Governor Strengthens Missouri Mental Health Task Force
Mental Health Task Force Announces Public Hearings
Mental Health Task Force Announces Web Site
Task Force Identifies Short-Term Action Items
Blunt Steps in for Client Safety
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Lt. Governor Peter Kinder speaks with Carolyn Tuft, a reporter with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, following the July 11, 2006, Missouri Mental Health Task Force Meeting at the State Capitol. |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jessica Robinson
Tuesday, August 1, 2006 (573) 751-0290
Governor Strengthens Missouri Mental Health Task Force
JEFFERSON CITY- Gov. Matt Blunt announced today that three new members will join the Missouri Mental Health Task Force. Blunt formed the intra-agency task force to protect client safety in the state’s mental health system.
“This cooperative state task force has already implemented several action items and improved procedures that will have a significant and lasting impact on client safety and care,” Blunt said. “Adding outside expertise will complement their good work as they continue to review the mental health system to ensure no instances of potential abuse or neglect in public and private facilities are overlooked.”
The new appointments are based on recommendations from Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, the Mental Health Task Force co-chair. The three new members are:
Natalie Woods of Springfield is the president of the Nevada Habilitation Center Family Support Association. Woods is the legal guardian of her sister, who has mental retardation and cerebral palsy, among other disabilities. Woods has been an advocate for people with disabilities and their families for several years.
Wendy Buehler is the president of Life Skills, a St. Louis-based organization that provides services for people with disabilities, helping them to live independently and to find and keep meaningful jobs. Buehler joined Life Skills in 1981 and has served as president since 1997.
Terry Mackey is president of Arthur Center, a community mental health center located in Mexico, MO. Mackey is a parent of three sons with developmental disabilities and serves as Chairperson of the Missouri Planning Council for Developmental Disabilities. Mackey also serves as secretary/treasurer of the Missouri Coalition of Community Mental Health Centers.
“With the addition of these individuals to our task force, our efforts will only be enhanced,” Kinder said. “Their expertise in assisting people with disabilities is impressive giving us the perspective that we must have in making recommendations to improve the quality of life for the people we serve.”
The new members will join co-chairs Kinder and Interim Department of Mental Health Director Ron Dittemore, Ed.D., and previously appointed members for public hearings scheduled for St. Louis, Kansas City, Cape Girardeau, Kirksville,Springfield, and Joplin. The first hearing will be Thursday, August 3, in St. Louis. Additional information, including a schedule of all the hearings and directions on how to testify, is available at www.dmh.mo.gov/mmhtaskforce or by calling the Missouri Department of Mental Health at (573) 751-8091 or toll-free at (800) 364-9687 and asking for the General Counsel’s office.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lois Thomas
July 26, 2006 (573) 751-4423
Missouri Mental Health Task Force Announces Public Hearings
Jefferson City-The Missouri Mental Health Task Force announced today the official schedule of public hearings that will be held throughout the state to listen to consumers, families, providers, staff, and others with an interest in the safety of the mental health system.
Hearings are scheduled for St. Louis, Kansas City, Cape Girardeau, Kirksville, Springfield, and Joplin. A schedule of hearings is listed below. Additional information, including how to testify, is available at www.dmh.mo.gov/mmhtaskforce.
“We are committed to finding long-term solutions to these issues,” said Lt. Governor Peter Kinder, Co-Chairman of the task force. “We have a responsibility to solicit public input. I invite concerned Missourians interested in the care and safety of individuals in our mental health system to share their comments and suggestions.”
The task force was formed at the direction of Governor Matt Blunt. According to Department of Mental Health Interim Director Ron Dittemore, it provides an outside look at the mental health system, especially its abuse and neglect reporting and investigations, and its oversight of facilities. The task force hearings follow a series of hearings held by the Mental Health Commission in May.
“This outside perspective will complement what the Mental Health Commission has done,” Dittemore said. “Their recommendations and those of the task force will give the state a solid blueprint for meaningful reforms.”
