Reminder: Yvonne invited you to join Facebook...

facebook Hi, The following person recently invited you to be their friend on Facebook: Yvonne Z Smith 392 friends 11 photos   Other people you may know on Facebook: Larry Belcher Denver Nobles Lafayette, LA Lydia Richard Bangor, ME Mary Ann Thompson Andy Imparato Washington, DC Sekhar Subramani Central Jersey, NJ   Facebook is a great place to keep in touch with friends, post photos, videos and create events. But first you need to join! Sign up today to create a profile and connect with the people you know. Thanks, The Facebook Team Facebook is free and anyone can join. Sign Up To sign up for Facebook, follow the link below: http://www.facebook.com/r.php?re=7bfe7e00c73ea551fa44a55227a15175&mid=a7d11fG5c0ae470G4135f6G46 This message was intended for yzsmith.recovery2000@blogger.com. If you do not wish to receive this type of email from Facebook in the future, please click here to unsubscribe. Facebook's offices are located at 1601 S. California Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94304.

Fw: [NYAPRS Enews] MNT: House Health Bill To Include Public Plan, 'Require' Coverage

House Health Bill To Include Public Plan, Insurers Resisting Medical News Today June 11, 2009    On Monday, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel, D- N.Y., told reporters that the House bill will include a new public insurance plan, Reuters/The Boston Globe reports. "Similar to legislation being developed in the Senate, the House bill would establish an insurance exchange to help people without employer-sponsored insurance find medical coverage." The government-sponsored public insurance plan would be "one of the options available, lawmakers said." The bill would also establish a mandate that would "require individuals and businesses to obtain coverage." A government-sponsored public health insurance option remains one of the most contentious points in the health care debate. On Monday, Senate Republicans sent a letter to President Barack Obama "arguing against a new public plan, saying it would lead to 'a federal government takeover of our healthcare system.'" The President called for a public plan option last week "but also has said he wants healthcare legislation by October that enjoys bipartisan support." House Democrats will be briefed on the new legislation today, and Democratic members of the Ways and Means Committee are also scheduled to meet with Obama "to discuss the proposal" (Smith, 6/8). Meanwhile, GOP lawmakers in both houses, and some moderate Democrats, are voicing opposition to the inclusion of a government-run insurance plan: "[T]he dust-up may turn the once amicable health care debate into a partisan war," reports Utah's Salt Lake Tribune. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, a Finance Committee members, say the unraveling bipartisanship isn't cut in stone: "I would be glad to help them, but not with a public plan" (Canham, 6/8). And Democrats are actively recruiting GOP Senators who might help, even with the public plan, USA Today reports. Maine Republican Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, the only current Senate Republicans who defected to support Obama's stimulus plan, are possible supporters. "'There is more outreach… to Republicans than was the case during the early days of the stimulus,' Collins said. "If Democrats want Republican support, they will probably need 60 votes, the threshold required to stop filibusters and proceed to a final vote," USA Today reports. "Democrats can count on 59 votes, but it is not clear whether all Democrats will vote for whatever proposal emerges," making it critical for Democratic leaders to assure support by moderates in their own party, like Sens. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore. Liberal advocacy groups are currently run ads in both Maine and Oregon to shore up support for reform (Fritze, 6/9). The insurance industry "is maintaining a conciliatory tone, while making clear its objections to such a plan, as it tries to shape" a health care overhaul, Dow Jones Newswires/CNN Money reports in a story headlined: "Health Insurers Aim To Shape Reform, Resist Public Plan." Insurers say "a public plan won't be needed if reformers successfully expand coverage to the uninsured through mandated insurance and guaranteed issuance of policies, find ways to control medical costs, prohibit exclusions for pre-existing conditions, and provide subsidies to help people afford coverage." Bill Hoagland, Cigna Corp.'s vice president for public policy and government affairs, told Dow Jones "the question we have to raise is, 'Wait a minute, if the industry agrees to do all of that, what is it that a public plan achieves?'" He says the insurance industry has "stepped up, Cigna has stepped up we've tried to be good players." This is a major change from the Clinton health care debates, Hoagland says, when insurers took "the Harry-and-Louise position against reform." Hoagland says the problem with a public plan is "you end up having a significant cost shift from public plans to the private plans," because of the lower reimbursement rates that government-run plans such as Medicare pay providers. Elizabeth Hall, WellPoint Inc.'s vice president for public policy, said the plan could be "very disruptive to the marketplace," but "she wasn't ready to call the issue a deal-breaker. "We are definitely not supportive of that, but I think just like any other large piece of legislation, we are going to have to take it as a whole," Hall says (Brin, 6/8). http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/153256.php

Fw: Please post & distribute

Everyone is invited to a COMMUNITY RECOVERY FORUM   Learning Empowerment Together   June 18, 2009 at the Arlington Central Library 1015 N. Quincy St. 22201; 703-228-5990   12:00pm – 12:30pm Welcome – Light Refreshments Two dynamic panel presentations   12:30pm- 2pm  Panel 1: An Abundant Life in the Community Featuring:  Dan Fisher, Executive Director, National Empowerment Center , Paolo del Vecchio , Associate Director, Office of Consumer Affairs at the Federal Center for Mental Health Services, Violet Taylor , Regional Peer Bridger, Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute, Alfred Head, Co-Coordinator, Arlington Recovery Empowerment Center , Iden McCollum, Director, Ida Mae Campbell Wellness & Resource Center, Washington , D.C.   2:15pm- 3:45pm  Panel 2: Overcoming Barriers to Community Integration & Implementing Systems Change. Featuring: James Reinhard, Commissioner, Virginia Dept of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, Dan Fisher, Executive Director, National Empowerment Center, Jim Bradshaw, Acting Co-Coordinator Arlington Recovery Empowerment Center, Bonnie Neighbour, Advocacy Coordinator, Virginia Organization of Consumers Asserting Leadership & Audrey Moss ,  Psychiatrist, Arlington, CSB.   4:00-4:30pm Call to action - What will you do to effect systems change?   No Pre-registration. Just come!

