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Michigan Partners In Crisis (PIC) Accomplishments, 2008
Pilot Mental Health Courts: In late 2007, PIC provided legislators and the executive branch with data supporting the need for and potential efficacy of mental health courts in Michigan. The Governor’s executive budget for FY-09 subsequently proposed $3.4 million for assistance to pilot mental health court projects. Final budget acts for Judiciary and Community Health contained a total of $1.7 million for pilot courts. This was done despite reduced economic forecasting subsequent to the Governor’s proposal. And it was done without reducing the CMH non-Medicaid treatment line in the Community Health budget, something we feared and spoke against. Nine communities across Michigan made application for and will receive pilot mental health court funding. PIC has been appointed to a special state advisory board for this effort.
Reducing Solitary Confinement of State Prison Inmates with Mental Illness: The FY-09 Corrections budget act contains language to curtail the use of administrative segregation (solitary confinement) as a punishment for perceived misconduct by state prisoners with mental illness. The budget act also calls for a report on this practice’s use over the previous five years.
Suspension-Only of Pre-Existing Medicaid for Incarcerated/Detained Individuals: The FY-09 Community Health budget act follows the recommendation of the federal government in establishing unequivocal state policy that the pre-existing Medicaid status of an individual who becomes incarcerated or detained (during which Medicaid regulations do not allow reimbursement of on-site health care) is suspended rather than terminated. This can only help Medicaid coverage resume more quickly for individuals who previously had it and are returning to the community from a period of incarceration or detention. Also helpful will be language in the FY-09 Corrections budget act requiring the Departments of Human Services and Corrections to improve collaboration and information-sharing regarding the Medicaid eligibility and status of individuals in state prisons.
Mental Illness Prevalence, Treatment Needs and Treatment Levels in the Justice System: The FY-09 Corrections budget act requires that a university be contracted to determine mental illness prevalence, treatment needs and treatment levels in Michigan county jails. Thanks to PIC, a similar study for state prisons was already required by the Legislature in FY-08 Corrections budget law and is now underway, utilizing U-M to lead the study. (PIC has been appointed to a special state advisory body for this project.) We were unsuccessful for FY-09 in procuring the same type of requirement for juvenile justice facilities under the jurisdiction of the Department of Human Services.
Reestablishment of the Corrections Ombudsman Office: This office was closed several years ago in a budgetary move. The absence of the office has been a disservice to state prison inmates and their families. We proposed and supported re-funding the program, and the FY-09 General Government budget approved $370,000 for operation of the office.
Other Liaison: PIC served on a special DOC-DCH task force regarding an overview of and recommendations for the state’s corrections mental health program. PIC representatives are presently involved with the state’s special Child Welfare Task Force. |
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This page last revised March 1, 2009 |
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Michigan Partners in Crisis is a project of the Mental Health Association in Michigan |
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