Washtenaw Community Health Organization April 21st, 2009, Board Meeting

"I go to meetings so you don't have to".

I don't particularly enjoy meetings like this. The people making the decisions affecting our family members get caught up in the technicalities of getting and spending money and overseeing programs in the abstract. It can seem very detached from the realities of life with a severely disabled family member. But considering Michigan's dire financial situation and the instability this creates in our system of care, I decided I need to keep up with what is happening locally as well as with the state. This is my attempt to make sense of our Washtenaw County community mental health system and its relevance to the people they serve:

The Washtenaw Community Health Organization is the administrative agency overseeing services to people with developmental disabilities, mental illness, and substance abuse problems. The WCHO collaborates with the University of Michigan to assure the provision of health care to the consumer populations. It contracts with other public and non-profit agencies to provide services. Community Supports and Treatment Services (CSTS), which used to be Community Mental Health, is the public agency that provides specialized services to consumers along with other contracting agencies.

The WCHO Board of Directors meets on the third Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. at the Library Learning Resource Center, 4135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor, near the intersection of Washtenaw Ave. and Hogback Rd.

I did not get to the WCHO meeting in time to get copies of agendas, reports, etc., so I was missing the background materials that is available to the Board. That meant I had to stay awake and listen, not always an easy task.

The WCHO Board accepted a slate of new and returning Board members and elected officers.

In addition to overseeing mental health care in Washtenaw County, the WCHO serves as an administrative agency for three other county affilliates. There was discussion about scheduling a legislative meeting in Lansing including representatives from the affiliates to make their views known to legislators on the MDCH budget process. The feeling was that the Michigan Senate could be a stumbling block to the appropriations process and that it would be best to concentrate on talking with State Senators.

It is assumed that in May, reports will show a deterioration of revenues for the State.

The WCHO belongs to the Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards. The Association is changing its fiscal year and membership will cover the next 15 months, instead of 12 months. The cost will be over $2,000.

There was a lively discussion about whether MACMHB membership is worth the cost. It was generally believed that in the past, the organization offered leadership and policy direction. Recently the leadership has changed and the MACMHB is providing primarily training to CMH Boards. CMH Boards pay heavily to attend the state organization's conferences. [$2,000 doesn't sound like much in the grand scheme of things until you think about the help it might give a few families struggling to find respite care for their severely disabled adult children as parents try to hold onto their jobs and homes.]

Donna Sabourin, the director of Community Supports and Treatment Services, reported on the Community Crisis Response Team (CCRT) that responds to emergency situations where consumers are at risk for hospitalization for psychiatric problems. The service is primarily for people with mental illness, but the response team also has people experienced with developmental disabilities and will respond to crises involving both adults and children with developmental disabilities. Although many of the situations that the CCRT responds to end up with the person being hospitalized, the team has managed to divert a significant number by offering immediate stabilization and then follow-up that helps people get the services they need.

The CCRT will hold an Open House on May 1st, 2009, from 1 - 4 p.m. at 2051 S. State St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104 (phone:734-994-8048).

The CSTS is applying for a grant from SAMSA, the federal agency Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, for "behavioral health care integration". The grant is for $500,000 each year for four years.

The acting Executive Director of the WCHO is Patrick Barrie, who has worked in various capacities for the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) for many years. The Board is seeking a permanent director and went into executive session to select the top three candidates for the position.