Mental Health Advisory Council

Meeting Minutes

August 21, 2007

Respectively submitted by Suzanne Burley and Brad Trotter

Present:  Brad Trotter, Suzanne Burley, Karen Murphy, Josie Douglas, June Britt, Sandy Cottrell,

Liz Southworth, Terry Wright, Manny Gunter, Kelle Owen, Maggie Wendell

Not Present: Shen Lilly, Terrye Fish, Robert Kendrick, Pat Stivland

Visitors: Marilyn Trader, Ashley Benton, Connie King

Meeting Location: 3010 Falstaff Rd, Raleigh

Suzanne called the meeting to order at 10:10 and gave the floor to Brat Trotter.

1. Reviewed the May 15, 2007 minutes:

*Domestic violence manual: Ashley Benton summarized recent activities. The DV work group

is still working on the manual. They prefer the ADWAS manual to the Maine manual. They hope to make some minor modifications, with ADWAS permission.The committee decided they want to do a pilot study with the manual in three counties: Rutherford, Chatham and Alamance. Tina Hanford , who received Domestic Violence Training from ADWAS, has experience in supporting women in domestic violence situations. Tina indicated an interest in participating on the work group.

*October is Domestic Violence Month. June Britt would like to have someone present on Domestic Violence to the students during the month of October.  Tina Hanford may be interested, and Suzanne Burley can assist.

*Sexual Abuse: Terry Wright had concerns regarding the term, "sexual violence", which was in the May 15th minutes. Some Council members prefer to use the term "secually inappropriate" behavior, others, "sexually aggressive" behavior.  When the term "sexual violence was used during the May meeting, the term was appropriate given that there was a report of force used in that particular situation being discussed.  Thus, all agreed to use specific terms to fit the behavioral intend, be it sexually inappropriate or sexually violent. June Britt reported that the schools developed a policy on reporting sexual abuse, which was reviewed with the staff.  School administrators plan to review the policy with teachers/dorm personnel twice a year.  In addition, OES will continue to collaborate with mental health on this issue.

*Prison System:  Brad wonders if writing a letter to DHHS and/or the Division regarding access to communication for prisoners is the appropriate venue for the Council to take.  After some discussion, it seems that access to communication is not for only MI Deaf prisoners; it seems to be an issue for all Deaf prisoners.  In that regard, Ashley Benton suggested that this issue might be more appropriate for the NC Council for the Deaf /HOH. Some time was spent in discussing what else the prison system needed such as awareness of Deaf/HOH. MH services available in prisoners being released from prison and training on communication/cultural sensitivity for prison personnel.  Ashley Benton discussed frustration with the lack of communication access to Deaf people on parole. The board agreed to have Brad Trotter bring this issue to the NC Council for the Deaf/HOH and report back to this Advisory Council.

2. Josie Douglas:  Legislation did not increase funding for any MH/SA programs for NC.  However, the mental health parity bill passed which was good. Dix will delay closing due to a building fire at the new hospital being built in Butner.

3.  Karen Murphy:  Karen has been hired to stay on with CLA.  Thus far, 13 attorney's, all female have been hired.  There are 8 advocates.  GACPD employees are being kept on staff.  CLA is interested in keeping Deafness and MH as a priority.

4.  Connie King:  Things are going well at Broughton.  This unit has discharged a number of patients  and is now down to 8.  Concerns pertain to lack of appropriate placement at discharge.  They expect patients to return due to a lack of appropriate placement in the community.

5.  Brad:  Reviewed the reasons for the change in interpreter reimbursement policy.  Discussed some concerns the interpreters and clinicians may have regarding authorization and payment.  What does "sign competent" staff mean in the policy?  It means personnel who are fluent and can provide a service directly rather than using interpreting services.  Most regional staff have completed assessment using the SLPI.  DMH will continue to emphasize the use of sign competent staff in service situations over the use of non-signing clinicians with interpreters.

6. Brad/Suzanne:  Discussed Board members end of terms and replacements:  Karen Murphy, Terry Wright, Kelle Owens and Sandy Cottrell, whose terms ended in July, all expressed an interest in continuing on the board.  Several other people have indicated an interest in serving on the board:  Tina Hanford, Kevin Earp, Rachael Ragin, and Patricia Underdue (parent of a Deaf/DD adult).

7.  Round Robin: 

*Liz Southworth:  Camp Dogwood for the weekends of September 6th and 20th.  They still need SSP's for the second weekend.

*Maggie Wendell:  NCAD Conference was a success.  It was held in Wilson.  Brad Trotter received an award at the NCAD conference.

*Kelle;  Raleigh Little Theater, with Sam Parker as director, will be putting on a play in November.

*Manay Gunter:  Club Horizon hired a staff person who signs fluently.  They received a grant for the Deaf program from Wake County.

*Suzanne: Reminder about the HLA conference, Focus on Hearing, September 14th, 2007.  Also, NC Institute of Public Health, Continuing Education, is offering a conference Oct 5 - 6, 2007: Making the Connection: A Conference about Childhood Hearing Loss.