What do teens want?  Sports related items like soccer balls and baseballs, movies, toiletries, curling irons, sweatshirts (hoodies), colored socks, lip gloss, chapstick, combs, brushes, books, gift certificates, board games, playing cards, colored pencils, sketch pads, inexpensive jewelry, scarves, cookies etc. MiKid will also accept cash donations for the purchase of necessary items.

MiKid is a 501(c)(3) organization and is affiliated with the Federation of Families for Childre3n’s Mental Health and their philosophy is that most families are multi-stressed, not dysfunctional.  When working with famlies, MiKid staff focuses on strengths, not flaws and believes that planning and obtaining of services should be a joint effort of family and professionals. MiKid staff know that parents know their child best.

To donate please call the MiKid office at 882-0142 or stop by with your donation during regular business hours from 8am to 5pm at 4500 E. Speedway, Suite 58.  The website is www.mikid.org

http://azstarnet.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_a1372367-3bd9-5f49-8ea7-91fb0d25e4df.html

Local pyschiatric beds are commonly filled, but I wasn’t aware that psychiatric beds in our prison system are also filled.  Hummmmmm, I wonder what’s going on? Is it possible that we’re starting to see the results of continued budget slashes to mental health care in our state?  Or, is it because more people are becoming mentally ill? I think it’s the former.

Let’s look at some statistics.  One in four families are effected by mental illness in a given year and at least 10% of the population lives with a serious mental illness like schizophrenia or bi-polar disorder.  If Tucson’s population is one million, then that’s 100,000 people right here in the Old Pueblo.  Some are being successfully treated and some are not.  Many are in denial about their illnesses and don’t know about the high success rates of treatment – sometimes as high as 90%  do achieve mental health recovery.  But, not without proper treatment that can include medication, therapy and a strong support system.

Last time I checked there weren’t that many psychiatric beds in Tucson.  Even with the new psychiatric crisis hospital opening soon there won’t be new beds as it will only replace the currently existing beds at UPH.  Without more funding I don’t see any growth for new tratment facilites, but unfortuanately I do see growth in the prison facilities.  It seems like that’s one of the few areas of growth in our state.  Some legislators in Phoenix have stated that it’s time for families and loved ones to “step up” and take care of those struggling with menta illness. I wish it were that simple.

But, I’m glad to see that the Arizona Daily Star is initiating this dialogue.  Hopefully some inovative solutions will come about…….and they won’t cost anything!

So, even if President Reagan was a great man, it was during his presidency that treatment for our nations most vulnerable went from bad to worse.  The following article is a reprint because I found it expresses my concerns adequately and one month after the horrible shootings in Tucson, people seem to be more receptive to learning about this issue.

Ronald Reagan, Mental Health, and Spin . . .

Man Behind the Myth

By Phyllis Vine

For the next twelve months, the Ronald Reagan image machine will be turning out countless vignettes of the nation’s 40th president, the man neighbors called “Dutch.” He will be described as no-nonsense yet kindly, remote but avuncular, a movies-star-turned-politician, and remembered as a local lifeguard rescuing people in troubled waters. With dashing good looks, a sonorous tone that became the voice of General Electric, and an affable smile, even those who disagreed with his policies will say he was genuinely kind-hearted.

So what did this mean practically for policies about mental health? Here we need to  ask how the image departs from the reality.

Contrary to the spin about trimming government, which he called “the problem,” we all know he oversaw increases in federal spending that exploded the national debt, and grew the size of the government he impugned. Another part of the reality, rarely the image, is how he attempted to savage the  entitlement system and roll back supports for people with a mental illness.

