MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES, OTHERS MAKE STATE FUNDING CASE TO FULL BUDGET PANEL

Download NAMI Ohio's budget message at this link.

Advocates for mental health and other government-funded services made their case for additional funds or no cuts March 31 before the House Finance & Appropriations Committee.

Mental health stakeholders are among groups becoming increasingly vocal with their concerns over the impacts of proposed cuts in the budget.

Representatives of local ADAMH boards raised concerns about a $31 million reduction to their line item within the Department of Mental Health and other issues.

Rod Hollingsworth, executive director of the Muskingum Area ADAMH Board, said the financial squeeze is compounded by a proposed change in how local boards pay when a resident needs care in a state psychiatric hospital. The "significant increase" in costs under a revised formula "would be devastating to our consumers and their family members," he said.

Hubert Wirtz, CEO of the Ohio Council of Behavioral Health & Family Services Providers, said: "The community behavioral health system in Ohio is dangerously close to not being able to sustain itself. Service payment rates have not been increased in 12 years, and the payment structure disincentivises efficiency and uncompensated care. Some provider Medicaid services are now being paid at 80-85% of cost."

Jim Mauro, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Ohio, said funding for the 320,000 Ohioans who receive services through ODMH "has been deteriorating for years."

"There is no question that we are in serious financial difficulty in Ohio and that the state's budget reflects that circumstance," he said. "However, there is a short- and long-term economic advantage to prioritizing and adequately serving the seriously mentally ill. Our failure to meet their needs in the community mental health system will almost immediately shift greater costs to other parts of state and local budgets."

Terry Russell, representing the Ohio Adult Care Facilities Association, spoke in support of the Residential State Supplemental funding in the Department of Aging budget for housing for the mentally ill. The administration has proposed a 20%, or $2 million, cut to RSS, he said.

"Although the agency has assured us that no current participant will lose their supplement, as individuals on the program leave a home, it will be almost impossible to replace that individual with another RSS recipient," Mr. Russell said. "We estimate that more than 200 adult family homes or adult care facilities will close and as many as 2,000 of Ohio's most severely mentally disabled will end up on the streets homeless, in our prisons, jails, or in cemeteries."

Planning for the Financial Future for Individuals with Special Needs

Four Programs April 20 and 21.

Many families when faced with a loved one’s diagnosis of mental retardation, developmental disabilities, mental illness, or traumatic brain injury don’t know where to turn for services for their loved one or how to plan for the future. A consortium of service providers, governmental agencies and advocacy groups has come together to help families “put the pieces of the puzzle together.”

On April 20 and April 21, Mr. Chuck Locy, Financial Planner with the Division of Estate Planning for Special Kids will give four seminars on “Financial Planning for Individuals with Special Needs.” Mr. Locy has been a financial planner for over 10 years and has an established network of legal and care providers. He is well known throughout the region. His presentation will be easily understood by families and staff.

The sessions will be held as follows:

• Monday, April 20, 1:00-3:00 PM, Union Township Civic Center, (Eastgate Area) 4350 Aicholtz Rd. Cincinnati, 45245
• Monday, April 20, 6:30-8:30 PM, Workforce One, 300 E. Silver St., Lebanon, 45036
• Tuesday, April 21, 1-3 PM, at the Health Foundation, 5th floor, 3805 Edwards Rd., Cincinnati
• Tuesday April 21 6:30-8:30 PM, Butler County Mental Health Board, 5963 Boymel Ave., Fairfield.

The same presentation will be given at each session. The sessions are free, but a donation is requested so that more presentations can be planned for the future. Checks should be made out to PLAN of Southwest Ohio and can be turned in at the session you attend.

Registration deadline is April 17. For registration information, please contact:

Kathy Morris at 513-559-6701 or 967-5612 or cfmfsouthohio@yahoo.com to register for the Cincinnati session

Rosalyn Dadas at 513-695-3650 or 937-425-3650 or info@nami-wc.org for the Lebanon session.

Teresa Brand at 867-5700, Ext 19 or teresab@butlermrdd.org for the Fairfield session

Christine Darling at 732-4846 or cdarling@ccmrdd.org for the Union Township session.

This program has been planned by a collaborative group consisting of volunteers and staff of the Hamilton County Board of MRDD, the Butler County Board of MRDD, the Clermont County Board of MRDD, the Warren County Board of MRDD, NAMI Hamilton County, NAMI Warren County, NAMI Butler County, NAMI Clermont County, PLAN of Southwest Ohio, ARC of Southwest Ohio, the Community Fund Management Foundation, and the Brain Injury Support Association of Ohio.

Youth & Young Adults in Transition: Powerful Voices, Practical Strategies

Youth & Young Adults in Transition: Powerful Voices, Practical Strategies
April 8, 2009 in Columbus, Ohio

Hear from the experts…youth and young adults who are currently in transition…a young man who overcame incredible obstacles to become a clinician serving youth in crisis…providers offering programs and services to youth in transition.

• Learn what is needed for successful transition from youth and young adults facing serious challenges
• Recognize innovative practices among Ohio’s providers serving youth and young adults in transition
• List current policy issues in the area of transition services
• Understand Ohio’s efforts to address transition services with input from youth, young adults, families, advocates, providers, policy makers and other stakeholders

This conference is sponsored by NAMI Ohio and the Ohio Department of Mental Health in partnership with the Center for Innovative Practices/Institute for the Study of Prevention of Violence at Kent State University, Community Services of Stark County, Inc. and the Ohio Federation for Children’s Mental Health.

Questions? Please contact NAMI Ohio at (800) 686-2646, (614) 224-2700 or suzanner@amiohio.org.

More information at www.namiohio.org. Download announcement and registration form.