#14 Services and Policy for Persons with Serious

Meredith Bellson 17 posts Aug 17, 2007 11:48 AM

#14. Services and Policy for Persons with Serious Mental Illness 2005-2006 NOTE: POST A MESSAGE TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS! WHEREAS, TennCare Partners’ data show there are 173,377 Tennessee citizens diagnosed with major mental illnesses, and the TN Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities states that 9 percent or 138,267 children in Tennessee have a serious emotional disturbance; and WHEREAS, the State of Tennessee has traditionally been responsible for providing care for these citizens and reaffirmed that responsibility of the Tennessee Code Annotated though Title 33 that requires the TN Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities to develop a three-year plan based on the TDMHDD Planning and Policy Council’s recommendations; and WHEREAS, the TN Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities is also responsible for identifying individuals and providing person-centered and family-focused services in the least restrictive environment which include safe and affordable housing, support services, employment, and transportation; and WHEREAS, the TN Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities will be focusing on holistic services that include: 1) reducing the stigma of mental illness; 2) identifying and addressing transportation needs; 3) establishing a model system of care for children and youth; 4) decreasing licensure deficiencies; 5) providing appropriate services; 6) increasing alternatives to hospitalization; and 7) establishing the Employment First plan; and WHEREAS, the TN Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities collaborates with the Bureau of TennCare to administer the TennCare Partners Program. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that TCSW continue to monitor issues related to the services and policies for persons with serious mental illness through representation on the Mental Health Planning and Policy Council, and communications and networking with the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill TN, Tennessee Voices for Children, the Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations, the Mental Health Associations in TN, the TN Coalition for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, and other organizations and agencies concerned with these issues; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that TCSW provide any assistance possible to assure services proceed in the most orderly manner achievable as disenrollments and transitions occur for the Seriously and Persistently Mentally Ill (SPMI) population due to the devastating TennCare cuts; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that TCSW encourage the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities and the TennCare Bureau to develop data, evaluation methods, and measurements in order to track from several entry points the SPMI population being disenrolled to document the successes of the new safety net and to identify gaps and/or unintended consequences.

TCSW

PO Box 291231, Nashville, TN  37229-1231

615-313-9980

Terri Lawson, Director