When Ronald Reagan arrived in Washington, he inherited the Mental Health Systems Act of 1980. One of the last achievements of Pres. Jimmy Carter, this was passed by the House 277 to 15, in the Senate, 93 to 3. With as many critics as there were special interests, it was far from perfect. Yet it expanded the federal government’s commitment to services, to research, to training professionals, and to patient rights. It identified stigma as an impediment to seeking and receiving services.  It established parity in Medicaid and Medicare. It recognized the link between physical health and mental health. And it dedicated $800 million over 4 years to redress the gross neglect of the commitment to mental health in earlier administrations.  In short, it moved an agenda that minimized homelessness, the reliance on expensive nursing homes, jails and prisons, and one that to more hopeful choices for those who needed help.

The Mental Health Systems Act was a milestone. It came on the heels of four years of hearings and a presidential task force benefiting from First Lady Rosalynn Carter’s active involvement.  Philosophically it affirmed Pres. John F. Kennedy’s Community Mental Health Centers, an attempt to thwart hospitalizations. It fit into the safety-net values championed by Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson with the passage of Medicaid and Medicare.

Still, by 1980 the nation needed more for those with a chronic illness. Many failures accompanied the attempts to close the miserable hospitals, often little more than warehouses, to help patients succeed in the community. The neglect of government support conspired to form a patchwork system with notable gaping holes. A 1977 GAO report said, “Government needs to do more.”  Congressional hearings in 1979 re-affirmed the need to strengthen impoverished services and the failed policies.

Although not perfect, the Mental Health Systems Act responded to these problems. For the first time since the National Institute of Mental Health became part of NIH in 1949, mental health was front and center in federal policy.

Then came Ronald Reagan. Within a month, the Office of Management Budget announced it would curtail the budget of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), phase out training of clinicians, interrupt research, and eliminate services.  Cutbacks to staff followed; chaos ensued. Experienced people left, others remained in government service but were forced into menial jobs. Trained professionals were reassigned to labs to dissect dead rats; science writers were reassigned to typing pools. The Mental Health Systems Act would disappear. Instead, the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (1982) would merge money for mental health programs into block grants, and with fewer dollars going to the states.  They had the discretion to use them however they saw fit, often to perpetuate programs already deemed problematic. The pretense for all this was the president’s concept of a “new federalism.”

“Many of our dreams were gone,” wrote Rosalynn Carter in Helping Someone with Mental Illness. “It was a bitter loss.”

This could have been enough, but it was not. Pres. Reagan attempted to restrict criteria for determining eligibility for SSI, thought to be a safety-net. Nearly 2.6 million people were receiving insurance because their disability prevented them from working. New evaluations for eligibility led to widespread terminations. Of those who were terminated, about half appealed, and in two-thirds of the cases, administrative law judges reversed the decision. The process took nearly a year, during which time they, and their families, were deprived of promised help.

About 340,000 people would lose their insurance before public outcry and courts halted the process. Sen. John Heinz, a liberal Republican from Pennsylvania, told the New York Times the policy was a “meat grinder.” Sen. Carl Levin, Michigan Democrat, said the reviews caused “unconscionable suffering.” In June 1983 HHS Secretary Margaret Heckler announced she would halt suspending about 135,000 people until the government could improve standards for “functional psychotic disorders.”

By then, however, the nation was doubting the president’s kindness. A1982 Louis Harris survey found nearly three-quarters of the respondents said the president was hard-hearted toward the poor.

These are the facts. And they add up to a roll-back of opportunities for people already struggling with a psychiatric illness.  Whatever spin accompanies the birthday celebrations for Ronald Reagan, we should not create yet another mythic figure, larger than life, more pure than Ivory soap, or with qualities he did not have.  He may have portrayed himself as everybody’s lifeguard, but he seemed willing to let people with a psychiatric illness sink.

Originally appeared in MIWatch.org

The law included a six month extension of higher Medicaid federal matching funds for states – a major contribution towards some of the drastic slashes in mental health coverage in Arizona.

