BRIDGING
THE GAP BETWEEN ADVOCATES & ARCHITECTS: AN ALL-ACCESS
PASS TO THE FUTURE OF BARRIER-FREE DESIGN
The
Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission invites you to
join Architects, Advocates and Accessibility Experts to
explore creative solutions to accessibility challenges
in designs for public spaces.
Where:
Rangos Hall, Carnegie Mellon University When: November
25, 2008, 8:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Registration begins at 8:00 a.m.* Cost: $25
per person, lunch included
American
Institute of Architects Continuing Education System credits
available
*RSVP suggested, registration is limited. RSVP
to Rotana Jay, rjay@state.pa.us or (412)565-2802
Questions? Contact Leon Grant,
legrant@state.pa.us or (412)565-2802
Offered in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development, the Governor’s Cabinet and
Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities, the Disability
Rights Network of Pennsylvania and the Fair Housing Partnership
of Greater Pittsburgh.
Premise
Alert System Assists
Individuals with Special Needs and First Responders in
Pennsylvania
The
Premise Alert System allows families to voluntarily notify
the police and other first responders about their special
circumstances free of any charge. It may be a child or
adult with autism, developmental delays, or mental retardation,
who is known to wander. It may be someone with rare or
complex medical issues that require special handling.
It could be an Alzheimer patient who wanders. The Premise
Alert System also helps police departments identify individuals
who have special needs, which will enable the responding
officer to have additional information at his/her disposal.
This form will be distributed to families through case
managers at the Department of Mental Health and Mental
Retardation as well as schools, community groups and legislators’
offices. The form can also be accessed through their website
at www.papremisealert.com
The
Pennsylvania Police Chiefs Association, the Pennsylvania
State Police, PA Dept of Public Welfare, PA ARC, and a
wide variety of disability advocacy groups have endorsed
the Premise Alert System across the Commonwealth. It is
our hope that each Police Department in the Commonwealth
will participate in this program.
Thank
you to everyone for a verysuccessful conference!
Some
prior featured presenters:
Our
Featured Presenters are nationally known and respected
experts in their fields. Please join us as we bring cutting
edge education and insight into Mental Illness and it's
impact on families.
Enjoy
these pictures from the 2007 NAMIWalks
NAMIWALKs
2008 was held in Harrisburg on Saturday, September
20th at the State Capital. We thank everyone
who attended and contributed to the success of our Walk!
And
Remember, it's not too late to contribute to this year's
Walk! CONTRIBUTE
HERE
NAMI
Pennsylvania is beginning to roll out the Connections Support
Group model. NAMI C.A.R.E. support group facilitators and
those interested in facilitating Connections groups are encouraged
to Pre-registerfor
trainings.
All
current NAMI-C.A.R.E. Facilitators are invited to attend a
one day “link up” refresher training in order
to join the NAMI Connection program. NAMI Connection is based
upon NAMI-C.A.R.E, with some new additions, including:
•
NAMI Connection groups meet once a week
• Changes to the Principles of Support
• Updated charts, manuals and facilitator guides
• New marketing materials
• Group data Collection
Connection
support groups are offered at no charge, and are open to anyone
living with a mental illness. The groups are now forming all
over the country as a new community peer service, and are
coming to Pennsylvania state!
To
find out more information about a NAMI Connection Link-Up
Training Event near you, please contact your state office
for more information!
By a vote of 263-171, the House this afternoon gave final
approval to the Paul Wellstone-Pete Domenici Mental Health
Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 as part of the Emergency
Economic Stabilization Act (HR 1424). President Bush is expected
to sign the legislation late today or early tomorrow.
A Triumph for Consumers and Families
This victory in the House ends a nearly 20 year effort to
require group health plans to cover treatment for mental illness
on the same terms and conditions as all other illnesses. NAMI
is extremely grateful for the tireless work of advocates from
all over the nation that contacted their Senators and House
members to push for this landmark legislation. The advocacy
voice of people living with mental illness and their families
made a tremendous difference in securing this long sought
victory.
NAMI also salutes the leadership of the sponsors of parity
in Congress including Senators Pete Domenici (R-NM), Edward
M. Kennedy (D-MA), Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Christopher Dodd (D-CT)
and Representatives Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and Jim Ramstad
(R-MN). Today NAMI also remembers the contributions of the
late Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN) in bringing parity forward.
After nearly 20 years, their efforts have resulted in mental
illness treatment no longer being subject to 2nd class status
in our health care system.
