Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority Message Board

Walk A Mile In My Shoes Rally 2009

OCCMHA — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:02:56 GMT

The Walk A Mile In My Shoes Rally is fast approaching. It will be held in Lansing on May 12, 2009. If you've attended the rally in the past, you know that Oakland County participants are given t-shirts to wear. The t-shirts often have an inspirational phrase on the back. Quotes from past years were:

2006- Recognize abilities, not disABILITIES!
2007- We Are Somebody!
2008- Have your voice heard! Vote 2008

This year we want YOUR HELP! Please submit your t-shirt qute ideas on the message board or send them to registerme@occmha.org. Make sure to include your name, because we will put your name on the t-shirt design.

Thanks!

Forum: Miscellaneous

pins

kevin a zanotti — Sat, 24 May 2008 01:38:41 GMT

kim wyatt

Just to start a new thread for discussion and possible implentation -

What do you - or anybody who chooses to respond to this idea - think about issuing year pins to people that are mentally ill who have kept themselves out of the hospital for a number of years. For instance - if they have been out of the hospital for 4 yeqars give them a pin with the number 4 on it, 10 years would have a ten on it.

Let me know if it is a viablee idea - pins could be issued by case managers at point of treatment - in my case I would get my pin at Easter Seals.

I would appreciate any responses related to this matter

Thank you in advance all who choose to give me some feedback on this idea - it would give the people who have stayed successfully out of the hospital for a number of years something to be proud of and those who are working hard to stay healthy something to work for.

As always I remain

Kevin A. Zanotti

Forum: Projects & Initiatives

Meeting times

Kirk Jude Goddard — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:50:47 GMT

When I looked on the CMH meeting schedule calendar the CMH Board meeting is scheduled on May 20, 2008. What a surprise to find out it was held a week early. It is very difficult to attend a public meeting when CMH does not accurately keep up its own calendar. There is no indication that the meeting was scheduled for the 13th on the CMH calendar. Putting a note on the door so that when people show up they find out that it was rescheduled suggests a level of incompetence that I find quite distressing. I expect better from CMH an hope this is an isolated event.

Forum: Information & Resources

Protest Michigan Capitol June 26th Special education

Sandy McMurray — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 01:23:12 GMT

We have a growing list of speakers for the special education rally, March for Michigans 249,000 + Special Kids on June 26 from 11-2 on the east steps of the Michigan Capitol that includes State Board of Education President Kathleen Straus, State Board of Education member Elizabeth Bauer, Senator Gilda Jacobs, Representative Tim Melton (Tim is Chair of the House Education Committee), Mark McWilliams the Education Director for Michigan Protection & Advocacy, Roger McCarville (Disabilities Today Show), Linda Potter from UCP and others! If you have an interest in speaking in the Rally contact Marcie Lipsitt- ASAP.

If any group(s)or individuals are interested in renting a table at the June 26th March for Michigan's 249,000 + "Special Kids" on the east steps of the Michigan Capitol. Please contact Marcie - ASAP at: (willowgreen1(at)ameritech.net) or her cell number: 248-514-2101 or home number: 248-855-8669.

We will put an order in: (1) 6x18 table is $7.00, tablecloth is $3.25 (optional), and each chair is $1.00 to rent. Trash cans are $2.00 each. You can bring your own goodies to sell; pop and snacks, etc. Set up a table for your organization or family and friends. RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY!

We will have live music by Roger McCarville (Disabilities Today Show) and other local Irish musicians. We will have face painting for the children and other fun activities. We are encouraging children, parents, families, friends and advocates to voice their opinions.

Please, please spread this information on to other organizations within Michigan!

Protest Highlights:

Lobbying the Michigan Legislature and especially members of the House and Senate Education committees to "object" to the special education rule revisions. Lobby Governor Granholm to rescind the 1996 executive orders and restore a check-and-balance system for Michigan's students and especially those with disabilities. Lobby the Michigan Legislature, MDE and Governor Granholm to bring Michigan's Special Education rules into compliance with IDEA 2004 pursuant to "private placement at public expense 34 CFR 300.145, 300.146 & 300.147; and Extended School Year services. Design "both" a modified and alternate assessment that aligns with Michigan's standards/benchmarks and the general education curriculum and stop allowing the use of the MI-Access "all 3 Functional, Supported Independence and Participation" that set such a low bar even a limbo expert couldn't climb under it. I'm open to discussion on all! issues that parents/stakeholders feel need addressing!

