“Defining the Box” Agenda 19 March 2009

MAYOR’S MENTAL HEALTH TASK FORCE

Agenda

March 19, 2009

8:30-10:00 a.m.

Town Operations Center – Building #1

1^st Floor Conference Room

8:30 a.m.      Welcome, introductions

8:35 a.m.      Review/modify notes and visuals from last meeting – decide if this graphical

approach will work for us

8:55 a.m.      Work on “mapping” next population groups

9:50 a.m.      Plan for next meeting (scheduled for April 3, 2009)

Address:

Chapel Hill Public Works Department

Town Operations Center

Building 1

6850 Millhouse Rd.
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Directions from Town Hall in Chapel Hill (Downtown):

Head North on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd/Historic Airport Road

Just after Harris Teeter turn left on Eubanks Rd

Just before the railroad tracks turn right on Millhouse Rd

At stop sign turn right into Public Works – Town Operation Center

Go to building 1 (at the far end of the driveway– facing you when you turn right)

Mental Health Task Force Quick Report 11 March 2009

DATE:             March 12, 2009

TO:                  Town Council

FROM:             Natalie Ammarell, Chair, Mayor’s Mental Health Task Force

SUBJECT:        Mayor’s Mental Health Task Force Meeting, OPC Area Program, Conference Room, Chapel Hill Public Library, 100 Library Drive, Chapel Hill.

Task Force Members Present: Natalie Ammarell (Chair), Rick Allen, David Chapman, Linda Foxworth, John Gilmore, Thava Mahadevan, Tom Reid, Anna Scheyett, Mark Sullivan, Michelle Turner, Judy Truitt

Task Force Members Absent: Clay Whitehead, Trish Hussey, Kate Barrett, Gwen Harvey

Staff Members Present: Andrew Pham

Members of the Public Present: Cim Brailer, Representative Verla Insko

Approval of the Previous Meeting Minutes

The Task Force approved the minutes of the previous meeting without corrections.

Presentation by Task Force Members

Three members of the Task Force presented information about their respective organizations and their role in the local mental health system. Judy Truitt also gave an update on the status of State budget cuts to mental health services – anticipated for this year and also looking out to 2010.

Discussion

Natalie Ammarell distributed a compilation of suggestions/ideas/comments received to date by the Task Force. The group discussed what they heard at the Listening Sessions – identifying themes of information & awareness and the need for education around navigation of the delivery system. After considerable discussion about the provider community and other topics, the group agreed: 1) as “homework” for the next meeting, review all the comments/suggestions and assess whether “actionable” by the Task Force and then group similar items together; and 2) once consensus has been reached on “actionable” items, the Task Force will create smaller working groups to develop recommendations/potential action steps.

Schedule for the Next Meetings

Next Task Force Meetings

§       April 8, 2009 – 4:00-6:00 p.m. – Town Operations Center 1^st Floor Conference Room

§       May 13, 2009 – 4:00-6:00 p.m. – Town Operations Center 1^st Floor Conference Room

Next Work Group on “Defining the System” Meetings:

§       March 19, 2009 – 8:30-10:00 a.m. – Town Operations Center 1^st Floor Conference Room

§       April 3, 2009 – 8:30-10:00 a.m. – Town Operations Center 1^st Floor Conference Room Small Meeting Room

comments-action-items-for-task-force-3-11-09

Mental Health Task Force Agenda 11 March 2009

MAYOR’S MENTAL HEALTH TASK FORCE

Agenda

March 11, 2009

4:00-6:00 p.m.

Conference room – Chapel Hill Public Library

(downstairs)

4:00 p.m.      Welcome, introductions

4:10 p.m.      Approve February 11^th meeting notes

4:15 p.m.      Presentations by Task Force members

4:35 p.m.      Discussion

§  Debrief of Listening Sessions and Legislative Breakfast

§  Who else do we want/need to hear from?

§  “Action” ideas we have heard

§  Focusing our work going forward

5:50 p.m.      Next meeting date and focus

6:00 p.m.      Adjourn

PLEASE BRING YOUR CALENDARS SO THAT WE CAN AGREE ON MEETING DATE/TIME WHILE WE ARE TOGETHER.