PLS Summary:
(PN 2508) The Mental Health and Mental Retardation Facilities
Closure and Reduction Moratorium Act imposes a moratorium
on the closure of State mental health and mental retardation
facilities, and requires the Legislative Budget and Finance
Committee to conduct a study to determine the prevalence of
serious mental illness and substance abuse in the inmate population
of State correctional institutions and county prisons, with
the full cooperation of the Department of Corrections, the
Department of Public Welfare and the governing body of each
county.
Bill
History:
09-25-07 H Filed
09-26-07 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Health
and Human Services
10-23-07 H Meeting set for Off the Floor, Rm 205 Ryan, House
Health and Human Services
10-19-07 H Removed from hearing for 10/23/07, House Health
and Human Services
NIMH:
New Grant Aims to Reduce Rate of College Suicide by Helping
Students Better Adjust
A
new grant funded by NIMH will test an intervention designed
to prevent or reduce suicide among college students. Steven
Hayes, Ph.D. and Jacqueline Pistorello, Ph.D., of the University
of Nevada Reno, will test an intervention called Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which is based on the notion
that acceptance and awareness of difficult emotions can help
students reduce avoidance behavior and improve their psychological
flexibility, which may reduce the frequency of problems that
often precede suicide attempts.
NIMH:
Brain's Wiring Stunted, Lopsided in Childhood Onset Schizophrenia:
Front-to-Back Wave Envelopes Brain as Child Grows Up
Growth
of the brain's long distance connections, called white matter,
is stunted and lopsided in children who develop psychosis
before puberty, NIMH researchers have discovered. The yearly
growth rate of this brain tissue was up to 2.2 percent slower-than-normal
in such childhood onset schizophrenia (COS). The slower the
rate, the worse the outcome - suggesting that this Magnetic
Resonance Imaging (MRI) measure could someday lead to development
of a biomarker that could aid treatment. Researchers report
on their findings online in the Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences during the week of October 13, 2008.
The
Army and the NIMH together have begun a five-year, $50-million
research program into the factors behind Soldier suicides
and how to prevent them, Secretary of the Army Pete Geren
told reporters at the Pentagon. Geren said the new partnership
with NIMH, the Army Science Board and the Office of the
Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs would be building
on work that is already underway in order to conduct the
most far-reaching and comprehensive research project ever
undertaken on suicide and its prevention.
NAMI believes that education about brain disorders at all
levels of judicial and legal systems is crucial to the appropriate
disposition of cases involving offenders with brain disorders.
Judges, lawyers, police officers, correctional officers, parole
and probation officers, law enforcement personnel, court officers,
and emergency medical transport and service personnel should
be required to complete at least 20 hours of training about
these disorders. Consumers and family members should be a
part of this educational process.
NAMI believes that state and local mental health authorities
must work closely in conjunction with state and local correctional
and law enforcement agencies to develop strategies and programs
for compassionate intervention by law enforcement, jail diversion,
treatment of individuals with brain disorders who are incarcerated,
and discharge planning and community reintegration services
for individuals with brain disorders released from correctional
facilities.
Emergencies/disasters
are part of every day life. Floods, droughts, earthquakes,
snowstorms, the accidental release of radiation and terrorist
attacks are just a few examples of problems we may face. Advance
planning and coordination of family activities will improve
the opportunities for managing and overcoming the challenges
of such emergencies. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “it
is better to dig your well before you are thirsty.”
Medicare
Drug Benefit Update: 2008 Plan Year Enrollment Begins November
14, 2007 November 15 marks the start of the open enrollment
period for the Medicare Part D drug benefit for 2008. During
the “open season” period for 2008 drug plan enrollment,
Medicare beneficiaries will be able to select prescription
drug coverage that goes into effect on January 1, 2008. The
open season ends December 31.
As the 2008 plan year approaches, NAMI is watching closely
to ensure that beneficiaries with serious mental illness,
especially low-income dual eligibles, are able to maintain
continued access to drug coverage that meets their complex
treatment needs. Of particular concern are the 2.1 million
dual eligibles and low-income subsidy (LIS) Medicare beneficiaries
that are being required to switch to different prescription
drug plans (PDPs) on January 1.
There are a number of important web-based tools to search
available plan options, research whether or not a specific
medication is on a plan’s formulary for 2008 –
or is subject to an access restriction (placed on a tier requiring
higher cost sharing, prior authorization, step therapy, quantity
limit, etc.). Most can be searched by zip code to check on
availability by geographic region. Click here for
Resources for Medicare Part D- Prescription Drug Assistance
CONTACT
NUMBERS:
Medicare:
1-800-633-4227|
DPW:
1-800-525-0674|
Medical Assistance:1-866-542-3015
|
Apprise:
1-800-783-7067|
SPBP:1-800-922-9384