Fw: The Key Update May 2009

Key Update: May 2009 Volume 5, Number 11 News and Alerts _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Deadline for Alternatives 2009 Call for Papers Is May 31; Scholarship Deadline Is June 5 The May 31 deadline for responding to the Alternatives 2009 Call for Papers is fast approaching, with the scholarship application deadline a few days later. Both forms are available on the Alternatives 2009 Web site, http://www.alternatives2009.org. Alternatives 2009 – October 28 through November 1 at the Hilton Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska – is organized by the National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse. The Alternatives conferences offer a great learning environment: Of respondents completing the Alternatives 2007 evaluation, 100 percent learned new ways to be involved in creating policy and/or delivering services, new alternative treatment options, new recovery possibilities for themselves and others, and new information skills they can use in their work. The Alternatives conferences are funded in part by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services. Source: http://www.alternatives2009.org Source: http://www.alternatives2009.org View ... top Washington State Releases New Guidelines for Reporting on Mental Illness Washington's Mental Health Transformation Project and the University of Washington School of Social Work have launched a new Web site (http://www.mentalhealthreporting.org) and a "Media Guide to Reporting on Mental Illness" to help the media improve their coverage of mental health issues. The resources were created after a content analysis of 856 news stories over 10 years showed that news stories often use derogatory terms and negative stereotypes to describe people living with mental illnesses. The new resources are intended to help journalists address a wider range of stories on mental health, and help them avoid using stereotypical language. The site includes suggestions for reporting a story involving both violence and mental illness, such as questioning whether it is relevant to report an individual's history of mental illness, and avoiding unsubstantiated attributions of the violence to mental illness. The Mental Health Transformation Project is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. For an online copy of the Media Guide and the original study, go to www.mentalhealthreporting.org. Source: http://www.dshs.wa.gov/mediareleases/2009/pr09067.shtml View ... top Big Changes Ahead for the Fifth Edition of the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual" The American Psychiatric Association is on schedule to publish a new edition of its "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual" (DSM V) in 2012, and it will likely include significant changes. For example, hoarding may be added as a separate disorder among a larger group of obsessive-compulsive disorders. Also, what is now called gender-identity disorder, classified as a sexual dysfunction, may be classified differently, or the diagnosis may be eliminated altogether, as has recently occurred in France. The working group that is establishing the new criteria for psychoses hopes to discard the diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, instead characterizing it as schizophrenia that includes a mood disorder. In addition, despite the danger of stigmatizing people who do not exhibit overt symptoms, the group is leaning toward including a category for those who might be predisposed to psychotic disorders. Since its initial publication, the DSM has wielded great influence in regard to defining what is and is not a mental illness. For example, in the 1970s, in what came to be seen as a watershed event, the third DSM famously stopped calling homosexuality a mental illness. The "DSM" was first published in 1952 and has had three updates since then. Sources: http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/APA/14270 http://www.france24.com/en/20090517-transsexuality-no-longer-classified-mental-illness-france-day-against-homophobia View ... top New Tool Developed to Assess Voting Competence of Individuals with Mental Illnesses Whose Competence Has Been Challenged People with serious mental illnesses generally seem to be able to understand the value and importance of their vote, according to researchers who have developed a new testing instrument to assess whether individuals with serious mental illnesses have the capacity to vote. The researchers used the Competency Assessment Tool for Voting (CAT-V) in a study of 52 individuals, and over 90 percent passed with ease, according to a report in the May 2009 edition of Psychiatric Services. The tool may be helpful in cases in which someone's capacity to vote has been challenged. "The bottom line is that standards for competence to vote are not – and should not be – demanding, and hence within the usual range of impairments found in a population with serious mental illnesses, incompetence to vote will be rare," study author and past American Psychiatric Association president Paul Appelbaum, M.D., told Psychiatric News. Noting that the general population is not screened, he stressed that the tool should not be used for general screening of people with mental illnesses. The CAT-V criteria are based on those established in a 2001 federal district court decision in Maine that declared that individuals are not competent to vote only if they "lack the capacity to understand the nature and effect of voting such that they cannot make an individual choice." Source: http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/44/10/8?etoc View ... top Provide Permanent Supportive Housing for Rural Homeless People with Psychiatric Disabilities, Study Suggests Providing permanent supportive housing to people who are homeless and have mental illnesses or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders in rural areas is less expensive to taxpayers than the current hodgepodge system of shelters, emergency hospitalizations and, sometimes, incarceration, according to a study by Maine researchers. The study included 163 