TO EMAIL the CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS:  SEE THIS LINK:  http://www.dallascityhall.com/government/council/contact_mcc.html

Mental Health Monday  Week of April 23, 2012

 Please contact your member of the Dallas City Council and Mayor Rawlings in favor of the Boarding Home Regulation Ordinance BEFORE or BY MONDAY APRIL 30!!!

 The Dallas City Council Housing Committee is currently considering an ordinance that would regulate boarding homes located within its city limits.  This much-needed reform will help to eradicate the deplorable conditions in what often is the only housing option for low-income people with mental illness.   The vote may occur as early as Monday, April 30, so it is imperative that you advocate this week!

Available from MHA OR NTSPP are sample letters to Mayor Rawlings and each Council Member.  All you have to do is to put your name, address, and the date at the top of each letter, then scroll down and sign your name at the bottom, put it in an envelope, stamp it and mail it.  All of them have the same address, so that makes it easy!

Below are additional facts that may help you in composing your own letter, if you choose.   Even if you just send a postcard that says “I support the boarding home regulation ordinance”, it will do a world of good.  Just remember to sign you name, and include your address.

Also, please forward this message on to your network of advocates, friends, neighbors and colleagues.  We need to push very hard for this in order to win.

If you do not reside in Dallas, please write in your capacity as a mental health professional, advocate (patient or family  member for example), or stakeholder. 

 The Members of the Dallas City Council are:

Mayor Mike Rawlings

Councilwoman Delia Jasso—District 1

Mayor Pro Tem Pauline Medrano—District 2

Councilman Scott Griggs—District 3

Councilman Dwaine R. Caraway—District 4

Councilwoman Vonciel Jones Hill—District 5

Councilwoman Monica R. Alonzo—District 6

Councilwoman Carolyn R. Davis—District 7

Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Tennell Atkins—District 8

Councilman Sheffie Kadane—District 9

Councilman Jerry R. Allen—District 10

Councilwoman Linda Koop—District 11

Councilwoman Sandy Greyson—District 12

Councilwoman Ann Margolin—District 13

Councilwoman Angela Hunt—District 14

Boarding Home Facts
Prevalence of Boarding Homes

·         According to the Dallas Morning News, approximately 2500 people who are aged, disabled or who have mental illnesses reside in boarding homes in Dallas.

·         According to the City of Dallas, there are over 300 unlicensed boarding homes in the city.

·         Although some boarding homes are clean, safe, and decent places to live that promote the recovery of their residents, many boarding homes are unsafe, unsanitary and impede recovery.

·         Poorly run boarding homes are responsible for hundreds of police and paramedic calls each year.

·         Poorly run boarding homes are a blight on the neighborhoods in which they are located.

Implement the State Model Standards authorized in House Bill 216

In 2009, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 216, which is now known as Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 254.  This law does the following:

·         Defines a boarding home facility as “an establishment that

o        furnishes, in one or more buildings, lodging to three or more persons with disabilities, or elderly person who are unrelated to the owner of the establishment by blood or marriage and

o        provides community meals, light housework, meal preparation, transportation, grocery shopping, money management, laundry services or assistance with self-administration of medication but does not provide personal care services to those persons.

·         Model Standards developed by Texas Health and Human Services Commission including:

o        Construction/Remodeling (plumbing, heating, lighting, ventilation, fire hazards, etc.)

o        Sanitary and Related Conditions (insect and rodent control, water supply, sewage disposal, food handling, general hygiene, etc.)

o        Reporting and Investigation of Injuries, Incidents and Unusual Accidents and the Establishment of Other Policies and Procedures to Ensure Resident Health and Safety

o        Assistance with Self-Administration of Medication

o        In-Service Education of Facility’s Staff

o        Criminal Background History of Facility’s Staff

o        Periodic assessment of residents

·         Local Governments (counties or municipalities) authorized to regulate boarding home facilities within their jurisdictions and to establish:

o        Inspection Procedures

o        Permit Procedures (issuance, denial, renewal, suspension and revocation)

o        Fees

o        Fines

o        Posting Requirements (permit, most recent inspection, telephone number to report violations)

Prevalence of Mental Illness

·         Mental illnesses are common.  According to the National Institutes of Mental Health, 1 in 17 adults suffer from a severe and persistent mental illness such as bi-polar disorder, major depression, or schizophrenia. 

·         The good news is that mental illness is treatable, that treatment works, and recovery is possible.

·         Recovery is more likely when the individual has a stable living environment.

For additional information, please contact   Janie Metzinger, Public Policy Director, Mental Health America of Greater Dallas

JMetzinger@mhadallas.org, (214) 871-2420, Ext. 114, or   624 N. Good-Latimer, #200, Dallas, Texas  75204

NTSPP Executive Council Member Adam Brenner MD serves on the MHA of Greater Dallas Board of Directors.  NTSPP Distinguished Life Fellows Kenneth Altshuler MD and Joel Feiner MD serve on the MHA of Greater Dallas Clinical Advisory Board.