A Busy “Listening” Week

When we started this Task Force, I was resolved to figure out how members could listen to each other and hear additional perspectives on the mental health system and the struggles of those who live with mental illness. I’ve been told that this is a sort of “preaching to the choir” because Task Force members are already deeply immersed in/knowledgeable about mental health service delivery. But, years of working to change human service systems and organizations have taught me that we all develop “mental models” (lenses through which we see things) that sometimes actually BLOCK our ability to “take a fresh look”.

This is why at our last Task Force meeting, I asked members to make presentations to each other about their current activities in the mental health system. I know that each of us learned something new from listening to one another. We will finish these presentations at our March meeting, and we will have an opportunity to listen to Judge Buckner, who has a very unique perspective on both individuals who struggle with mental illness and the system that serves them.

The Listening Sessions we held last week at Town Hall represented another way that we could “listen fresh”. While we didn’t have a huge turnout, we heard the touching testimony of parents who have struggled to guide their children to stability in a system that itself is excruciatingly unstable. We also heard from volunteers and professionals who are working so hard to address the needs of those parents, their children and other consumers.

My week actually began at the Legislative Breakfast sponsored by NAMI-Orange and the Mental Health Association. This was another “listening session” for me and other Task Force members who attended. Here, after being touched by the story Charlene told us of her own journey, we listened for the impact of the current economic crisis on mental health services. And did we ever hear it! Not a pretty picture. Cuts everywhere. It is very important that those who care make sure that our legislators and Governor Perdue hear from us about what is important.

From a purely personal point of view, this last week of listening has helped me realize that our Task Force is not going to “fix” the deep, complex problems tied to a mental health system reform effort that has been less than successful. We are local and we should be looking for places locally where a reasonable amount of action without a whole lot of funding can matter. And, I should say, we’ve already heard some good ideas. We should also be looking for a few areas where local advocacy multiplied across many areas of the state might have an impact.

It disturbs me that we are back at that point where money/survival is such a dominant force in our lives that almost any other “cause” is completely set aside. As I write this, I’m listening to the “talking heads” once more reminding us of the “doom and gloom” which lie ahead – for years to come. So, state cuts in mental health service budgets jump to the top of the list. But, this does NOT stop us from “looking fresh” at the system, making local changes through collaboration, and changing the attitudes (through awareness) of citizens toward those who struggle with mental illness.

Natalie Ammarell, Chair

Task Force Listening Sessions Summaries 24-25 Feb 2009

DATE:             February 26, 2009

TO:                  Town Council

FROM:             Carlo Robustelli, Mayoral Aide,

Andrew Pham, Mayoral Intern

SUBJECT:       Mayor’s Mental Health Task Force Public Listening Sessions #1 and #2

February 24, 2009: 6:00-7:30 PM and February 25, 2009 5:30-7:00 PM Town Council Chambers

Task Force Members Present: Natalie Ammarell (Chair), Linda Foxworth, David Chapman, Jan Gerard, Gwen Harvey, Thava Mahadevan, Anna Schyett, Mark Sullivan, Michelle Turner, Judy Truitt, Clay Whitehead.

Staff Members Present: Carlo Robustelli, Andrew Pham

The purpose of these meetings was to allow the Task Force to listen to the public regarding their concerns with the mental health system in Chapel Hill and the surrounding areas.

Public Listening Session #1

Mayor Foy explained the origins of the Task Force and emphasized the charge to “create broader awareness of mental health care issues in Chapel Hill and generate discussion”.

Lisa Hamill, President of the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Orange County made a presentation to the Task Force outlining the purpose of NAMI and several ways to effect change locally. Ms. Hamill suggested that constituents write Gov. Perdue asking her not to cut the mental health services budget and sign a petition to support mental health services funding.

Chris Moran and Laurie Tucker presented on behalf of the Inter-Faith Council. The speakers encouraged the Task Force to look into community solutions such as: a 24/7 drop-in center, increased communications among local organizations, and more social workers in shelters.

Joanna Bowen, a mother of four, the three youngest have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, recounted her experiences with the local mental health care system. Ms. Bowen suggested that the Task Force look into ongoing support for mentally ill patients, the gap in care for the 18-25 demographic and support for the family and friends of the mentally ill.