participants, 97 percent of whom had mental illnesses. Permanent supportive housing – which the researchers defined as affordable housing with support services either on-site or in the community – reduced the costs of providing mental health services by 57 percent – including a 79 percent decrease in the cost of psychiatric hospitalization – and also gave study participants a higher quality of life. Read the report online at http://www.shalomhouseinc.org/documents/MaineCostofRuralHomelessnessReport.pdf Source: http://www.keepmecurrent.com/organization/story.cfm?storyID=65798 View ... top Prices of Brand-name Psychiatric Medications Rose in 2008; Prices of Generics Fell In 2008, the prices of name-brand psychiatric medications rose at a much faster rate than the general rate of inflation. While inflation was measured at 3.8 percent, the prices of name-brand drugs increased at an average of nearly 9 percent, according to the "Rx Watchdog Report" of AARP (formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons). Clocking in at a 21 percent increase, the price of Wellbutrin rose the most. The prices of anticonvulsants rose, on average, 12.8 percent; antipsychotics 10.7 percent; and antidepressants 9.0 percent. People who take three name-brand medications could see their bills go up by $550 a year, according to AARP spokesman John Rother. He added that switching to generic medications is one simple way to begin reducing the cost of medical bills. AARP's "Rx Watchdog Report" is available online at http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/health/2009_07_rxq408.pdf Source: http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/44/10/22-a?etoc View ... top Acupuncture Therapy May Be Effective in Treating Depression, Studies Indicate Although there have not been many studies of acupuncture's effectiveness in combating depression, most of the existing studies show that it may be a promising treatment option both for depression and anxiety, according to a recent report published in Psychiatric Times. For example, one study has shown that electroacupuncture therapy can cause a remission in depression without the memory loss or confusion of electroconvulsive therapy. Another study has shown that acupuncture relieves physical symptoms of the anxiety that often accompanies depression, while still another study indicated that acupuncture may be effective as a monotherapy for mild or moderate depression. A further study has suggested that acupuncture can be valuable as a complimentary therapy to relieve menopause-related symptoms among patients with breast cancer. Although the precise mechanism of action is still unknown, many believe that acupuncture may change the activity of certain neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine. The researchers suggest that further research on acupuncture as an alternative treatment for depression is warranted. The complete report can be read at http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/display/article/10168/1413274 Source: New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services Mental Health Enews http://www.nyaprs.org/pages/View_ENews.cfm?ENewsID=7859 View ... top Peer-Run Design Program, Among Finalists in National Competition, Seeks Votes Before May 28 Deadline The Creative Strokes Network, a program created by peers in Bridgeport, Conn., who volunteer to paint and decorate each others' apartments, is among the top 10 finalists in the "Designing for Better Health" competition organized by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Ashoka Changemakers. Instructions for voting to help them win the competition are available on the Creative Strokes Network Web site (http://saboe.shutterfly.com). "The Creative Strokes Network . . . creates wonderful opportunities for people to take ownership and pride in where they live, securing for themselves not only housing but a true sense of home, something we know to be crucial to sustained recovery," according to Dr. Larry Davidson, director of the Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health, who is quoted in a Creative Strokes Network press release. In the process, people give back to others, learn new skills, and gain self-confidence, Davidson said, adding "It has been truly transformative in people's lives." Source: http://saboe.shutterfly.com/ View ... top Racial Disparities Persist in Prescribing Drugs and Adherence to Medication Regimens Minorities are less like to receive appropriate medications than are individuals who are not members of minority populations, according to a review of the literature on medication use among minorities by the National Minority Quality Forum, a watchdog group that seeks to ensure that racial and ethnic minorities in the United States receive optimal health care. This disparity in medication use in general also includes less than optimal use of psychiatric medications, the report notes. According to the group, the disparity may sometimes be the unintentional consequence of cost containment strategies in medical insurance medication plans. Otherwise, it may relate to a clinician's poor understanding of a patient's culture. Patient adherence to prescribed drug regimens also can be a problem, with low income, lack of insurance, poor education, language barriers, low health literacy and poor communication by providers all playing a part. The full report is available online at http://store.nmqf.org/p-13-nmqf-e-books.aspx Source: New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services Mental Health E-news http://www.nyaprs.org/pages/View_ENews.cfm?ENewsID=7867 View ... top Criminal Justice Fact Sheets Available The Center for Behavioral Health Services & Criminal Justice Research at Rutgers University is offering a series of "Intervention Fact Sheets" and "Policy Issue Briefs" that summarize current research on critical policy, program, and practice issues that affect people with mental illnesses involved with the justice system. The Center, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, focuses on three research areas: arrest, diversion, and incarceration processing; the