COALITION ON MENTAL ILLNESS 3rd Wednesday monthly meeting

Meeting Notice:  All interested in mental health are welcome

Wednesday, April 21, 2010 — 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Mental Health Association of Greater Dallas
624 N. Good-Latimer, Suite 210, Dallas, Texas  75204
Nannie Hogan Boyd Conference Room

Speaker: Mike Griffiths, Dallas County Director of Juvenile Services on Juvenile Justice and Mental Health

Mike will be retiring soon from Dallas County.  This is your chance to hear his insights on mental health care for juveniles involved in the justice system, and his advice for system improvements.

Directions to MHA:  Mental Health America of Greater Dallas is located in the historic St. James AME Church building on Good-Latimer Expressway between Swiss Avenue and Live Oak Street.    It is a 3-story light brown brick building with white trim and white columns on the Good-Latimer side.   Directions are below.  Please call 214-871-2420 for directions if you get lost.

FREE Program with Psychiatrist Speakers and Panelists  for Mental Illness Awareness WeekHaving Opportunities for Positive Expansions Conference  (H.O.P.E.) 4  Dallas
Saturday—October 10^th  World Mental Health Day       10 am—1 pm
Fellowship Bible Church Dallas   9330 N. Central Expwy   Dallas TX 75231

Free & Open to the General Public ~ Please register ahead***

 10 am:       Support Groups: Who, What, When, Where, Why & How   Ricardo Aguilar
 11 am:        Ask a Psychiatrist Breakout Sessions:   Psychiatrists will present and answer your questions on these psychiatric disorders:
                             Schizophrenia  ~  Les Secrest MD
                             Bipolar and Mood Disorders ~ Madeline Harford MD
                             Child and Adolescent Psychiatry ~ Catherin Roberts MD
                             Addictions ~ Carlos Tirado MD MPH
                             Personality Disorders & Psychotherapy ~ Kathi Sommerfelt MD
 12 noon:   Panel Discussion—Open Forum with all Psychiatrists together
 1:00 pm:   Adjournment

***Costs: FREE !  Please REGISTER with Ricardo Aguilar, Mental Health America of Greater Dallas at 214-871-2420 ext. 118 or raguilar@mhadallas.org

Sponsored by:   The North Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians, Mental Health America of Greater Dallas  www.mhadallas.org , AND Value Options  www.valueoptions.com.

MENTAL ILLNESS AWARENESS WEEK  is OCTOBER 4-10, 2009.  NTSPP is grateful to the Texas Foundation for Psychiatric Education and Research for its grant supporting MIAW events. 

NTSPP is the local chapter of the Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians (www.txpsych.org) which is the district branch of the American Psychiatric Association (www.psych.org). 

COMI Meeting Wednesday, September 17, 2008 — 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.  Mental Health Association of Greater Dallas 624 N. Good-Latimer, Suite 210, Dallas, Texas 75204   Nannie Hogan Boyd Conference Room  SPEAKER: Dallas County Commissioner Ken Mayfield On County Budget Issues and The Upcoming Legislative Session Please come to this very important meeting Directions to MHA:

 Mental Health America of Greater Dallas is located in the historic St. James AME Church building on Good-Latimer Expressway between Swiss Avenue and Live Oak Street. It is a 3-story light brown brick building with white trim featuring white columns and a beautiful dome.

 DART rail construction on Good-Latimer makes use of the parking lot on that side of the building inaccessible. Parking is available:  Parking lot at the Florence Street entrance or Park on Florence Street or Park in the Latino Cultural Center lot and walk across the street.

 From the North

via Central Expressway:

Take the Ross Avenue Exit. Stay on the service road across Ross and follow it to Live Oak (recently this part of the route has been altered slightly, but it still gets you to the same place). Turn left at Live Oak to Cantergal. Turn right on Cantergal 1 block to Florence. Turn right on Florence into our parking lot (if you get here early)

or

Exit at either the Haskell or the Washington exits. Take Haskell or Washington to Live Oak. Turn right on Live Oak to Cantergal. Turn Left on Cantergal and go 1 block to Florence. Turn right on Florence and into our parking lot on your left.

From the East

via Live Oak: Take Live Oak to Cantergal Turn Left on Cantergal and go 1 block to Florence. Turn right on Florence and into our parking lot on your left.

via Swiss Avenue: Take Swiss to Cantergal, and go 1 block to Florence. Turn right on Florence and into our parking lot on your left.

From the South  via Good-Latimer Expressway to Commerce Street. Go east on Commerce (a right turn) to Malcolm X Blvd. Go north on Malcolm X (a left turn) to Gaston Avenue. At Gaston, you take a left turn, and then an immediate right to Liberty. Take Liberty to Florence, which jogs a little, but if you’ve made it this far, you’ll make it the rest of the way. Take a left turn into our parking lot, or park at the Latino Cultural Center and walk across the street.

 From the West   via Commerce Street: Take Commerce Street to Malcolm X and follow directions above.

Call 214-871-2420 for directions if you get lost.