Sign Up
for Thad's Legislative eNewsletter
Tell a Friend
about Thad's web site
Press Kit
download Thad's photo and biography
East Norman is home to many service providers, facilities, and organizations dedicated to helping those afflicted with various illnesses and to those with human and social services needs. State facilities like Griffin Memorial Hospital, the JD McCarty Center for Children with Developmental Disabilities, and the Norman Veterans Center are not only recognized statewide for the unique and compassionate services they provide, but are also major employers in the district. The Community Services Building is home to 18 state and non-profit agencies like the Center for Children and Families, Inc which provides counseling for parents and at-risk children as well as after school programs for kids.
As a member of both the Mental Health and the Human Services Committee, I have worked to secure much needed funding for facilities like JD McCarty Center and for pay increases for nurses and other treatment providers. Here's an overview of some accomplishments during the 2001 session.
Mental Health services budget increased by 10.5 million for fiscal year 01-02
Continued support of construction of new JD McCarty Center (annualize bond payments) to restore revolving fund of $843,594)
Removal of Department of Corrections' medical and surgical care unit from Griffin Memorial Hospital (freeing up beds, nurses and other resources totaling $1.5 million annually)
Pay raises of $2,100 for registered nurses, license practitioner nurses, and nurse managers with the Department of Mental Health and Substance, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Human Services and JD McCarty Center.
Establishment of Mental Health Courts (for more information about mental health courts click here)
Statewide implementation of Crisis Intervention Teams. This is a model of policing that provides safety to police officers when dealing with someone who is mentally ill and acting unstable.
Expansion of PACT (Program of Assertive Community Treatment) Teams. This treatment approach for the mentally ill calls for a team of treatment providers to go where the patients live and ensure that they follow their treatment regimens and to closely monitor and counsel them when needed. The PACT approach allows the mental health consumer to live in the community and reduces the need for inpatient programs. Although this approach is costly (about $10,000 per client annually) it is ultimately cheaper than the revolving door system of treatment that is prevalent today. This approach also makes it easier for the recipients to live on their own, join the workforce and become taxpayers.
Mental Health Resources
Contact these recommended resources for additional information about mental health:
Mental Health Courts
A mental health court is similar to a drug court in that the defendant (accused of a nonviolent misdemeanor) is sentenced to treatment involving regular sessions with a psychiatrist, a caseworker and a probation officer rather than go to jail. By sentencing treatment, the defendant is rehabilitated, jail crowding is reduced and public safety is enhanced. Currently, mental health courts operate in six states and Congress has passed legislation establishing 100 pilot courts nationwide. The reason this idea is gaining popularity is because there is a growing problem of how to deal with mentally ill people who become tangled in the criminal justice system, often for minor crimes, and end up behind bars.