delivery of behavioral health services within jails and prisons; and the development, implementation, and evaluation of reentry, resettlement, and recidivism-reducing interventions. Links to these fact sheets and policy briefs can be found on the Center's Web site (in the "News" drop-down menu), along with "inmate-oriented manuals" to assist with reentry planning and reentry readiness assessment, and summaries of the Center's past and current research projects. To suggest topics for future fact sheets or policy briefs, contact Jenny Shi at jshi@ifh.rutgers.edu. Source: http://www.cbhs-cjr.rutgers.edu View ... top Do Psychiatric Drugs Increase the Risk of Cardiac Death? A New Study Suggests, "Maybe." New research suggests that people who take certain psychiatric medications may face a greater risk of death during situations in which their hearts suddenly stop functioning normally than do people who do not take psychiatric medications. Researchers in Finland compared the drugs taken by 321 individuals who had died as a result of heart attacks with those taken by 609 people who had survived heart attacks, and found that people taking antipsychotic medications, antidepressants, or benzodiazepines in particular had a higher rate of death when experiencing acute heart problems. There was no indication, however, that the increased mortality rates were caused directly by the medications. Instead, the increased rate of mortality could be caused by other medical issues that people who take psychiatric drugs face. The researchers advise advocating for further research on people who take the medications in order to minimize the risks. Source: Healthday News, Thursday May 14, 2009 Source: http://www.ajc.com/health/content/shared-auto/healthnews/dead/627094.html View ... top UPenn Collaborative Seeks Innovative Programs The UPenn Collaborative on Community Integration, funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, is seeking innovative initiatives that address community barriers limiting the opportunities of people with mental illnesses to participate equally in the community, and/or programs that provide rehabilitative supports that address an individual's unique needs. These barriers and supports might be in housing, employment, education, leisure/recreation, social roles (parenting, intimate relationships, friendships), peer support, health and well-being, citizenship, self-determination, and religion/spirituality. The UPenn Collaborative will feature selected programs on its Web site. (The programs do not need to be within mental health organizations.) Contact Pam Cousounis (pamelac2@mail.med.upenn.edu or 215-746-1950) and include the agency/organization name, program/initiative name, short description, and contact information (including name, phone number, e-mail address, and Web site). Source: http://www.upennrrtc.org View ... top A Movement Leader Blogs About Life as a Hospice Patient Judi Chamberlin, an early leader of the consumer/survivor movement and author of "On Our Own: Patient Controlled Alternatives to the Mental Health System" (McGraw-Hill, 1978), a work that galvanized the self-help/advocacy movement of individuals with psychiatric histories, is seriously ill and is receiving home hospice care. She believes hospice is a good model for what a caring mental health system would look like. Her blog is available at the link below. Source: http://judi-lifeasahospicepatient.blogspot.com/ View ... top Final Days for National Technical Assistance Centers Impact Assessment Survey The five consumer and consumer-supporter national technical assistance centers (TAC) are seeking feedback on how well they are serving individuals and organizations involved in the mental health self-help and advocacy movement. The National Consumer and Consumer-Supporter TAC Impact Assessment includes 31 questions to help the five TACs improve their services and supports, promote consumer-directed approaches, and strengthen consumer network organizations. Any time before May 31, please click on the link below to fill out the survey, which was developed by CONTAC (Consumer Organization and Networking Technical Assistance Center). Your responses are greatly appreciated! The five TACs are the National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse, the National Empowerment Center TAC, the Peers Helping Peers TAC of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Mental Health America's National Consumer Supporter Technical Assistance Center (NCSTAC), and NAMI's STAR (Support, Technical Assistance and Resource) Center. Source: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=wmSQrRMlvjSX73YqoZM_2bqg_3d_3d View ... top Consumer-Driven Services Directory The Clearinghouse welcomes all programs in which consumers play a significant role in leadership and operation to apply for inclusion in its Directory of Consumer-Driven Services. The directory, accessible at www.cdsdirectory.org, is searchable by location, type of organization, and targeted clientele and serves as a free resource for consumers, program administrators and researchers. Apply online, via fax at 215-636-6312, or by phone at 800-553-4KEY (4539). To receive an application by mail, write to info@cdsdirectory.org or NMHCSH Clearinghouse, 1211 Chestnut Street, Suite 1100, Philadelphia, PA 1 View ... top About The Key Update The Key Update is the free monthly e-newsletter of the National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse Volume 5 No.11, May 2009, http://www.mhselfhelp.org To subscribe send a message to: subscribe thekey. To unsubscribe send a message to: unsubscribe thekey. For content, reproduction or publication information, contact Susan Rogers at 215-751-1800 x288 or srogers@mhasp.org. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please reply to this message with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line or simply click on the following link: Unsubscribe National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse 1211 Chestnut Street, Suite 1207 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107 US Read the VerticalResponse marketing policy.

