Meeting Minutes for April 12, 2006

Members in attendance:

Meeting Minutes

Bill Grove conducted the meeting.

State Budget

After introductions, Bill asked for any information on the State Budget. Known budget cuts were briefly discussed.

Mental Health Plan of Erie County

Joann reported that the Mental Health Plan is available at the County libraries and the County Department of Human Services Office. The public hearing on the plan will be held April 17, 2006 at 4:00PM at the County Office.

Mental Health Recovery Speaker Series

Trisha reported the the Mental Health Recovery Speaker Series will begin on April 21, 2006. The series will be held at the Erie Insurance Auditorium. Flyers were distributed. We received a grant from the Regional CSP to pay stipends to speakers. The events will take place from 12:10PM to 12:50PM. There will be six topics and bag lunches will be given to attendees. We are not allowed to bring food into the Erie Insurance Auditorium.

Dates and speakers are:

Apr 21, 2006
Recovery and the CSP Wheel
Dave Wooledge
Apr 26, 2006
Wellness Recovery Action Plan
Gail Cash
May 16, 2006
Recovery vs. the Traditional Medical Model
Trisha Cloyd and Amy Hamilton
May 30, 2006
Art and Recovery
Lee Steadman and Kate Bender
June 13, 2006
Fairweather Lodge as a Recovery Tool
Enrico Bianco and Scott Ross
June 20, 2006
Mental Health Advanced Directives
Mark Nowotny

Erie County Peer Specialist Initiative

Trisha reported that she, Dave, and Joann gave a presentation on the Erie County Peer Specialist Initiative at the Regional CSP meeting. We discussed the Peer Specialist Initiative. Mary Dywer asked if Peer specialists would be available as parent advocates. Marilyn Zaffino asked if they could be made available in dual programs for Substance Abuse and Mental Illness. Any position could be created if an agency had a need, but funding is always an issue. Pennsylvania has submitted a request to allow peer services to be Medicaid funded. That would make the services more accessible, but it would not be the only way the positions could or should be funded.

New Freedom Initiative

Trisha reported on the New Freedom Initiative. The Stairways Outpatient Clinic was the focal point for the Initiative, but information learned about recovery will be shared with the community. We are conducting post surveys now and the Initiative ends in September, 2006.

Initiative on Employment

Joann gave information on a new initiative on employment that the County has applied to be a part of. If selected, a committee would work with a consultant to develop more employment support in Erie County.

Consumer Satisfaction Surveys

There were some questions and a discussion about the Satisfaction Surveys conducted by the Consumer Satisfaction Team (CFST). The current surveys seem too long and are "consumer unfriendly". Bill Grove addressed these questions. He said that providers told CFST that they were not getting enough details with the shorter survey. The State also asked that three additional questions be added. It is always hard to balance needed details with brevity. The survey is being revamped, but Managed Care may completely change what we are doing. Anyone who has comments or suggestions can contact Kathy Lutz at the Mental Health Association

Mental Health Fair

Bill announced the Mental Health Fair will be April 22, 2006 at the Millcreek Mall. There will be raffle baskets, a pet therapy dog, Baraka choir, and many otheer activities

Conference on Mental Health and Aging

Kathy Latimer announced the Conference on Mental Health and Aging which will be held on May 2.

Recovery Presentation at the Avalon

There will be a recovery presentation at the Avalon on May 22, 2006, from 11:30 AM to 2:00PM. Bill Grove has details.

Safe Harbor Camp

Safe Harbor will be hosting a summer camp beginning in June.

Managed Care

Mary Dwyer asked if we had much information on Managed Care yet. The target date is July, 2007, but is the County confident that it is really going to take place? If managed care will include more than individuals with serious mental illness, what will be the impact on the service delivery system? The group asked if Joann could give them an update at the June CSP meeting.

Medicare Prescription Plan

Medicare Prescription plan continues to be a real problem for people. Consumers are confused and are having trouble getting medications. At the Achievement Center, families used to get prescriptions for two - three months. The new rules do not allow this and they must come in every month. This has created additional stress for families and doubled and tripled physician and nurse time. If needed medication is not in the formulary, they must write justifications. Gert Simmons (GECAC) and John Johnson (Social Security) have provided helpful information to consumers. Gert Simmons can do advocacy. Bill asked the group if it would be helpful for someone knowledgeable on the Medicare Plan to give a presentation to the CSP group. Everyone agreed.

Walk for A Healthy Community

Bill Grove announced the Walk for A Healthy Community event will be held June 3, 2006 at Liberty Park. The Mental Health Association is a participating agency. Walkers raise money for their selected agency. If people are not interested in walking they can sponsor someone else who is walking. See Bill Grove for more information.

Next Meeting

NEXT MEETING: WEDNESDAY, June 14, 2006, 3 PM - 4:30 PM, Mental Health Association Conference Room.