Meagan Strickland and Christina Olson both spoke as members of the UNC Campus Y’s HOPE Program. They informed the Task Force that they are working on a documentary about homelessness which has intersections with mental illness.

Gove Elder spoke about his experience with the mental health care system and NAMI. Mr. Elder also made the Task Force aware of the grassroots organization Faith Connection that increases local awareness of the mentally ill people within faith communities.

Public Listening Session #2

Representative Verla Insko spoke to the Task Force about the origins of state reform and talked about some of the shortcomings of the system. She outlined a variety of steps that HHS Secretary Cansler has already initiated to make improvements.

Jami Purser of the Orange County Organizing Committee (OCOC), a faith-based community group, recommended that the Task Force look into after hours and weekend services for the mentally ill. The OCOC has begun to explore into the feasibility of round the clock clinical services based on a model in Durham.

Diane Whitney, an occupational therapist at UNC Hospitals, asked the Task Force stressed the need for post-hospitalization continuing care. Ms. Whitney stressed that much can be done at the community level.

Donna K. Smith, who has extensive background in mental health, told the Task Force about her experiences with her son in the system. Ms. Smith explained how difficult it was for her and her son to navigate the system despite her own experience. Ms. Smith advocated for more education for the families of the mentally ill since they are the primary caregivers for patients.

Natalie Ammarell read an email from Rosemary Hutchinson asking for the support of UNC’s STEP clinic as a model for the rest of the state.

The Task Force adjourned until its next meeting on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at 4PM in the Town of Chapel Hill Library’s conference room.

Documents

nami-organization-info

bowen-letter

take-action-budget-cuts

1360 WCHL Covers the Task Force’s Public Listening Sessions

For the article and sound clips see the article here http://1360wchl.com/details.html?id=9563.

Herald-Sun Covers Mental Health Task Force’s Public Listening Sessions

Daniel Goldberg’s article on the listening session can be found here http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/orange/10-1106898.cfm

Mental Health Task Force On TV

The Government Access Channel (18) will show both sessions of the Mayor’s Mental Health Task Force’s Public Listening Sessions this Saturday (February 28) and Sunday (March 1) at 9 AM.

Public Listening Session 2 Agenda

Mayor’s Mental Health Task Force

Public Listening Session #2

As a courtesy to others, public comments/presentations are limited to three minutes (unless previously arranged).

Notice to people with impaired hearing: Interpreter services and/or special equipment are available with five days prior notice.  Please contact the Communications and Public Affairs Department at 968-2743 for services.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

5:30PM – 7:00 PM

Public Listening Session

1.      Welcome and Introduction of Task Force members

2.      Review of tonight’s procedures

3.      Community Input: (The purpose of this input is to provide Task Force members information from consumers of mental health services, those who are on the front lines in the mental health field, those who work in allied fields and community members at large)

a.       Representative Verla Insko, North Carolina House of Representatives (15 minutes)

b.      Public comments/presentations (first-come, first served – 3 minutes each)

c.       Comments and questions from the Task Force

d.      Comments and information from Task Force Chair

e.       Motion to adjourn Listening Session.

Public Listening Session 1 Agenda

Mayor’s Mental Health Task Force

Public Listening Session #1

As a courtesy to others, public comments/presentations are limited to three minutes (unless previously arranged).

Notice to people with impaired hearing: Interpreter services and/or special equipment are available with five days prior notice.  Please contact the Communications and Public Affairs Department at 968-2743 for services.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

6:00PM – 7:30 PM

Public Listening Session

1.      Welcome and Introduction of Task Force members

2.      Remarks by Mayor Kevin C. Foy

3.      Review of tonight’s procedures

4.      Community Input: (The purpose of this input is to provide Task Force members information from consumers of mental health services, those who are on the front lines in the mental health field, those who work in allied fields and community members at large)

a.       Lisa Hamill, President, National Alliance on Mental Illness – Orange County (10 minutes)

b.      Inter-Faith Council for Social Service (8 minutes)

c.       Public comments/presentations (first-come, first served – 3 minutes each)

d.      Comments and questions from the Task Force

e.       Motion to recess Listening Session to February 24, 2009.