Fw: [PsychRights] Alaska Supreme Court Grants Mental Patients Constitutional Rights

http://psychrights.org/pr/090522BigleyvAPINewsRls.pdf NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 22 2009 CONTACT: Jim Gottstein 907-274-7686 jim.gottstein@psychrights.org Alaska Supreme Court Grants Mental Patients Constitutional Rights In an important decision issued today, William S. Bigley v. Alaska Psychiatric Institute, the Alaska Supreme Court significantly advanced psychiatric patients' constitutional due process rights when the state seeks to force them to take psychiatric drugs against their will.  "One of the things they held," said Jim Gottstein, President and CEO of the Law Project for Psychiatric Rights (PsychRights) and the attorney who handled the case, "is that if the State is holding someone in a psychiatric facility, they must provide a feasible alternative to the forced drugging if the alternative satisfies the State's asserted justification.  The State's only other option is to let the person go." The Court also held that in order to allow the person a realistic opportunity to prepare a defense, when filing a forced drugging petition, the State must provide a written statement of the facts underlying the petition, including the reasons for the forced drugging, information about the patient's symptoms and diagnosis; the medication to be used; the method of administration; the likely dosage; possible side effects, risks and expected benefits; and the risks and benefits of alternative treatments and nontreatment.  "This is very important," Mr. Gottstein said, "because up until now, they just checked a box that said the person was incompetent to decline and the facility wants to drug the person.  Then the State comes in with a witness who testifies untruthfully and there is no way to have been prepared to rebut it."  Equally important, the Court ruled the person's lawyer must be given access to the person's medical and psychiatric records in advance of the hearing and adequate preparation time.  "The problem is judges have been misled for years that these drugs increase safety and are beneficial to patients," according to Mr. Gottstein, "The truth is they decrease safety, are ineffective for most, are physically very harmful, and prevent many people from recovering.  The evidence on this is clear, but the way these cases have been rushed through without allowing adequate time for a defense, these facts have not normally been revealed to the judges." The Law Project for Psychiatric Rights is a public interest law firm devoted to the defense of people facing the horrors of forced psychiatric drugging and electroshock.  PsychRights is further dedicated to exposing the truth about psychiatric interventions and the courts being misled into ordering people subjected to these brain and body damaging drugs against their will. Extensive information about these dangers, and about the tragic damage caused by electroshock, is available on the PsychRights web site: http://psychrights.org/. #  #  # -- James B. (Jim) Gottstein, Esq. President/CEO Law Project for Psychiatric Rights 406 G Street, Suite 206 Anchorage, Alaska  99501 USA Phone: (907) 274-7686)  Fax: (907) 274-9493 jim.gottstein[[at]]psychrights.org http://psychrights.org/  PsychRights®             Law Project for        Psychiatric Rights The Law Project for Psychiatric Rights is a public interest law firm devoted to the defense of people facing the horrors of forced psychiatric drugging.  We are further dedicated to exposing the truth about these drugs and the courts being misled into ordering people to be drugged and subjected to other brain and body damaging interventions against their will.  Extensive information about this is available on our web site, http://psychrights.org/. Please donate generously.  Our work is fueled with your IRS 501(c) tax deductible donations.  Thank you for your ongoing help and support. You have been sent this e-mail because we think you are interested in PsychRights' mission to mount a strategic litigation campaign against forced psychiatric drugging and electroshock. If this is incorrect or you otherwise want to be removed from this list, or if you have any questions about this list, e-mail contact@psychrights.org.

Fw: WEDNESDAY: Empowerment Circle - How To Make Housing Code Enforcement A Priority

We Can! Make Housing Code Enforcement A City Priority!!!! ATTEND Empowerment Circle Special Guest:  Julie Becker, Legal Aid Society Wed., May 6, 2009 6:30pm Reeves Center - 14th & U Sts., NW - 2nd Fl RSVP - 234-9119 co-sponsors: EmpowerDC LEDC - 588-5102 Learn Your Rights To Housing Code Repairs! Learn How You Can Make A Difference!

Fight Breast Cancer

Community Health Administration Breast and Cervical Cancer Program PROJECT WISH Location 825 North Capitol Street, NE 3rd Floor Washington, DC 20002 (202) 442-5900 Para Espanol (202) 442-9128 Mission The District of Columbia ranks highest of all states in the US for breast and cervical cancer mortality. The mission of the DC Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (DC BCCEDP) is to reduce the District's breast, cervical, and ovarian cancer burden through the provision of health education, technical expertise, case management, and coordination of early detection services for District residents. Currently, Project WISH is enrolling eligible women ages 50 and over into the program for breast and cervical cancer screening.  Services covered by Project WISH include an annual mammogram, a Pap test, a clinical breast exam and related diagnostic services at one of our area providers. Free transportation and interpreter services are available for appointments.  Women can apply for Project WISH at participating clinics and hospitals throughout the city or by contacting Project WISH directly. Program Description The DC BCCEDP, also known as Project WISH (Women Into Staying Healthy), is a multi-faceted program funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which provides free cancer education, screening, and diagnostic services to low-income District women with little or no health insurance. Program Goals Expand the number of women who receive screening for breast and cervical cancer. Eliminate breast and cervical cancer health disparities due to ethnicity, income, and geographic location. Increase access to quality cancer detection and treatment services.                                       http:// www.recovery2000.blogspot.com From the people at the Recovery Group. Drop by to post your opinion or news worthy item in our community.

