Meeting
Minutes of
The Governor's Council on Behavioral Health
1:00 P.M., Tuesday, November 13, 2007
The Governor's
Council on Behavioral Health met at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 13, 2007, in
Barry Hall's Conference Room 126,
Members Present: Richard Leclerc, Chair; Neil Corkery; Leo Cronan; Sandra DelSesto; Mark Fields; James Gillen; Mitch Henderson; Peter Mendoza; Anne Mulready, Karen Kanatzar; and Reed Cosper.
Ex-Officio
Members Present: Craig Stenning and Gene Nadeau, Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals (MHRH); Mary Ann Ciano, Department of Elderly Affairs (DEA); Elizabeth Gilheeney, Department of Justice; and Colleen Polselli, Department of Health.
Staff: Corinna Roy, Mary Ann Nassa and Elena Nicolella.
Guests: Maureen Mulligan, Melissa Siple, and Lisa Clark.
Once a quorum was established, the Chair, Richard Leclerc, called the meeting to order at 1:10 p.m. After introductions were conducted, Richard entertained a motion to accept the Minutes of October 11, 2007. Peter Mendoza motioned to approve the minutes and Sandra DeSesto seconded the motion. All were in favor, and the minutes were approved as written.
YOUTH
INVOLVEMENT AND INPUT
Sandra DelSesto distributed a summary of the October
meeting's PowerPoint presentation in Word – RI Council on Behavioral Healthcare
Youth Advisory Board Proposal (See Attachment I).
Richard opened discussion regarding recommendations members
may have regarding some of the suggestions made at the last meeting involving
youth on the Governor's Council on Behavioral Health and the details of how
that would work.
Sandra reviewed Attachment I which reflects the goals and
objectives that were illustrated in the PowerPoint presentation of October 11th. Sandra introduced Maureen Mulligan, the
Director of the Rhode Island Teens Institute out of Initiatives for Human
Development to answer any questions. Based
on an issue raised by Mitch Thompson about the importance of having youth input
into the decisions made by the Council, the Youth Advisory Board suggested a
format that would provide comprehensive input.
The format would establish a Youth Advisory Board of the Council on
Behavioral Healthcare with specific goals and appropriate staff support with a
process by which the information would be shared and used by the Council. Jessica Lopes, Assistant Project Coordinator
at Initiatives for Human Development (IHD) who attend last month's meeting
suggested that separate more convenient meeting times two to four times a year
be arranged – for example, after 3 p.m.
Sandra stated at the October meeting Janet Anderson mentioned that she
had a grant under which she might be able to provide some support to this
venture. Sandra also appealed for a
stipend of $10 to $20 per meeting for transportation and refreshments.
Anne Mulready asked if it would be possible to retrieve
feedback from youth who actually utilize behavioral health services. Sandra stated that one of their tasks would
be to do focus groups with youth that were receiving services.
Maureen Mulligan added that it would be a group effort with
adult support. They connect through
e-mail and the Teen Institute has a My Space page that they communicate through
beyond the meetings. Sandra stated that
the Council would be expected to pose key questions to them about behavioral
health, and they would decide on their own venue for answering the questions.
Richard suggested that a linkage be made with DCYF to query
other existing advisory groups. Sandra stated
that at the last meeting Janet seemed to think that this was different. Richard stated he would not want to repeat
the process. Karen Kanatzer asked about
the timeframe for its development.
Sandra stated that if the Council approved with a stipend, she could see
it getting started in January of 2008.
Corinna asked what kind of staff support was being sought
after. Sandra stated within the budget,
it would be a small amount of money to pay a person to mentor the group who is
experienced working with youth. She
suggested that in the beginning that a Behavioral Health staff person to introduce
them and enlighten them regarding the responsibilities of the division and the
Council.
Richard Leclerc stated that the key questions are funding,
establishing a charter work for the group and coordinating information from
DCYF so that there are no reinventions of their work. Richard stated that without these
fundamentals, the Council will need to reconsider.
Richard suggested that the Council take a moment and think
about any issues and ideas that would be good for this group to undertake.
