Every USA State must have a plan to show how they are helping people inside psychiatric and other institutions get integrated into least restrictive alternatives in the community. Here’s how to read Oregon’s latest draft.
You may download a PDF of Oregon’s proposed “final draft” 2010 Olmstead Plan. Just the first 17 pages are the plan itself, the rest is extra info. Click here:
News Release – 18 May 2010
Statewide coalition of mental health clients may have influenced Olmstead Plan
Input from Oregon Consumer/Survivor Coalition and others included in new “final draft”
Every USA State must have a plan to show how they are helping people inside psychiatric and other institutions get integrated into least restrictive alternatives in the community.
The Oregon Consumer/Survivor Coalition (OCSC) and others may have helped improve Oregon’s proposed Olmstead Plan, including winning a written commitment to “seek funding” for an “Office of Consumer Activities.”
Today, the State of Oregon released their latest version.
But the “final draft” still needs improvement. Your deadline for input is 2 June 2010.
Background on Oregon’s Olmstead Plan
- In 1999, the US Supreme Court ruled that every USA state must have “comprehensive, effectively working plans” about how they will integrate institutionalized people – including those in psychiatric institutions – into the community in the least restrictive alternative.
- In August 2009, board members from Oregon Consumer/Survivor Coalition provided formal input to a State of Oregon representative about the Olmstead Plan. The OCSC board encouraged support for the state-wide voice, empowerment and peer-delivered services by mental health consumers and psychiatric survivors in Oregon.
- Unfortunately, the draft plan that came out after that meeting seemed to omit OCSC’s main suggestions.
- 5 February 2010: OCSC members gave input during a meeting with Richard Harris, the assistant director of AMH (photo in upper right), about their concerns regarding the plan.
- Today, 18 May 2010, this new “final draft” plan was released.
While the OCSC board has not reviewed the entire draft and issued a formal statement, MindFreedom notes some positive points in the new version are:
- EMPOWERMENT – Page 15: To implement “Prevention of State Hospitalization”: “Increase in complimentary therapeutic interventions available to persons receiving services.” And: “Increase in client self-empowerment and self-determination in fulfilling their personal wellness plans.” “Empowerment programs” is then mentioned several more times in the document.
- VOICE – Page 16: “To expand consumer voice statewide, Oregon is promoting consumers as educators of mental health and addiction services. Oregon will continue to actively seek consumer participation in the development of community based programs. Oregon will actively seek and support consumer participation as members of quality improvement site reviews and will provide increased consumer education regarding Olmstead and policy development and implementation. AMH will seek funding to support community based consumer organizations thru an Office of Consumer Activities.”
- PEER DELIVERED SERVICES – Page 94: On peer delivered services: “Research is mounting that demonstrates the effectiveness of peer delivered services, and people receiving mental health services voice the positive effect of services provided by people that have had similar experiences.”
However, clearly some work needs to occur on this “final draft.”
For instance, also on page 94, there is a statement of hopelessness, a flat judgment that full and complete recovery – with mental health care no longer needed – is apparently impossible:
“Mental health disorders are chronic conditions requiring treatment of acute symptoms and on-going management, supports and monitoring to avoid relapse. Individuals with mental health disorders need recovery support services to help them navigate systems, understand the issues related to these chronic diseases and provide them with the tools and skills to begin healing and rebuilding their lives. These support services are often health services.”
No doubt there are other negatives and positives, as people read through this document.
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ACTION: How to have input? Wednesday, 2 June 2010 Deadline!
If you would like to have input on this “final draft,” you will need to e-mail to LEN RAY at len.ray@state.or.us by 2 June 2010.
You may download a PDF of Oregon’s proposed “final draft” Olmstead Plan, as of 18 May 2010. Just the first 17 pages are the plan itself, the rest is supplemental info.
Please forward this urgent information to others.
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BELOW is the note from Richard Harris that accompanied the PDF of the “final draft.”
From: “Richard HARRIS” <richard.harris@state.or.us>
Date: 18 May 2010 2:34:39 PM PDT
Subject: Draft Olmstead Plan
Please find attached Oregon’s draft Olmstead Plan. This new plan was rewritten taking into consideration the input the Addictions and Mental Health Division (AMH) received from stakeholders, partners, advocates and consumers.
There will be a meeting June 7, 2010, 8:30-10:30 am in room 137 C&D of the Barbara Roberts DHS building to discuss this plan. I would encourage that you submit suggested edits and recommendations to Len Ray, Administrator of Adult Mental Health Services by Wednesday June 2, 2010. (len.ray@state.or.us) Mr. Ray will summarize the findings and have them in a packet for distribution and discussion at the June 7, 2010 meeting. AMH would like to have the Olmstead Plan completed and added to our website June 30, 2010.
Richard L. Harris
Assistant Director
Addictions and Mental Health Division
500 Summer St NE E-86
Salem, OR 97301-1118
richard.harris@state.or.us
Blackberry: 503-569-3183
FAX: 503-373-7327