District of Columbia Closely Monitoring International Swine Flu Situation Washington, DC – The District of Columbia Government announced today that they are closely monitoring the new strain of swine flu that has been reported in the United States and Mexico. As of Sunday evening time there are no known cases of swine flu in District of Columbia, Virginia or Maryland. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) there are currently 20 confirmed cases of this new flu strain in the United States. The CDC expects the number of cases in the United States to increase. The District of Columbia Department of Health is responding proactively and aggressively to combat the spread of the disease. "While the District does not have any known cases of swine flu right now, we recognize that diseases do not respect state or national boundaries and are monitoring the situation closely," said Mayor Adrian M. Fenty. "We continue to work with our neighboring jurisdictions and will respond as fast as humanly possible to address any potential or confirmed cases of swine flu." Symptoms of influenza include runny nose or nasal congestion, cough, sore throat and a fever higher than 100 degrees. The incubation period from time of exposure to illness is 2 to 5 days. "It is important for everyone to remember that the best way to prevent the spread of any flu virus is to make sure that you cover your cough and wash your hands with soap and water frequently," said Dr. Pierre Vigilance, director of the DC Department of Health. "If residents have symptoms of the flu they should call their healthcare providers first before going into the doctor's office or emergency room so they do not put others at risk." There are certain actions every resident can take to help stop the spread of swine flu, measles, and other contagious diseases. By following these simple guidelines everyone can do their part to combat swine flu:  Frequent hand washing with soap and water is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of disease. Avoid touching eyes, mouth and nose. Influenza is spread from person to person by sneezes and coughs. Covering sneezes and coughs with your sleeve or a tissue stops the spread. Avoid contact with those who are already ill. Individuals who are ill should avoid crowded public places as much as possible and keep a 6 foot distance between people at work and other public places. Anyone with a fever and respiratory illness should stay home from work or school to avoid spreading infections, including influenza and other respiratory illnesses, to others in their communities. There are medications which may help lessen the severity of flu illness if you become infected. These medications do not cure the flu, and they must be administered within 24 to 48 hours to be effective. If you feel that you have the symptoms of swine flu, you should contact your health care provider for information and advice on whether anti-viral medication is right for you. If ill, residents should call their healthcare provider first before coming to the provider's office and before going to an urgent care clinic or emergency department. This will help stop the spread of the disease. Healthcare providers can advise residents on treatment and make recommendations about whether residents should come in to be seen. Additional information about swine influenza and  the outbreak are available at the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/flu/swine/index.htm. This link and other information about swine flu can be found on the DOH website at http://doh.dc.gov.   http:// www.recovery2000.blogspot.com From the people at the Recovery Group. Drop by to post your opinion or news worthy item in our community.

Fw: School-Based Mental Health Conference, May 13, 2009

Don't Miss Our 2009 Conference The District of Columbia has embarked upon an expansive program to provide mental health and other preventive services in schools. Join our distinguished researchers, policy makers, agency and institutional directors and practitioners as we explore....  The Future of School-Based Mental Health Wednesday, May 13, 2009 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Howard University's Blackburn Center 2397 Sixth Street, NW Washington, DC 20059 SEE THE FULL SCHEDULE OF SPEAKERS AND WORKSHOPS REGISTER ON-LINE    Directions   Brochure   Media Advisory Registration (includes lunch): $50.00 (General) • $25.00 (Students, Seniors) CEU Credits Available at End of Conference.  Fee: $10.00 And, don't forget our Annual Gala celebrating DC's Mental Health Champions, on May 15th, as we cruise the Potomac with the leaders of our industry.  You can also make your Gala reservation on-line. Thank you, Charles E. Lewis, Jr. Ph.D President www.mhadc.org Y

Fw: [ccgroup] {Disarmed} Employmnet Opportunity

SSA Hiring Initiative: Free Teleconference Tuesday, April 21, 2009 1:00-2:30pm EST     Ticket to Work Colleagues and Partners,   The Social Security Administration recently received funding to hire a significant number of employees throughout the country.  This hiring initiative offers a unique opportunity for individuals with disabilities who may want to get a job with SSA.  These jobs will be at various skill levels including a number of entry-level positions.   SSA will be holding a national teleconference on this issue specifically for Employment Networks, State Vocational Rehabilitation Staff and others who help people with disabilities go to work on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 from 1:00 to 2:30 PM EST.  This session will build upon an earlier Webinar and provide more details regarding the initiative.  A guest speaker from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will also discuss the Schedule A Hiring Authority.  Please visit www.cessi.net/ttw to register for the teleconference.   What kinds of jobs is SSA offering? SSA is recruiting employees to work in field offices and teleservice centers where they will assist the public by phone and in person with a wide variety of program related activities such as filing claims, applying for new or replacement Social Security cards and other types of inquiries.  SSA also is recruiting employees to work in Program Service Centers where they will process claims and to work in hearings offices in legal and paralegal positions.   Where are these jobs located? All across the United States; for example, some are in the 1,300 local SSA field offices or SSA hearings offices, some in the 37 teleservice centers nationwide, some in SSA's 6 program service centers and some at SSA headquarters in the Baltimore area.   How will SSA recruit? SSA will use a variety of avenues to recruit and hire people with disabilities. In particular, the Agency is reaching out to Ticket to Work Ticket Holders who are trying to return to work, veterans with disabilities through programs such as the Wounded Warrior transitional program, and students with disabilities.  Many individuals with disabilities will qualify for consideration under a special placement authority called "Schedule A."   How can I tell if an individual is eligible for Schedule A? A person is Schedule A eligible if s/he has documentation establishing both a disability and "job readiness."   Who can provide this documentation? o        Proof of a disability can be provided by a licensed medical professional or any Federal agency, state agency, or agency of the District of Columbia or a US territory that issues or provides disability benefits.  A recent benefit status letter is acceptable from a Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income disability beneficiary. o        Proof of job readiness can be provided by a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist working with a State Vocational Rehabilitation agency or an Employment Network under the Ticket to Work program.   What is the next step? o        To register for the April 21 teleconference, please visit www.cessi.net/ttw and select the "SSA Hiring" icon. o        For more information and resources about this hiring opportunity, please visit www.cessi.net/ttw/SSAHires/index.html o        Please send resumes and documentation for Schedule A eligibility to Selective.Placement.Applications@ssa.gov    ******************************************************** This list is managed by the CESSI Division of Axiom Resource Management, the Program Manager for Recruitment & Outreach (PMRO) for Social Security's Ticket to Work Program.  If you need additional information or if you wish to subscribe or unsubscribe to this mailing list, please contact us at MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "us.mc570.mail.yahoo.com" claiming to be TickettoWork@cessi.net.