Schedule of Hearings
St. Louis, Thursday, August 3, 2006
1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Metropolitan St. Louis Psychiatric Center, Multipurpose Room
5351 Delmar
St. Louis, MO
Kansas City, Friday, August 4, 2006
12:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Western Missouri Mental Health Center, Gymnasium
1000 E. 24th St.
Kansas City, MO
Cape Girardeau, Monday, August 7, 2006
6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Career and Technology Center, Room 112
1080 South Silver Springs Rd.
Cape Girardeau, MO
Kirksville, Wednesday, August 9, 2006
6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Kirksville Regional Center
1702 E. LaHarpe St.
Kirksville, MO
Springfield, Tuesday, August 15, 2006
1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Springfield Regional Center
1515 E. Pythian
Springfield, MO
Joplin, Tuesday, August 22, 2006
6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Ozark Mental Health Center
3006 McClelland
Joplin, MO
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Bob Bax
July 18, 2006 (573) 751-4423
Missouri Mental Health Task Force Launches Web Site
Jefferson City - The Missouri Mental Health Task Force announced today the establishment of an interactive web site to provide information and obtain public input from families, guardians, providers, and other interested persons.
The web site www.dmh.mo.gov/mmhtaskforce includes an on-line comment form that individuals can access and submit electronically to Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder. Information on contacting the task force by phone, regular mail, and fax is also available.
"As we study ways to improve our investigation process and oversight responsibilities we need to know those issues that are important to the parents and guardians as well as the service providers," said Ron Dittemore, interim director of the Department of Mental Health. "These comments are critical for the task force as it develops and reports its recommendations to the Governor."
The Mental Health Task Force was created by Governor Matt Blunt to oversee a cross-agency effort following the deaths of several clients in state-operated and private mental health facilities.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Spence Jackson
Friday, June 16, 2006 (573) 751-0290
Blunt's Mental Health Task Force Identifies Action Items
for Improving Death Investigations
JEFFERSON CITY - A special intra-state agency task force formed by Gov. Matt Blunt has identified five short term action items to improve investigations of abuse, neglect and fatalities at state mental health facilities and independent living centers.
Blunt formed the task force on the heels of several recent deaths in state operated and private mental health facilities. At Blunt's request, Lt. Governor Peter Kinder and interim Director of Mental Health (DMH) Ron Dittemore will oversee the group's recommendations and help determine if additional actions are needed to compliment the short term goals outlined today and to ensure deaths at mental health facilities are being properly investigated.
To address shortcomings in the investigations process at the Department of Mental Health Blunt's task force developed the following action items:
In addition to the DMH, the state Departments of Public Safety, Social Services, Health and Senior Services and the Missouri Highway Patrol provided representatives for Blunt's task force.
This collaborative effort creates a new level of protection and oversight and will draw on outside state agencies to play a specifically defined role in the investigation process. The cooperation will help eradicate conflict of interest or potential prejudice that might otherwise exist or be perceived in investigations.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Spence Jackson
Thursday, June 15, 2006 (573) 751-0290
Blunt Steps In For Client Safety;
Asks Lt. Gov. Kinder to Oversee Joint Investigations
JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. Matt Blunt today asked Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder and Ron Dittemore, interim director for the Department of Mental Health, to oversee a cross agency effort the governor developed and initiated following several recent deaths in state operated and private mental health facilities.
"I have called on state agencies to work together under the leadership and guidance of our lieutenant governor and interim Mental Health director to ensure that no instances of potential abuse or neglect in public and private facilities are overlooked," Blunt said. "My goal is to ensure that client safety is protected and that timely and adequate investigations are done in every instance in which a death occurs at one of these facilities."
Following Blunt's direction, the Departments of Mental Health, Public Safety, Health and Senior Services and Social Services will work to identify ways to cooperate in investigating all deaths occurring at mental health facilities. The departments have been asked to produce a short term plan for conducting joint investigations while developing a long term cooperative effort to ensure that every instance of potential abuse or neglect in public and private facilities is investigated and addressed appropriately.
The collaborative effort creates a new level of protection and oversight and will draw on outside state agencies to play a specifically defined role in the investigation process. The cooperation will help eradicate conflict of interest or potential prejudice that might otherwise exist or be perceived in investigations.
Collaboration and discussion among agencies is expected to begin immediately, though a formal timeline has not been defined.
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