state advocacy psychiatric hospital closure protecting community reinvestment jimmy walsh, president...
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State Advocacy
Psychiatric Hospital Closure
Protecting Community Reinvestment
Jimmy Walsh, PresidentNAMI Alabama
SAN@ConventionSeattle, WA
June 27, 2012
State Advocacy
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The Challenge• Governor’s proposal:
– Close two state psychiatric facilities, the first on 9/1/12
• Two others slated for closure remain open
– Continue building new 268 bed hospital – Community care plan TBD
• FY2012 & 13 proposed budgets– 22% reduction proposed (10.6% per year)– 42% overall GF reduction ($63M) since FY2009
State AdvocacyThe Challenge: FY12-13
Budgets• Good news:
– 1% DMH increase FY2013 – provisional• Threat:
• CONTINGENT on constitutional amendment to balance the budget
• $145M/year for 3 years from Trust Fund • Citizens vote 9/18/12 – trend toward
opposition
• Bad news:– If defeated: 18% across the board cuts– DMH loses $19M, Medicaid loses $75M
State AdvocacyAdvocacy Strategy
• Coalition– United message: Hospital closure on a responsible
time frame must be coordinated with strengthened community services.
– Regional Forums: Decision makers heard stakeholders
• NAMI Board: – Communicate to Governor and legislators
• Letters, board resolution, visits
• Membership: – Legislative Advocacy Day – Affiliates urge attendance at forums
State AdvocacyOther Forces
• Public outcry– Petitions– Legislature opposes closure in their district
• Media coverage• Bazelon Center letter to Governor
- Reminder of Stickney v. Wyatt class action suit
• Final budget hearing: – Senator defended, “cut corrections
instead”
State AdvocacyDecision Makers:
• Governor – Decisions on hospital closure or continuity– Constitutional amendment to balance budget
• DMH Commissioner– Community service plan – still in process
• Legislature– Defend hospitals in their district - Jobs
State AdvocacyWhat is working?
• Engaged coalition• Allied interest with legislators• Take the issue to local districts• Effective media coverage
State AdvocacyInterest Group Invitation
• Ensuring acute and long term care reinvestment in wake of state hospital closure
• Discussion questions:– What pressure points, opportunities and pitfalls,
should NAMI leaders be aware of? – What effective strategies can be used to strengthen
inpatient and outpatient capacity?– What best practices exist? Where are they?
State Advocacy
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Contact:
NAMI Alabama• Jimmy Walsh, President
• Wanda Laird, Executive Director [email protected]