Fw: April 22 - Forensic Conference

h REGISTER TODAY! (cut/paste this link or fax attached form) This event is free and open to the public. Please note: registration is mandatory.   http://psyregistration.org/Registration.aspx?EventId=63   CONFIDENTIAL: The information contained in this communication, including its attachments may contain confidential information and is intended only for the individual (s) or entity (ies) to whom it is addressed . The information contained in this communication may also be protected by legal privilege , federal law or other applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient of this communication , you are hereby notified that any distribution, dissemination or duplication of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error please immediately delete and destroy all copies of this message and please immediately notify us of the error by separate communication . Thank you.

Yahoo! News Story - Social Security clogged with disability claims - Yahoo! News

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Social Security clogged with disability claims - Yahoo! News

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090401/ap_on_re_us/disability_backlog

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Fw: [NYAPRS Enews] Social Security's Economic Recovery One-Time $250 Payment Info

Social Security's Economic Recovery One-Time Payment 2009 Information   Who will receive the one-time $250 economic recovery payment? The law provides for a one-time payment for certain individuals who receive Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Railroad Retirement and Veterans benefits. If you were eligible for one of these benefits at any time during the months of November 2008, December 2008 or January 2009, you may be eligible for the one-time payment. To receive the payment, your address of record must be in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, or the Northern Mariana Islands.   If I am eligible for the one-time payment, when will I receive it? You should receive your one-time payment by the end of May 2009. You don't need to do anything to receive this payment. Social Security does not need to contact you to request information. Please do not contact us about your payment unless you do not receive it by June 4, 2009. The Department of the Treasury will be sending payments throughout the month of May.   How will I receive my one-time payment? We will deliver your one-time payment the same way we currently deliver your Social Security or SSI benefit. If we deliver your monthly benefit by check, we will deliver your one-time payment by check. If you receive your benefits by direct deposit or Direct Express® debit card, you will receive the one-time payment the same way. We will send your one-time economic recovery payment separately from your Social Security or SSI benefit; it will not be included with your monthly benefit payment.   I receive both Social Security and SSI. Does this mean I'll receive two one-time economic recovery payments? No, you can only get one $250 payment, regardless of how many types of benefits you receive. For example, if you receive any combination of Social Security, SSI, Railroad Retirement or Veterans benefits you still can only get one payment.   If my spouse and I both receive Social Security or SSI benefits, will we each get a one-time economic recovery payment? Yes, if both you and your spouse are receiving benefits from Social Security or SSI, you each will get the one-time payment.   Are children who receive Social Security benefits eligible for the one-time economic recovery payment? No, children under the age of 18 (19 if still in high school) who receive Social Security benefits are NOT eligible for the one-time payment. However, adult children who receive disability benefits on a parent's record will receive a payment.   Are children who receive SSI benefits eligible for the one-time economic recovery payment? Yes, children receiving SSI are eligible for the one-time payment.   I have a representative payee. Who will receive my one-time economic recovery payment? If you have a representative payee, we will send your one-time payment to your representative payee. Your representative payee is required by law to use the payment for your personal benefit.   Will ALL Social Security and SSI beneficiaries receive a one-time economic recovery payment of $250? No. In most cases, the following individuals will NOT receive the one-time payment: ·         Anyone living outside of the United States or its territories; ·         Individuals who no longer are lawfully present in the United States; ·         Individuals whose benefits have been suspended under the law for giving false or misleading statements; ·         Social Security beneficiaries who are minor children*; ·         SSI beneficiaries who receive benefits at a reduced rate of $30 because they live in a medical treatment facility (such as a nursing home or hospital) and Medicaid pays over 50% of the cost of their care; ·         Individuals only entitled to Medicare and not to Social Security or SSI benefits; and ·         Prisoners, fugitive felons, and probation and parole violators. *Note: Disabled adult children receiving Social Security or children receiving SSI payments will receive the one-time payment. *Note: Every situation is different, and there may be exceptions to these rules.   Will I receive the one-time economic recovery payment if I have a delinquent Federal or state debt? The law requires the Department of the Treasury to deduct delinquent child support and debts owed to state and Federal agencies from the one-time payment. The one-time payment will not be used to collect Social Security or SSI benefit overpayments.   Will the one-time economic recovery payment count as income or resources when determining eligibility for SSI? The one-time payment will not count as income for SSI. In addition, it will not count as a resource in the month you receive it or the following nine months. For example, if you receive the one-time payment in May 2009, it will not count as a resource from May 2009 through February 2010. If you still have this money in March 2010, it will count as a resource starting that month and may affect your eligibility for SSI.   Will the one-time economic recovery payment count as earnings when determining eligibility for Social Security disability benefits? No. The one-time economic recovery payment will not count as income or earnings for Social Security disability benefits.   If I don't receive my one-time economic recovery payment by June 4, what should I do? After June 4, 2009, you can call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or contact your local Social Security office to tell us your payment has not arrived. Please wait until then to ask about your payment because the Department of the Treasury will be sending payments until the end of May.   What should I do if someone calls or E-mails me asking for personal information to process my payment? Do not provide your personal information to anyone requesting it to process your payment. If you are unsure about the identity of someone claiming to be a Social Security employee, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to verify the call. You may report suspicious activity involving Social Security programs and operations to the Social Security Fraud Hotline at www.socialsecurity.gov/oig/hotline or call 1-800-269-0271 (TTY 1-866-501-2101).   How can I get more information about the one-time economic recovery payment? If you are a Social Security or SSI beneficiary, visit www.socialsecurity.gov. If you are not a Social Security or SSI beneficiary and receive only Railroad Retirement or Veterans benefits: ·         You can visit the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) at www.rrb.gov or call 1-877-772-5772 (1-877-RRB-5RRB; TTY 1-312-751-4701) for more information. NOTE: You will receive your one-time payment from RRB. You do not have to do anything in order to receive your payment. ·         You can visit the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) at www.va.gov or contact your local VA facility for more information. NOTE: You will receive your one-time payment from VA. You do not have to do anything in order to receive your payment.     Social Security Administration SSA Publication No. 05-10519 ICN 470050 Unit of Issue - HD (one hundred) April 2009              o