Recent budget slashes (I prefer that term over cuts as I feel it’s much more descriptive) in the state’s healthcare system for the poor have forced many people to search for alternatives to afford their medications. Some are going to Canada, while some have been fortunate to be able to get discounts directly from the pharmaceutical companies. I applaud the efforts of some of the drug companies to help and I wish they would all step up.

While illegal immigration and calls to enforce the border by sending in troops occupies the headlines, our state’s most vulnerable citizens are doing the best they can just to survive.  In my world they take priority over someone who has illegally crossed our borders to look for a better way of life.  Helping disabled and seriously mentally ill people is not only money well spent, it’s the “right” thing to do!

How Did Your Member Vote?

View the House roll call vote on final passage of HR 1586

Both McCain and Kyle voted no when the bill went through the senate.

Read further details on the provisions in HR 1586 designed to support state Medicaid programs into 2011.

Staying out of the heat can be difficult for our homeless population, many of whom also live with mental illness. I have seen a homeless person on more than one occasion totally overdressed during our 100 degree plus days because he either doesn’t realize how hot it is, or he’s afraid to leave his few possessions, including his clothing, behind.

Stay Safe

Educate yourself about the symptoms of heat stroke , such as:

* An extremely high body temperature (above 103 degrees Fahrenheit)
* Red, hot and dry skin (no sweating)
* Rapid, strong pulse
* Throbbing headache
* Dizziness
* Nausea
* Confusion

Individuals living with mental illness may be more prone to heat stroke because some medications alter the body’s response to heat. In addition, people taking specific medications may be at a higher risk of developing Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) , a serious condition that may be connected to high temperatures and the dehydration that can result from heat stroke. NMS and heat stroke have similar symptoms, so it is especially important that people with mental illness inform their doctors of all medications they are currently taking.

Stay Informed

The National Weather Service is the hub of information about heat alerts. The Weather Channel offers a free service that will send updates about heat advisories to your phone.

Stay Inside

On extremely hot days, limit your exposure to the heat and sun, especially during the hottest part of the day. Don’t walk long distances if you don’t have to. Some public transportation systems offer free bus service on days with a dangerous heat index.

Stay Cool

If you do have an air conditioner, change the filter and perform other maintenance that will keep the unit working at peak capacity. If you don’t have an air conditioner, try to spend a few hours a day in an air-conditioned public place like a library or mall. Look into area programs that may provide air conditioners for people with disabilities for free or at a reduced cost. In the past, some local United Way chapters have collected donated units and redistributed them to people with the most need.

Here’s a list of some of Tucson’s Homeless Shelters.  I don’t know if any of them have room, but hopefully they can provide a respite from the heat for our city’s people on the streets.

Some have struggled for years to find the right medication “cocktail” and now the rug is being pulled out from under them. They won’t be able to afford the newer, more effective drugs that can cost thousands of dollars a month and they won’t have a therapist or case manager monitoring their changes.  Many are the “working poor” who make just a few too many dollars to qualify for the the state’s medicaid system, AHCCCS;  also  in jeopardy of loosing millions.

Yes, it looks like it could get even worse since  Congress may not extend the states Medicaid assistance. Medicaid assistance from the federal government was voted against by the U.S. Senate last week.  Without it, Arizona’s health care budget falls further into the red.  In a letter to Arizona members of Congress, Governor Brewer complained that “(I)t has become clear that Congress does not have the will to assist states in addressing the very problem that it created.” Based on her combative attitude displayed recently all over the media, I will be surprised if any “Fed” will pay attention.

I guess you can tell I’m angry, but instead of complaining, I wish she would use the same “take charge” attitude towards our state’s health care system as she does toward our illegal immigration issues where no expense spared is the mantra.  We’re soon to be using our local city and state law enforcement officers to enforce federal immigration laws.  Plus, there always seems to be more money to build more prisons to house the additional “illegal immigrants.”  What about using money to house and treat some of our state’s most vulnerable citizens?

