By Nancy
Lane, president, Local Media Association
Community Stress - Budget Cuts & The Quality of Mental Health
Services
Story ideas from Marian Frattarola-Saulino, Executive Director,
Values Into Action:
- Group homes have been a failure
and now serve as "mini institutions". Find out what group homes
exist in your community and start asking questions about the funding,
success stories, problems, etc.
- Look to grassroots organizations
for access to people that are affected by intellectual disabilities to
tell their stories (they are far more likely to give you access - these
might be autism or cerebral palsy support groups for example). Report on
success stories in addition to problem areas.
- Look at non-profits in your
community that serve the mental health field and examine their financial
reports. Red flags include: too much money being spent on administrative
costs or assets like buildings (when the building becomes more important
than the services that are being offered).
- 9 out of 10 people that
experience intellectual disabilities experience abuse (usually from care
givers). This is a story that needs to be told so that families can
recognize the warning signs and be proactive. Much of the abuse goes
unreported.
Saulino challenged the symposium attendees to help enact change in
their communities by asking the tough questions, advocating for "people
first" when it comes to government funding of mental health services and
to forge relationships with a variety of providers in your community including
grassroots organizations.
Thanks to the McCormick Foundation for sponsoring this two-day
reporting symposium.