Mississippi is one of 13 states to receive a grant award.
Mississippi Division of Medicaid and the Office of Health Services will receive $1,341,394 for the first year of grant awards and $37,076,814 to follow.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has continued its work on implementing the new law, announcing just yesterday $4.3 billion in new funds to help establish and expand community-based alternatives to institutional long-term care.
Senate to Vote on Funding Next Week ===================================
Take Action! Visit this page: http://capwiz.com/nlihc/utr/1/MGOFOVAAXO/HYJQOVCUMR/6533277151]
A new analysis of the House’s FY11 spending bill, by the TechnicalAssistance Collaborative and the Consortium of Citizens withDisabilities Housing Task Force, shows alarming cuts to the Section811-funded Mainstream voucher program. Today, this program provideshousing for more than 14,000 vulnerable households with significant andlong-term disabilities.
The House bill, H.R. 1, would provide only $90 million for the Section811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities program, far shortof what is needed to renew both Section 811 project rental assistancecontracts (PRACs) and the 14,000 Section 811-funded Mainstream voucherscurrently in use. Instead, H.R. 1 would only provide funding to renewthe PRACs and 4,000 of the Section 811-funded Mainstream vouchers,resulting in 10,000 households currently served by the program to losetheir homes. And, no new Section 811 units would be produced in FY11.
This new analysis offers one more reason why Senators must oppose H.R.1, in addition to the many other harmful cuts already identified. Clickhere to see NLIHC’s recent Call to Action for a list of H.R. 1′s otherimpacts.
The Senate is expected to vote on its FY11 Continuing Resolution (CR)next week. The Senate’s CR would provide funding for several weekswhile Congress negotiates a longer-term solution. On February 18, theHouse passed H.R. 1, which would provide $5.7 billion less for HUDprograms compared to FY10.
Call your Senators TODAY!
Urge them to oppose H.R. 1 and support an FY11 bill that better fundsall HUD programs, including $300 million for Section 811 to provide forall renewals and for new construction.
To contact your Senators, call the congressional switchboard at877-210-5351. You can also click on the blue Take Action link above.Enter your zip code to find your Senators’ numbers.
When you call your Senators, also urge them to contact Senate leadership.
The office numbers for Senate leadership are:
Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), Senate President, (202) 224-3542
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Majority Whip, (202) 224-2152
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Minority Leader, (202) 224-2541
Sen. Jon Kyl, (R-AZ), Minority Whip, (202) 224-4521
To read the analysis by TAC and CCDHTF, click here.
After calling please let us know who you called and how the call wentby emailing us at outreach@nlihc.org.
Thank you for your support and action!
This post is seeking stories about parents who could not afford expert
witnesses for IDEA due process hearings to share with members of Congress.
Advocates are working in support of a Congressional bill that would enable
parents to recover expert witness fees for IDEA due process hearings and
cases. In 2006, the Supreme Court held in Arlington Central School District v.
Murphy that parents could not be reimbursed for expert witness fees in IDEA
cases–a right that other plaintiffs have in ADA and Title VII cases.
Without experts, parents and students with disabilities have little chance of
success in due process hearings, and poor and middle-income families suffer
the most.
Thus, the request for parent stories about being harmed because they were
unable to afford expert witness fees. Here are some examples. They could be
families who were unable to go to a due proce ss hearing because they
could not afford expert witnesses. They could be parents who went to DP but
their case suffered badly without expert witnesses. They could also be parents
whom the school district took to a due process hearing, but they could not
afford expert witnesses who could help them defend themselves. The
situations could even be settlements where the parent accepted much much less than
what the child needed (or maybe gave up) and the child really was hurt in
the process.
The parents’ stories will ultimately be shared with members of Congress,
and I will ultimately need to speak with the parents themselves. My email
address is jessica@jnba.net) if you would like to share
stories or information or have a question for me. Please do feel free to
forward this email to anyone you would like. I know po sts like this by
myself or others have been posted on several lists and it is okay to forward or
repost it.
Jessica Butler – Congressional Affairs Coordinator – Autism National
Committee – jessica@jnba.net) - www.autcom.org
List your resources at www.autismresources.com
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Stacey P. Groder, President
Late Tuesday night, D.C. Federal Court Judge Gladys Kessler upheld the Affordable Care Act, marking the third time that a court has reviewed the health reform law on its merits and found it constitutional (in addition to the dozen or so challenges that were thrown out based on procedural grounds). This ruling reinforces that the individual responsibility provision of the law was a reasonable measure for Congress to take and rejects the politically motivated arguments of opponents of the law, including judges in Florida and Virginia who struck down the individual responsibility provision.