People this is our opportunity to improve the educational lives of all of our children. Let's not blow it! We are an accomplice when we don't use our voices, pens and e-mails to fight for our children's civil rights to meaningful educational benefit for a lifetime of maximum productivity

Forum: Information & Resources

Protest Michigan Capitol June 26th. Special Education

Sandy McMurray — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 01:20:15 GMT

Please, please spread this information on to other organizations within Michigan!

Forum: Rights & Advocacy

Response to the Draft Utilization Management Guidelines for Adults with Mental Illness

Kevin Zanotti — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 15:23:29 GMT

I am a consumer at the South Oakland Drop In Center and found the draft document for the Utilization MAnagement Guidlines for adults with mental illness informative in that it showed me more of the process that has been a major part of my life since my several suicide attempts and the beginning of my outpatient care at Easter Seals. I have progressed to the point to where I am now President of the Board at the South Oakland Drop in Center and have developed my talents to the point where in leading our regular board meeting before a representative of JIMHO it was stated that ours was the best board he had seen. Pretty good for a person with 5 suicide attempts. I have also prrogressed to the point where I am a member of the local ham radio club, and enjy going to the monthly meetings as well as their informal Saturday morning breakfasts. However, in this I am stymied - I have no formal schooling in electronics and/or radio electronics and am hamstrung in how much I can progress in this arena. I read the draft document and recognized very little in it about education in regards to this area - education necessary for increased socialization - or perhaps I just missed it, after all - it was a lengthy document. This education need not be formal - ie. in a Community College - but could be tutorial - I learn best in the lecture/ classroom situation and find it difficult sometimes to retain information I read on my own. Perhaps your document should address issues such as in home tutoring for consumers wishing to be tutored to increase their socialization or contribution to society. It would be nice to be able to understand a lot of the talk that occurs at the Saturday morning breakfasts with the members of the radio club but a lot of it is just beyond me, so I remain separate from the discussion quite a bit. If I knew more I could volunteer - with more confidence in some of the other facets of the hobby - things like emergency communications, and homebrew of my own projects - that could be beneficial to society as a whole.

Thank you for your time and please consider my suggestion.

Kevin A. Zanotti

Forum: Projects & Initiatives

Purchase of Group Homes in Oakland County

Dan Maloney — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 16:23:37 GMT

At one time Community Housing Network was looking into purchasing a small number of Group Homes from independent home owners of existing Group Homes in Oakland County. At the beginning of 2007 I believe this project was shifted to the Oakland County CMHA.

Does anyone know if OCCMHA is still considering purchasing a number of existing Group Homes from independent home owners?

Thank you.

Dan

Forum: Projects & Initiatives

Application for Job

Rebecca Thathapudi — Mon, 21 May 2007 20:52:14 GMT

Sir,
This is a request to send me information reagarding the posts available currently. I would preferrably choose area in communication and education. I have a Master's Degree in Psychology. Kindly send me the required details.
Thank you
Rebecca

Forum: Information & Resources

CEC is the Consumer Evaluation Committee

Wayne Hogan — Thur, 17 May 2007 09:06:17 GMT

Consumer Evaluation Committee (CEC)

This is a group of Primary Consumers who work on improving the quality of services for Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority Consumers through the Evaluation of Performance Data, Consumer Satisfaction Survey Results and Review of other Areas of Service. Join the CEC. Get Involved. Be an Advocate. Let the Consumer Voice be heard: Help Improve the Quality of Life for all Consumers. Any Questions?

Please Contact Wayne Hogan at (248) 758-1989 Meets Monthly.

Forum: Information & Resources

Spell Check

Wayne Hogan — Thur, 17 May 2007 08:54:18 GMT

Administrator perhaps you could look into a spell check for the message boards. I find it most valuable in other forums! Thanx for your time.

Forum: Miscellaneous

Volunteer Monitoring Opportunities`

Wayne Hogan — Tue, 08 May 2007 13:07:11 GMT

To All That May Be Looking for a Most Rewarding Opportunity to Volunteer

I've got your answer;

I feel compelled to put this out there; that one of the most important if not THE most important areas of a Person with a disABILITY life is their 'Quality of Life'!

When one lives in a group home often a family member may visit and observe things that do not look right or maybe hear something that shouldnt be said or that a staff person was being disrespectful to one of the Residents in the Home. This family Member or friend may report the incident or not but at least there was someone there for that person.

We have so many that havent that family member or friend out there; that need someone to look over their living conditions, the way they are treated, the cleanliness of the home and in general the Persons Quality of Life.

