Disability Rights California Stigma and Discrimination Reduction (SDR) Project

Presented by:

Margaret Johnson, Esq.Advocacy Director & SDR Project Director

Disability Rights California

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What This Presentation Will Cover

- About Disability Rights California- Overview of our stigma and discrimination

reduction (SDR) project- Discussion & input into our project- Further information

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About Disability RightsCalifornia (DRC)

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About DRC

- California’s Protection & Advocacy System

- Mission Statement:Advocate, educate, investigate and litigate to advance and protect the rights of Californians with disabilities.

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DRC Services

General DRC services include: - I & R- Self-help materials- Training- Public policy & legislative advocacy- State hospital patients’ rights advocates

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DRC Services

- Clients’ rights advocates for clients of regional centers

- Legal counsel & advice- Representation of individuals with disabilities

in priority areas- Systemic litigation

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Overview of DRC SDR Project

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Top 4 Things To Know About DRC’s SDR Project

- Project goals- Fact sheets on stigma & discrimination

reduction- Training and education for stakeholders

and “influencers”- Policy papers with recommended changes

to decrease stigma and discrimination

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SDR Project Background

- A three year prevention and early intervention (PEI) stigma & discrimination reduction grant that began August 2011

- Funded through the county/California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) and Prop. 63

- One of the many PEI projects funded by CalMHSA

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DRC SDR ProjectGoals

Reduce stigma & discrimination by- Increasing awareness of laws, policies &

practices that address discrimination & support mental health services in non-traditional settings through provision of culturally-relevant and age appropriate training & materials for people with disabilities, their families, providers, and the general population.

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DRC SDR ProjectGoals

- Identifying laws that contribute to stigma and discrimination & writing policy papers that recommend needed policy changes to reduce or eliminate stigma & discrimination.

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DRC Collaborators

1. Subcontractors: - Mental Health Advocacy Services in Los

Angeles- Mental Health Consumer Concerns in

Contra Costa County2. DRC SDR Advisory Group

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Project Products

1. Fact sheets2. Training Modules3. SDR Filter4. Policy Papers

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Completed Fact Sheets

- Client Driven Mental Health Services - Definitions of Stigma and Discrimination - Mental Health Facility Diversion &

Aftercare that Focuses on Recovery - Integration Mandate of the ADA and

Olmstead Decision

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Completed Fact Sheets

- A Stereotype that Harms People with Mental Health Challenges

- People First Language in Mental Health - Interpreters & Translators in Mental

Health Settings - Tips Towards Plain Language

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Completed Fact Sheets

- See this link for more completed fact sheets – more are posted monthly- http://

www.disabilityrightsca.org/CalMHSA/CalMHSAfactsheets.html

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Training Audiences

- Mental Health Providers - Employers- Housing Providers- Public Defenders- Student Mental Health Services- Mental Health Service Delivery in Faith

Based Communities

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SDR Filter

1. Tool to review legislation, regulations & policies

2. What it looks for: - Identifies those that increase stigma &

discrimination against people with disabilities- Identifies those that reduce stigma &

discrimination against people with disabilities

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DRC SDR Filter

3. Who will use it:- Policy makers

- Legislators

- Advocates

- General Public

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Policy Papers

- First responders- Hospital diversion and after care- NIMBYism- Incompetent to stand trial- Mental health services for school age

children

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First ResponderPolicy Paper

- Identify & recommend best practices & training

- Goal is for law enforcement agencies and community mental health services providers to use the information to develop programs to better meet the needs of persons in crisis

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Hospital Diversion & Aftercare Policy Paper

- Identify best practices on pathways to home & community services & identify model crisis programs

- Analyze cost and quality of model crisis alternatives

- Make policy recommendations consistent with the recovery vision in order to improve hospital diversion & aftercare

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How We are Getting Project Input

- DRC staff & Advisory Group who represent stakeholder groups, including peers & family members

- Outreach to stakeholder groups and groups who know the issues, such as YOU!

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Discussion & Input

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Discussion & Input- What stigma & discrimination issues do

you think are important for us to look at?- What input do you have about our project

goals?- Do you have ideas for other fact sheets? - Ideas for other trainings audiences?- Ideas for how we can distribute materials?- Other ideas?

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Further Information

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Further Information

- Disability Rights California website: www.disabilityrightsca.org

- Disability Rights California SDR Project: http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/CalMHSA/CalMHSA.html

- Disability Rights California SDR Advisory Group information: http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/CalMHSA/CalMHSAadvisorygroup.html

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Further Information

- Disability Rights California fact sheets: http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/CalMHSA/CalMHSAfactsheets.html

- Disability Rights California subcontractor websites:Mental Health Advocacy Services: http://www.mhas-la.org/SpecialEducation/ERMHSInfo.htm

Mental Health Consumer Concerns: http://www.mhccnet.org/

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Further Information

- DRC fact sheets in multiple languages including, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Russian, Armenian & Arabic: http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/CalMHSA/CalMHSAfactsheets.html

- DRC Spanish website for the project: http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/espanol/CalMHSA/CalMHSA.htm

The California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) is an organization of county governments working to improve mental health outcomes for individuals, families and communities. Prevention and Early Intervention programs implemented by CalMHSA are funded by counties through the voter-approved Mental Health Services Act (Prop 63). Prop. 63 provides the funding and framework needed to expand mental health services to previously underserved populations and all of California’s diverse communities.

CalMHSA