TESTIFYING
— PEF Vice Presidents Ken Brynien and Pat Baker tell state Assembly members
about problems in the mental health system. Photo by Deborah A. Miles
Testimony shows need for OMH and OMRDD to
regroup
By DEBORAH A. MILES
The issues surrounding the most vulnerable population — those with developmental
and psychiatric disabilities — has taken a back seat in legislative reform.
But that’s about to change, according to the Assembly Standing Committee on
Mental Health.
With hundreds of people with disabilities falling through the cracks in the
system every year, lawmakers are realizing they need to take a closer look at
the problems of dually diagnosed individuals and seek some answers.
At a hearing held in Albany on June 7, testimony was heard about the conflict
and limitations in eligibility criteria at the two state offices, and how both
the state Office of Mental Health (OMH) and the Office of Mental Retardation and
Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) cited reasons for not accepting a troubled
teenager into their program. He ended up in jail.
A grieving father testified about a worst-case scenario. His 19-year-old son,
who had an IQ of 55, autism and mental retardation, obviously did not realize
his rights. His parents were not notified of his transfer from a psychiatric
institution to a hospital where he passed away. He died of an epileptic seizure,
alone, and over-drugged, according to his father.
PEF Vice President Ken Brynien testified about the holes in the system through
which individuals can and do fall.
“We need to get beyond finger pointing, compartmentalization and avoidance of
responsibility. We need to devise a system to meet the needs of this population
as their changing needs arise,” Brynien said.
“Both OMH and OMRDD have inadequate services due to understaffing of programs
and poorly trained clinical staff,” testified PEF Vice President Pat Baker.
“I would like to tell you a story of a teenage girl whose parents were mentally
retarded,” Baker testified.
“She had disruptive problems in school and entered the mental health system by
admission into a local hospital. Her IQ was not low enough for OMRDD services,
so she received mental health outpatient services, instead.
“Her functional skills were poor. She could not manage money, keep her clothes
clean, or perform basic living tasks. She adopted psychiatric behavior. The
system inexcusably failed her, and she turned to prostitution and smoking
crack.”
Brynien said this case, as with countless others, shows the need for increased
interagency coordination, increased staff and training, and a re-evaluation of
admissions criteria.
After hearing the testimonies,, committee member Barbara Lifton said, “Finding
the right placement and protecting those with disabilities is a critical problem
throughout the state, and with new leadership on the horizon, we will respond to
the needs of these individuals.”
The Communicator July/Aug. '06
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