The Obama administration launched a new health care reform website yesterday that provides information to the public on “the full range of public and private health insurance plans” that fits their specific circumstances. Mandated by the health reform law, the site will show users how their options “will change in coming years” as the law takes effect. – The Progress Report, July 1, 2010

Extension of the 2009 Poverty Guidelines Until at Least May 31, 2010

[ Federal Register Notice, January 22, 2010, (initial extension of guidelines until March 1) — Full text ]
[ Prior Poverty Guidelines and Federal Register References Since 1982 ]
[ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) ]
[ Further Resources on Poverty Measurement, Poverty Lines, and Their History ]

Congress has taken action to keep the 2009 poverty guidelines in effect until at least May 31, 2010.

Congressional actions on this matter have been in response to a decrease in the annual average Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) for 2009, projected during 2009 and announced on January 15, 2010 (see http://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/cpi_01152010.pdf, Table 1A).  In the absence of legislative change, this decrease — the first since the poverty guidelines began to be issued in 1965 — would have required HHS to issue 2010 poverty guidelines that were lower than the 2009 poverty guidelines; that would have led to the “reduction in eligibility” referred to in the Congressional explanatory language quoted below.  Congress took several actions on this matter:

1.  On December 19, 2009, the Congress enacted and the President signed the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010 (Pub. L. 111-118), which included a provision affecting the poverty guidelines.  Section 1012 of this law (as originally enacted, before subsequent amendment) stated that:

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall not publish updated poverty guidelines for 2010 under section 673(2) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)) before March 1, 2010, and the poverty guidelines published under such section on January 23, 2009, shall remain in effect until updated poverty guidelines are published.

The Congressional Record (House) (December 16, 2009, p. H15370) provided the following explanation of this Congressional action in Pub. L. 111-118:

Section 1012 includes a provision to freeze the Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines at 2009 levels in order to prevent a reduction in eligibility for certain means-tested programs, including Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and child nutrition, through March 1, 2010.

A Federal Register notice about this initial extension of the 2009 poverty guidelines was published on January 22, 2010. (See Federal Register, Vol. 75, No. 14, January 22, 2010, pp. 3734-3735.)

2.  On March 2, 2010, the Congress enacted and the President signed the Temporary Extension Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-144), which included a provision affecting the poverty guidelines.  Section 7 of this law amended Section 1012 of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010, by replacing “March 1, 2010” with “March 31, 2010”.  The effect of this was to extend the 2009 poverty guidelines until at least March 31, 2010.

3.  On April 15, 2010, the Congress enacted and the President signed the Continuing Extension Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-157), which included a provision affecting the poverty guidelines.  Section 6 of this law amended Section 1012 of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010 (as amended by Pub. L. 111-144), by replacing “March 31, 2010” with “May 31, 2010”.  The effect of this was to extend the 2009 poverty guidelines until at least May 31, 2010.

We will provide updated information about the post-May-31 period when it becomes available.

The 2009 poverty guidelines figures that will remain in effect are given below.

NOTE:  The poverty guideline figures below are NOT the figures the Census Bureau uses to calculate the number of poor persons.
The figures that the Census Bureau uses are the poverty thresholds.

The 2009 Poverty Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia
Persons in family	Poverty guideline
1	$10,830
2	14,570
3	18,310
4	22,050
5	25,790
6	29,530
7	33,270
8	37,010
For families with more than 8 persons, add $3,740 for each additional person.

2009 Poverty Guidelines for Alaska
Persons in family	Poverty guideline
1	$13,530
2	18,210
3	22,890
4	27,570
5	32,250
6	36,930
7	41,610
8	46,290
For families with more than 8 persons, add $4,680 for each additional person.

2009 Poverty Guidelines for Hawaii
Persons in family	Poverty guideline
1	$12,460
2	16,760
3	21,060
4	25,360
5	29,660
6	33,960
7	38,260
8	42,560
For families with more than 8 persons, add $4,300 for each additional person.