Fw: [ccgroup] Fw: Mental Health and Rehabilitation eCast March

Mental Health & Rehabilitation eCast          March 2009 The monthly email newsletter from the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University     Comfort Rooms that Work   This guide, developed by the New York State Office of Mental Health, provides information to service providers that are interested in developing comfort rooms and calming spaces. It has been compiled to assist in the planning and implementation process. The information in "Comfort Rooms: A Preventative Tool Used to Reduce the Use of Restraint and Seclusion in Facilities that Serve Individuals with Mental Illness" was gathered through an extensive literature review, visits to calming and comfort rooms across New York State, attendance at conferences, and interviews with experts in the field. Download the guide at http://www.omh.state.ny.us/omhweb/resources/publications/comfort_room/.     Report Card on State Mental Health Services   "Grading the States 2009" is a national report on the public mental health care system including state-by-state narratives and grades from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). This is NAMI's second report, which lists states that have improved their grades, fallen, or remained stagnant. The report comes at a time when state budget cuts threaten mental heath services nationwide and health care reform is on the national agenda. NAMI's grades are based on 65 specific criteria such as access to medicine, housing, and family education. See the report at http://www.nami.org/gtsTemplate09.cfm?Section=Grading_the_States_2009.     Online Community for Individuals to Share their Stories   Mental Health America announced the launch of realLives, an online community where individuals with mental health conditions can share their stories. The site includes nearly 200 stories, as well as artwork, poetry and other means of expression documenting people's experiences of illnesses including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression. Visit www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives.     Capacity Building on Minorities with Disabilities   The Center for Capacity Building on Minorities with Disabilities Research (CCBMDR) has just posted its recent edition of The Capacity Builder newsletter. The newsletter is published periodically with the objective of sharing news, accomplishments, research initiatives, and upcoming events among researchers and practitioners whose work focuses on issues of disability, culture, and empowerment. Download the newsletter through the link, http://www.disabilityempowerment.org/downloads/CCBMDR%20Newsletter-%20v5,%20i1%203-11-09.pdf. Find out more about the organization at http://www.disabilityempowerment.org/.     National Mental Health Anti-Stigma Campaign   The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) launched the Mental Health Campaign for Mental Health Recovery to encourage, educate, and inspire people between 18 and 25 to support their friends who are experiencing mental health problems. This group has a high potential to minimize future disability if social acceptance is broadened and they receive the right support and services early on. There are a wide variety of resources available at the website including brochures in both English and Spanish. Find out more at the "What a Difference a Friend Makes" website at http://whatadifference.samhsa.gov.     ********************************** The Mental Health & Rehabilitation eCast is a monthly emailed newsletter with the purpose of informing mental health and rehabilitation networks worldwide about the activities and resources produced by the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation as well as for disseminating general mental health and rehabilitation news. ********************************** Subscribe to the eCast at: http://www.bu.edu/cpr/resources/ecast/subscribe.html. Feel free to forward this eCast to your colleagues.  You may unsubscribe at http://www.bu.edu/cpr/resources/ecast/unsubscribe.html. The email address at which you are subscribed is <toopoles@yahoo.com>. ********************************** This eCast is jointly supported by the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), Department of Education.

facebook Yvonne Z Smith has: 226 friends 8 photos 30 notes 132 wall posts 12 groups Check out my photos on Facebook I set up a Facebook profile where I can post my pictures, videos and events and I want to add you as a friend so you can see it. First, you need to join Facebook! Once you join, you can also create your own profile. Thanks, Yvonne To sign up for Facebook, follow the link below: http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=1133421686&k=3YCYP3P6V4YM5G1DSCX2PV&r This e-mail may contain promotional materials. If you do not wish to receive future commercial mailings from Facebook, please opt out. Facebook's offices are located at 156 University Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94301.