July 20: Michigan has been moving people who are mentally ill out of state institutions and into community care settings for a generation. The result is an expensive, unwieldy system that provides inadequate care and fails to move people toward recovery.
July 21:
The gap between the promise of Michigan's community mental health system and what it delivers often leaves people on the streets, with nowhere to turn. Recovering from mental illness is never easy. But the current system is often more hinderance than help.
July 22:
As they grapple with a mental health care system in crisis, officials are also strapped by state budget problems. As officials discuss appointing a commission to study the crisis, they can look to programs and laws that are creating results in other states.
Michigan Department of Community Health
Mental Health Association in Michigan
Works toward improved care and treatment of the mentally ill
Michigan Psychological Association
Michigan Protection and Advocacy Services
This agency has a federal mandate to protect the rights of people served by Community Mental Health, to advocate on their behalf and investigate complaints
Common Ground Sanctuary
Operates a 24-hour crisis hotline that offers referrals to dozens of mental health service agencies
Phone (248) 456-0909 or (800) 231-1127
NAMI: National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Michigan
Maintains a helpline for information on mental illnesses and referrals to local support and advocacy groups
Michigan Association for Children with Emotional Disorders
Works with families to devise appropriate treatment plans for each child and family
Phone (248) 522-0044 or e-mail MIChildren@prodigy.net
Association for Children's Mental Health
A network of support groups and services for families and children in Michigan
Phone (800) 782-0883 or e-mail acmhinc@aol.com
The Arc of Michigan
Works to empower people with developmental disabilities
Michigan Disability Resource Directory
A massive database operated by the Family Independence Agency
Detroit-Wayne County Community Mental Health
Oakland County Community Mental Health
Macomb County Community Mental Health
Livingston County Community Mental Health
Rose Hill Center
Residential treatment and rehabilitation program for adults with serious mental illnesses
National Mental Health Association
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
American Psychiatric Association
American Association on Mental Retardation
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Investigates some complaints about treatment facilities that receive Medicare and Medicaid funding
The National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse
Promotes and helps to develop consumer-run self-help groups across the country
The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency in Michigan
Working to reduce alcoholism and other drug problems in Michigan
Phone (800) 344-3400