SOURCE: Federal Register, Vol. 74, No. 14, January 23, 2009, pp. 4199–4201

---

Go to Further Resources on Poverty Measurement, Poverty Lines, and Their History

Go to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

Return to the main Poverty Guidelines, Research, and Measurement page.

Last Revised:  04/19/10

ASPE Home | HHS Home | Questions? | Contacting HHS | Accessibility | Privacy Policy | FOIA | Disclaimers | No FEAR Act The White House | USA.gov | Flu.gov

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services – 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. – Washington, D.C. 20201

Governor Brewer wants to repeal the measures passed in 2000 requiring that all those below the Federal Poverty level be covered by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the state’s Medicaid System. If this is repealed, estimates of up to two thirds of the state’s citizens diagnosed with a serious mental illness will loose their coverage.

It’s obvious where they will go, or in worst case scenarios where these most vulnerable residents will be sent. Our emergency rooms will continue to be inundated with people seeking treatment for mild to serious symptoms and our prison system, already stretched to the limit will continue the latest trend as the nation’s mental health hospitals. Even the few lucky people that are able to afford an occasional visit to a private psychiatrist will have a difficult time paying for their medications. Many will have to make the choice between medication and food. Our homeless population already underserved and in crisis, will continue to grow.

Effective community based treatment is proven to be a more cost effective way to treat people living with mental illness. Hospitalizations and incarcerations are the most expensive, yet that seems to be where we are headed, especially now that the City of Tucson is also stopping funding for the mental health courts (another questionable cost saver). 

It seems like the dream of health care reform is turning into a nightmare.

NAMI of Southern Arizona is just one of the many non-profits in our community that serve people with  mental illness totally free of charge.  Your donation to the organization is tax deductible and a great way to show you care in this season of giving. Please visit the website at www.namisa.org where you can easily donate on-line.

Other ways to show you care about the people in your life:  From the “World of Psychology” by John Grohol, PSYD

1. Do It, Don’t Say It.

You know that old common wisdom, “Actions speak louder than words”? Well, it’s true. While you can apologize for not doing something until you’re blue in the face, you’ll gain so much more appreciation by another in your life by simply doing it in the first place. Yes, it means you have to work harder to keep on top of things to begin with, even with simple things like taking out the trash or running that errand you said you would. But the reward is that your loved one will know you care because you just did it without being asked or reminded to do so.

2. Refuse to Argue and Pick Your Battles.

Arguments are a constant source of relationship strife, even amongst family members or friends. You may say, “How can I just stop arguing?” Easy, because engaging in a conversation with another person is a choice we make (whether we always do so consciously or not). Make a conscious effort to note when you’re entering into an argument, and then just stop. Remember, not every argument is worth engaging in — so don’t feel like you have to get into an argument just because someone else is asking for one. “Sorry, I can’t talk about this right now, let’s talk more about this later…” or “You’re right, I’m wrong, I’m sorry” will put a sudden halt to the argument. Which leads us to…

3. Apologize Often, Even If You’re Not Wrong.

Why should you apologize even if you’re not “wrong?” Well, it depends on your point of view. Is being “right” more important to you than your loved one’s feelings? Is being “right” something you’ll be proud of when you’re on your deathbed — “Well, hell, I may have caused her a world of hurt, but at least she knew who was right!” Apologies are simple, free, and entirely within your world of control. Handing them out just as freely and easily will, in the long-run, make you feel better and also make your loved ones feel better. It shows you care more about them rather than winning any particular (all-too-often, silly) argument. (As with all things, when taken to an extreme, this is also not particularly healthy behavior, but do know when to pick your battles.)

