A Face for Radio
The article by Karrey Britt this weekend will be carried to meetings with legislative leaders this week by Mike Hammond of our state association. I will be on the radio with Hank Booth Thursday morning. Anytime I am in the news this much people should learn not to greet me with "How are you, David?"
Editorial
Great editorial in the Journal World calling the cuts to community mental health "pound foolish".
For a Change of Pace
I am sick and tired of state budget cuts to mental health. The USD 497 Elementary School Task Force offers a change of pace. I get to help deal with the state cuts to schools.
Savings?
Governor’s Budget, Part 1: State Aid to community mental health centers, the only state funding dedicated for people who cannot afford to pay for services, cut 100%; “savings” $10,200,000. Governor’s Budget, Part 2: Family Center System of Care, tobacco settlement funding to community mental health centers because children with significant problems are involved in multiple systems and coordination between those system promotes efficiency and effectiveness, cut 100%; “savings” $5,000,000. Governor’s Budget, Part 3: With honest respect for the budget challenges, it is either naïve or disingenuous to say these cuts translate into an equal amount saved.
News
From CBS Evening News, "Arizona's mental health budgets have been cut $65 million over the last three fiscal years - a 51 percent reduction."
Arizona Tragedy: What People Need to Know About Mental Illness
From Linda Rosenberg, President and CEO of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, "Mental Health First Aid is a novel, evidence-based public education program that teaches average people how to assess a situation, select and implement appropriate interventions, and help a person in crisis or developing the signs and symptoms of mental illness. This groundbreaking training equips people to provide initial help until appropriate professional, peer, or family support can be engaged. Participants also learn about the risk factors and warning signs of specific illnesses such as anxiety, depression, psychosis, and addiction."
Classes available at Bert Nash.
Watching the Statehouse
A friend from Des Moines used to say "Now is the time when men hide in the fields and women and children cry. For the legislature is in session and no one knows what will happen."
A Tragedy
How will we grapple with the awful attack on Rep. Giffords in Arizona? Today, former Rep. Dick Armey stated that members of Congress can get local law enforcement protection from “fruitcakes.” I hope we don’t lose the chance for increased civility and instead confirm the de facto policy in much of the country of treating mental illness as a crime. And thank you to our public servants who put more on the line than we often recognize.
New Years Resolution
Two years ago, I had my greatest success with a New Years Resolution. I quit smoking after 39 years. However, just like the only other time I quit, my wieght soared, creating another set of health concerns. Remarkably, I made quitting an unhealthy thing. Oh well, no going back now.
So my new New Years resolution is to pay more attention to Wellcommons and participate more on the site. 2011 is stacking up to be a year with plenty to write about for the Bert Nash Center.
(And no weight gain if I fail.)
School Days
Started out at 7:30 with the Eudora School District Convocation celebrating our partnership "The Bridge" and ending the day at 7 with the Lawrence Elementary School Vision Task Force. A long school day for me but our work with local school districts is as important as anything we do.