This victory comes at an important time. Opponents of the law are waging an all out war in an attempt to undermine and ultimately repeal the Affordable Care Act. But this ruling sends a clear signal that the law is sound in its merits and we must continue our implementation work to ensure all Americans enjoy the full benefits the law provides.
To ensure we achieve our goals, no matter the opposition, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has continued its work on implementing the new law, announcing just yesterday $4.3 billion in new funds to help establish and expand community-based alternatives to institutional long-term care. This funding will allow states to provide support for two programs to help move Medicaid beneficiaries out of institutions and into their own homes or other community settings.
Thirteen states will receive more than $45 million in Money Follows the Person (MFP) grants to start that program in their states, with a total of $621 million committed through 2016. In addition, HHS has proposed rules to allow all states to access a potential $3.7 billion in increased federal funding to provide community-based personal attendant services and supports through the Community First Choice Option program.
The Affordable Care Act has already benefited millions of Americans, but despite this, the opposition will continue their baseless and politically motivated attacks. Tuesday’s ruling, as well as the previous rulings, should serve as an inspiration as we move forward in our implementation work and our goal of bringing high-quality, affordable health coverage and care for all Americans.
NAMI MS is currently offering or preparing to offer the following classes:
Download Printable Info
The NAMI Basics Education Program was developed in 2007. It is designed specifically for parents and other caregivers of children and adolescents who have either been diagnosed with a mental illness/serious emotional disturbance or who are experiencing symptoms but have not yet been given a formal diagnosis. The goals of the NAMI Basics Program are:
There are NAMI Basics classes coming soon for more information contact Sonya Taylor-Young at syoung-taylor@namims.org or (601) 899-9058 0r toll free at (800) 357-0388 for more information or to register for an upcoming class.
There are also classes for Family members of adults with Mental Illness. Family to Family classes are provided by NAMI free of charge to those family members of adults with mental illness who would like more education about their loved ones illness and related topics (listed below) Family to Family is taught by two trained family members of loved ones with mental illness, so that you not only get the latest information, but real life lessons from those that have been there themselves.
The course is 2 1/2 hours a night one night a week for twelve weeks. The next course begins Tuesday, March 15th from 6:30 – 9:00 in classrooms 2 & 3 at Garden Park Hospital in Gulfport.
You MUST REGISTER to take the classes. You may do so by contacting Ann Jensen at ajensen@namims.org or (601) 899-9058 or (800) 357-0388.
NAMI also has several classes for persons with mental illness coming up soon for more information or to registrar for any of the following classes please contact Sandra Caron. Sandra can be reached at (601)899-9058, toll free at (800)357-0388 or via email scaron@namims.org
Peer to Peer
NAMI Peer to Peer training is designed for consumers of mental health services. Peer to Peer is taught over a ten week period.
NAMI Peer to Peer like all of NAMIs programs are given at no charge. However registration is required please contact Sandra Caron for more information or to register.
In Our Own Voice
NAMI In Our Own Voice (IOOV) is a unique public education program developed by NAMI, in which two trained consumer speakers share compelling personal stories about living with mental illness and achieving recovery. In Our Own Voice covers several areas: Dark Days, Acceptance, Treatment, Coping Skills and Successes Hopes and Dreams. As compelling for those who give it as it is for the audience. A peek into the journey a person with mental illness takes to recovery.
If you are interested in having an In Our Own Voice presentation given to your group. ( your church, local civic organization, your office etc.) Please contact Sandra Caron at (601)899-9058 or toll free at (800)357-0388 or via email scaron@namims.org
NAMI MS is also looking for consumers who may be interested in learning to give one of these powerful presentations. If you are interested in learning to tell your story please contact Sandra to registrar for an upcoming training.
NAMI Connections Consumer Support Group Facilitator Training
NAMI Connections s a free recovery support group program for adults living with mental illness that is currently available in over 300 communities throughout the country. These groups provide a place that offers respect, understanding, encouragement, and hope and provide a casual and relaxed approach to sharing the challenges and successes of coping with mental illness. Each group meets for 90 minutes and is led by trained individuals who are in recovery themselves. Connections support groups are a safe space where consumers can go and share experiences, no providers, family members or students- just consumer to consumer.
If you are interested in going to a support group or learning to lead one yourself please contact Sandra Caron at (601)899-9058 or toll free at (800)357-0388 or via email scaron@namims.org
Gamaliel is a grassroots network of non-partisan, faith-based organizations in 18 U.S. states, South Africa and the United Kingdom, that organizes to empower ordinary people to effectively participate in the political, environmental, social and economic decisions affecting their lives. More about Gamaliel
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