Letter from Michael J. Hammond, Executive Director ACMHCKS

Association Statement on Governor Brownback’s Mental Health Initiative

The  Governor's announcement  today  stabilizes  funding  for  our  Community  Mental  Health  Centers  and redirects focus of some of our resources on what can be done effectively and efficiently for those who are uninsured and underinsured and who are at greatest risk for psychiatric inpatient admission, incarceration, contact with the criminal justice system, out of home placement, homelessness, etc.

The Community Mental Health Centers and the entire public mental health system are excited to have this focus placed on the mental health system and the needs of those who rely on it for their care.  We must do what  we can to make  community  based mental health  services  affordable  and  accessible  to all  Kansans through the State's publicly funded mental health safety net system - our Community Mental Health Centers.  If we as  a  State  fail  to do  so,  the  impact  of  mental  illness  will  be  devastating  on  the  individual,  our communities, and will cost our State more money in the long run.

We must act because it is the right thing to do.  Investing in community-based mental health treatment can and will save our State resources, particularly at a time when we are evaluating the best return on our tax dollars.  We  know  that  good  mental  health  enhances  the  workplace; children - learn  better  in  a  school environment  where  early  intervention  of  mental  health  services  is  available,·  effective  community-based mental health  treatment ·and supports  promote  economic  stability  by  permitting  persons  with  a  serious mental illness to  old meaningful jobs and maintain productive lives in their own communities; and families stay healthier and grow stronger when affordable access to mental health services are readily available.

We express our gratitude and appreciation to the Governor, the Lt. Governor and Secretary Sullivan for this opportunity not only to protect key resources, but to also work together to prioritize how these resources can be best utilized for adults, children and families who are most at-risk.

We  look  forward  to  working  closely  with  the  Governor 's  Mental  Health Services  Planning  Council  to examine our public mental health system and make recommendations for improvements and additional investments for the future.

Having this initiative included in the Governor’s Budget Recommendations for FY 2014, it is our hope that the 2013 Legislature will support this proposal, once again, because it is the right thing to do.

 

Micheal J. Hammond

Executive Director

Association of Community Mental Health Center of Kansas

Governor Brownback Announces New Kansas Mental Health Initiative

Governor Brownback Announces New Kansas Mental Health Initiative

by Sherriene Jones-Sontag | Jan 10, 2013 

Kansas City, Kansas – Kansas Governor Sam Brownback announced today an initiative to provide $10 million in targeted funding to better provide mental health services to the state’s most at-risk and challenging populations, as well as the creation of a panel of experts to re-evaluate Kansas’ current mental health system and make recommendations for improvements.

Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer, M.D., Aging and Disabilities Services Sec. Shawn Sullivan and Corrections Sec. Ray Roberts joined the Governor for the plan’s unveiling at Wyandot Center Community Behavioral Health Care, Wyandotte County’s community mental health center that serves the Kansas City area.

“Families with mentally ill loved ones face daily challenges the rest of us can only imagine,” Governor Brownback said. “We chose to make our announcement at Wyandot Center because it is representative of Kansas 27 community mental health centers, which together form our state’s critical mental health safety-net system. “

“These publically funded community centers work tirelessly to provide accessible, affordable care to those affected. They bring hope to Kansans and their families. I am committed to strengthening this system and making it more effective,” Governor Brownback said.

The initiative will provide targeted funding to better serve Kansas most at-risk and challenging populations. Some mental health patients, despite having access to care, are resistant to treatment and refuse to engage with organizations that can help them. These individuals often end up in crisis and experience repeat hospitalizations.

“This is an area in which our mental health system can be transformed,” Lt. Gov. Colyer said. “This new initiative, like KanCare, will coordinate services around a person’s specific needs. However, this program will target people who are not on Medicaid.”

The Governor’s proposal would establish a collective regional system of services for the most challenging cases, including intensive case management, care coordination, parent- and peer- support services, crisis-stabilization services and other evidenced-based practices. It also would provide funding to all 27 CMHCs that demonstrate they are focusing on evidence-based programs that target at-risk and challenging consumers.

“We expect this new initiative to result in increasing patient engagement and increased us of the resources that can support these individuals, regardless of where they live in Kansas,” said Sec. Sullivan.

“I expect the new task force to perform a thorough evaluation of our current mental health system and make recommendations for improvements. Task force members will be experts in mental health, medicine, and criminal justice,” the Governor said. “While many Kansans and their families currently live under the dark cloud of mental illness, my hope is that this new initiative will be the start of a brighter day.“