4. Do Something Unexpected.

Most people love a surprise, especially when that surprise is something that helps them or makes their life a little bit easier, if just for a minute. It could be as simple as a card to show appreciation “Just because,” or offering to watch the kids one night when it wasn’t your turn. It could be saying, “Hey, I’ll cook dinner tonight” or “Hey, I’ll take out the trash,” and then just doing it. Even simple actions can speak volumes, especially if the other person has had an especially difficult day. Imagine if it were your night to cook but you’ve had an especially difficult, stressful day. Your significant other knows this, and offers to cook instead. It’s a great expression of caring, even when it may seem too obvious or simple.

5. Sharing is Caring.

Sound trite? You bet it does, but guess what, it’s also true. It’s so much easier to eat the last cookie, or to get a glass of water just for yourself. But it shows you care when you offer someone else the last cookie or ask the other person if there’s anything you can get them while you’re up. Simple acts of kindness are the ones we so easily overlook in everyday life. Yet they speak volumes to others in our lives.

6. Wake Every Morning with An Appreciation for The Other Person.

Being grateful for the people and things in our lives is one of the most simple ways to achieve a sense of daily happiness. You don’t have to engage in huge displays of love or affection. Simple actions, like saying, “I love you” or packing someone’s favorite lunch may be all that’s needed. Often time, living with someone day in and day out can breed a certain familiarity (or, as the old saying goes, “contempt”). Keep that in mind, acting in a manner consistent with someone who loves another, not someone who is keeping silent score. Even if your partner never knows it, it’s a way of showing you care that can be just as important as any outward, direct display.

* * *

Showing you care to those in your life on a regular basis is more challenging than it sounds. The people we hold closest and dearest to us are often the ones we expend the least amount of effort in displays of caring and affection. Yet, most people appreciate and need the occasional display of caring.

It’s not hard, but it does take a conscious effort on our parts, and one that we may need to remember to do at least once a week, if not every day.

A member of the family, we’ll call him the Father, was diagnosed with schizophrenia approximately fifteen years ago, but it wasn’t until this week that his sister was given that information.  They live across the country from each other and and don’t see each other often, but the sister has always know that her brother was “quirky.”  She knew he was brilliant and that he had scored very high on a IQ test while in high school and always considered him a genius.  Over the last several years she often wondered if her brother had a mental illness diagnosis, but no one else in the family thought it possible.  That is, no one besides her sister-in-law who finally shared the information after living with him for over twenty years and raising a family. 

The sister, who believes that mental illness should not be kept in the closet and needs to be spoken about feels frustrated and saddened by her brother’s family’s inability to share openly an illness that needs to be discussed.  It is the first step in reducing stigma.

All that can be done  is to encourage the family to be open.  This is an issue that they must come to grips with on their own, but here are some suggestions (some from the www.nami.org website) to anyone interested in reducing mental illness stigma. 

Use of Language is Most Important

•  Protest usage of single words like “crazy” “psycho” “wacko” or “loony” unless they refer directly to individuals struggling with mental illnesses or to the illness itself.
•  ”Schizophrenic” to describe a split decision made by Congress or any organization has become part of our cultural language. However, its misuse is being heard and corrected by many in the public arena.
•  Protest calling a person a “schizophrenic”: NAMI policy calls for PEOPLE FIRST: people, persons, individuals with a mental illness, schizophrenia, bipolar, clinical depression, OCD, panic disorder.

Above all else, get educated and know that mental illness, like any other illness is a biological disorder;  it can be successfully treated and recovery is more than possible, it’s probable.  Ignorance has caused people to abandon their family members and encouraged the person with the diagnosis to isolate themselves. 

Just like a person living with cancer or diabetes, a person with mental illness needs support and acceptance from their family and friends. 

There is a genetic predisposition, so everyone in the family needs to know what the symptoms and “red flags” are.  Sometimes is takes years, even decades before a person is diagnosed.  It is proven than the earlier a person receives treatment, the better the outcome.

Encourage our legislators to treat mental illnesses with parity so that insurance coverage is equal for mental illnesses with physical illnesses.

Bottom line is we need to accept people for who they are, with or without any illness and be there to support and encourage them as equal human beings.