101/VIDEO/71101039/-1/MULTIMEDIA
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CHANGES AHEAD FOR MEDICARE DRUG PROGRAM
Nearly 2 million low-income Medicare participants could
be switched to different insurance plans for their prescription
drug coverage next year.
Millions more will have to shop around if they want to avoid
double-digit increases in their monthly premiums. The reassignment
of the poorest beneficiaries and the higher premiums for
many others are just two reasons why seniors and the disabled
may want to look into other plans as the Medicare drug benefit
enters its third year.
Read more: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8SM2A6O0.htm
For more information: www.medicare.gov
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N.J. ALTERS ITS THERAPY FOR TROUBLED CHILDREN
Program reform means cutback in home visits
The Department of Children and Families is making sweeping
changes to a home therapy program that some parents and
professionals have called an expensive, poorly supervised
"baby-sitting" service for troubled children.
The reforms will reduce the level of services for about
10,000 children a year while maintaining the current help
for some 7,000 others who need it most. Other changes will
toughen job qualifications for several thousand therapists
and aides who have been providing support to children in
their homes.
Read more:
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-12/1193982745128580.xml&coll=1
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MENTAL HEALTH EXPERT TO ASSIST SWAT CALLS
A mental health professional will be available when the
Gloucester County Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team
is called into action under an agreement expected to be
signed today. The memorandum of understanding also calls
for regular classroom and field training sessions aimed
at integrating mental health screeners into the SWAT incident
protocol.
Read the Gloucester Times report:
http://www.nj.com/news/gloucester/local/index.ssf?/base/news-7/1193296345128880.xml&coll=8
