Miami’s vices
Nov 15 2007 | Comments 2
From Joe, who can always be counted upon for pointed commentary:
“In August, [Florida Department of Children and Families] officials decided to ignore orders from judges that certain inmates be immediately transferred to a hospital. Officials say it wouldn’t be fair to jump over others on the waiting list that often has more than 300 names statewide.”
I guess ignoring a court order and failing to create a responsive mental health infrastructure is fair in Florida. So much for fairness.
System fails mentally ill inmates, families
liz | 11:26 AM | Uncategorized
Hi. Yea I think that really is unfair. Andy Behrman (Electroboy) was also placed in a federal prison but he was later released on grounds of being bipolar. I guess mental health issues are not ‘as’ important as they used to be.
“A sick system: Reform Florida’s treatment of mental illness”
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20071117/OPINION/711170818/1030/OPINION01
But Florida is going to “put its fragmented and much maligned mental-health and substance-abuse-treatment system could be put on the road to permanent recovery for as little as $20 million next year” by decreasing the inpatient population and redirecting the funds released to “integrated specialty-care networks.”
“Experts: $20M to fix mental-health system”
http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071115/CAPITOLNEWS/711150344
Haven’t we heard this tune before, i.e. close inpatient beds and use the funds released for community services? Where Florida is ranked 48th in the nation for per capita state spending on mental health, will another $20 million dollars achieve all that is being promised?
Words and deeds might intersect but I think it is more likely a case of “systemic anosognosia” and/or wishful thinking. Addressing real issues takes real funding.
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