Reed Cosper stated that with all apologies, he does not
believe during this budget cutting that it serves the Council's mission to
support money to have youth input into useless endeavors and that we should be discussing
money going to address the needs of homeless mentally ill people. Therefore, as the planning board, Reed thinks
that we should talk about how to spend the resources that are available and how
to redefine ourselves as something other than just another interest group.
Karen Kanatzer suggested that the kids be asked how the
system has failed them. She believes
there is some very valuable information that can be learned. Karen mentioned that the Parent Support
Network has an active youth group called Youth Speaks, and they have a youth
director and an assistant. They give
public presentations both nationally and throughout the state. Sandra suggested in converse that they ask
the question "Where has the system supported them."
Craig Stenning stated that we need to look at the general
landscape and allow them to describe what they think their strengths and
weakness and gaps may be. Because of the
specific focus on youth, he thinks that the issue of under age drinking and
driving needs to be explored because we continue to respond to it from an adult
perspective.
Richard and Craig noted that changing the meeting times may
cause a problem with creating a quorum.
Richard suggested that a meeting could be held outside of the Council
meetings with members of the Council to attend to listen to presentations and
information.
Richard suggested that an ad hoc committee be formed to
look at priorities and format along with retrieving information from DCYF
regarding available funds. Karen
Kanatzer, Mark Fields and Elizabeth Gilheeney volunteered to serve on the
ad hoc committee along with Richard.
Richard asked Corinna to invite the entire council via e-mail. With the holidays approaching, he suggested
that a meeting be held prior to the next meeting. Sandra DelSesto stated that she would contact
Janet Anderson regarding the funding.
CREATION OF
BLOCK GRANT SUBCOMMITTEE
Based on recommendations made at the previous meeting, the
following individuals volunteered to serve on the subcommittee which would meet
two to three times between January and July to review what should be included
in the block grant application: Mitch
Henderson, Neil Corkery, and Liz Earls who was volunteered by Neil, Anne
Mulready, and Sandra DelSesto. Richard
stated that everyone would be notified and included via e-mail.
Jim Gillen made a suggestion that a full-scale public media
campaign be launched with a positive face on recovery. Richard stated that in terms of the block
grant there are statutory requirements and obligations that could vend to such
a project. He suggested that a
subcommittee be created with a recommendation to come forward.
Craig Stenning stated that this is an issue that has merit,
and approximately six years ago there was a media campaign called "Change Your
Mind," which was a well-funded initiative and ongoing for a three-year
period. Craig stated that these types of
initiatives are very expensive and the difficult part is coming up with the
funding. He emphasized that these are
the kinds of endorsements that need to continue because of the constant changes
which occur every five years in a new population, a new set of parents, a new
set of kids, and a new set of decision makers.
Corinna Roy stated that there may be some opportunity for some funding
through the Access to Recovery Grant (ATR) because there is a need to do some
public notices related to trying to get providers and other community members
involved in it. Jim Gillen asked if
there would be a public launch for the ATR grant. Craig stated yes there will be and is
included in his report to follow.
Corinna reported that she would be submitting the
implementation report on December 1.
UPDATES
FROM DCYF
No one was available from DCYF to make a presentation.
UPDATES
FROM MHRH
Craig reported that it is a critical time for
Reed Cosper asked if there was any information Craig could
report on the Medicaid Rehab Option.
Craig stated that they are still in the process of reviewing the
comments that each state has submitted.
Craig stated if the Council would like a presentation on
Craig reported that they have been able to meet all of the
benchmark deadlines for the first 30 days of the ATR grant which were basically
a laundry list of federal forms and requirements and submissions that needed to
be made. He stated that they are still
on target for a February initiation of individuals actually in treatment
receiving vouchers. On Thursday,
November 15th the first general open meeting will be conducted at
DATA with faith-based organizations (See Attachment II – Letter of Invitation to
Meeting of Faith Based Community Organizations). There have been a number of detailed meetings
over the past 30 days with DCYF and the Department of Corrections (DOC). Meetings have been conducted with the federal
technical assistance people who will be helping with the establishment of the
mechanics of the voucher, as well as Government Performance and Results Act
(GPRA) other data requirements that are necessary.
Craig reported that there will be a public kickoff at some
point in the future and Wesley Clark, Director of the Center for Substance
Abuse Treatment, has asked to come to
Sandra DelSesto asked what defines recovery providers. Craig stated that it is a broad definition.