What we refer to as Volunteer Monitors doing Monitoring of Group Homes and SIPs (Supported Independent Program Homes) and other arrangements. A Monitors training lays out the reasons why and the motivation of what that reward I spoke of early on is.

The State Statue requires that the Group Homes and SIPs be Monitored a minimum of one (1) time each year. Albeit now the State uses a better form and goes further into the Persons Quality of Life it doesnt come close to the Volunteer Monitoring Form. This is because the state has certain requirements to have certain posters for Rights and other statements and certain documents in ones file must be looked at and is a much colder Monitoring than that of a Volunteer Monitor.

The Volunteer Monitors goes into a home as a pair, you then check via a list of categories many areas of the home, looking to make sure the very things that lead to a quality of life in your own home exist or are better in the Group or SIP Home. You check to make sure all the chemicals are locked in a secure area, that the laundry room is in good shape that the bedding is fresh and free from orders as too the entire home must be free from unpleasant odors.

One checks to make sure the Residents clothes are in good shape and that the wholly tennis shoes they wear is entirely their choice to do so. You check to make sure that the Menu reflects the actual foods in the Refrigerator and Freezer and that the Residents are not eating hotdogs every day whilst the menu states pork chops or special dietary needs on it.

We check many more facets of quality of life such as going to the home during dinner time and seeing if the staff talks with the Resident and not at them or down to them; that staff sit with the Residents during dinner even if they do not eat at the same time and that the staff eat foods that are not the same as the Residents in a separate part of the home where the residents wouldnt see them eating ice cream for instance and many of the residents are diabetics. Checking the kitchen area is vital during ones visit for obvious reasons and we even check to make sure the property around the home is the same as their Homes; kept in the same manner and not cluttered even if the neighbors does have clutter it must be maintained in a nice fashion.

So you can see that the Volunteer Monitoring Program is a very worthwhile aspect of ones life the rewards are super as the Residents live in more suitable surroundings and that their Quality of Life is Monitored on a regular basis. Volunteer Monitors have a say too in where it is they do their Monitoring the real only restriction there is, that it cannot be your family members home but you could go to someone elses family Members home and they your family members home a have a mutual check on the quality of life covered.

A Volunteer Monitor may return to the same home multiple times in one year which can aid in developing a rapport with the Residents and make it that much easier for them to tell you if something isnt right. That you may be coming at any time keeps the staff on their toes as far as maintenance of the homes and in general the best care is delivered.

The final aspect of the Volunteer Monitoring Program and another rewarding piece as well is what happens to your report form that you fill out. You have room on it to provide a narrative if you wish to do so; that form goes o the Recipient Rights Specialist for that home to be reviewed and if any action is needed they act on it. A note in the narrative can really aid them in making that decision. You may even see the Recipient Rights Specialist at your Volunteer Monitoring Meeting as well to get to know you.

So you see it is all that I promised and more the rewards far out weigh the few minutes of your time that you Volunteer to Monitor a Residents Home for their Quality of Life. You get good trainings as well, such as Recipient Rights Training and the Monitoring Training itself.

Hope to see you at the Next Monitoring Meeting.

Contact the Recipient Rights Office for more information at 248 858-1202 or call that number and ask for Jeff White. Jeff is the Recipient Rights liaison to the Volunteer Monitoring Program.

Thanks for your time and Volunteer today, call that number, I promise you will feel good about it.

Wayne Hogan

Forum: Rights & Advocacy

Primary Consumer Definition

Mark A. Jones — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:17:02 GMT

I pulled up the defintion from the Mental Health Code. I'm testing on how a Word document attaches to a posting. I will cut and paste it if it can't be read.

Forum: Information & Resources

Next Crises Planning Training in the Living Hope Series

Mark Jones — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 15:23:35 GMT

Crisis Planning

4/25 2:00 4:0 0 pm Oxford

Clubhouse Inspiration 1500 S. Lapeer Road, Suite C,

Oxford, MI 48371

Pass on the word - this is tommorrow - Wed, 4/25.

See flyer link on home page.

Forum: Training & Events

What are better ways of communicating Access to consumers, families and the community?

Mark Jones — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 15:17:30 GMT

What are better ways of communicating Access to consumers, families and the community?

Not everyone is happy on how difficult we have made it to find out about and get needed services. We are implementing a new Access System this year. How can we communicate better to the people who need to know about us and the services of our providers?

Any Suggestions? Any opinions?

Forum: Miscellaneous

How things work?

Mark Jones — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 17:16:55 GMT

How do you post a file (jpg). I'm trying to figure out how to post a picture. I haven't done this before.

Forum: Miscellaneous