In the application, examples of recovery services were listed and from within
the field, it is anything that was once called case management or support
services. Therefore, it could be
transportation, daycare, babysitting, some time of initial housing support, a
security deposit or the first month's rent but not ongoing housing. Craig stated that it could be any wraparound
service where people that we have never been able to fund in the past, can be
included. Craig reported that most
states within the first round of states spent more in their vouchers in the
recovery aspect than they did in the treatment aspects of it because the
treatment capacity aspects of it has to be new capacity. Current capacity that is being funded either
through state or federal dollars cannot be planted. Craig added that in the area of treatment, it
is just as broad in definition. Craig
stated that the full-range of treatment services that are currently either
available or can be licensed will be available for an individual if that the
assessment indicates that need, and any provider regardless of whether or not
they have received funding in the past or not are eligible. The recovery providers will be certified to
receive the vouchers. He stated that
there is a need to expand the kinds of individuals and agencies that have been
involved with that in the past, which will open the field to more faith-based
organizations as well as some of the self-help and support groups that have
been doing great work but not funded in the past.
Neil Corkery asked if it would expand pharmacological
interventions and modalities. Craig
stated "no" and falls under one of the few limited areas.
Neil Corkery inquired about the $1 million that was
transferred into the budget for corrections.
Craig stated that the RFI has been completed and at the Purchasing
Office since October 16th and waiting to hear from them. The MHRH staff has been cleared to go to the
ACI, and they are set to go when notification.
Craig reported that on Friday, November 9th
there was a meeting at
Craig reported that there was press conference held a
couple of weeks ago call "Housing Works," that was the highlights of success
that has taken place in Rhode Island to try to build support to continue
funding of an initiative that primarily with the work done by Riverwood one of
the mental health organizations in the project called "Housing First." The concept of this project was to take some
of the most chronic homeless individuals who have significant mental health
issues and find them permanent support housing without a lot of upfront
requirements. Craig suggested that a
report demonstrating their success be included with the minutes (See
Attachment III).
Richard Leclerc asked about the DHS initiative to have individuals with Medicaid enroll in the plan, Rhody Care, by April 1, 2008. Craig stated that there have been continued discussions, and they are attempting to define what it actually means and how many individuals would not be auto enrolled. Richard asked for the public when is the enrollment date. Elena Nicolella stated that they are still considering April 1, 2008 as the roll out date. Elena stated that DHS anticipates sending notification letters out in February.
OLD/NEW
BUSINESS
All were in favor of the proposed schedule of meetings for
2008 and was adopted (See Final Version Attachment IV).
Reed Cosper stated that a lawsuit was filed about two and
half weeks ago from his office to try to address the problem of mentally ill
individuals being detained by legal rite in emergency rooms for three to five
days at a time with no treatment. He
stated that his office has not received any responses to date. He stated that they are trying to do it in an
expedited way in order to receive an outcome sooner rather than later. Historically, between 1976 and 2001, if a
person was detained in an emergency room under the Mental Health Law with no
bed available, they were transported to Eleanor Slater Hospital (ESH) for
provisional admission. In 2001 ESH
revoked that protocol with nothing in place.
They were sued at the time, and came to court with a contract with
Craig stated that because it is an ongoing lawsuit he was
advised not to respond to this issue; however, he believes that the Department
of MHRH would disagree with some of Reed's statements.
Reed also reported that there is an initiative to
consolidate his office with other "so called" human right advocacy agencies,
and he stated his opposition to this consolidation proposal.
ADJOURNMENT AND NEXT MEETING
There was no further
business. Upon motion made and seconded,
the meeting adjourned at 2:36 p.m. The
next meeting of the Council is scheduled for Thursday, December 13, at 8:30 a.m. in the first floor Conference Room
126 at the
Minutes respectfully recorded and written by:
Mary Ann Nassa
Secretary, Governor's Council on Behavioral Health
Attachment I: RI
Council on Behavioral Healthcare Youth Advisory Board Proposal
Attachment II: Letter
of Invitation to Meeting of Faith Based Community Organizations
Attachment III: Corinna – Housing
Attachment IV: Final Meeting Schedule for 2008