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NorthWest Regional Mental Health Board
...dedicated to improving
the quality of life for individuals who need support in their recovery
from mental illness and/or addictions.
969 West Main Street,
Suite 1B, Waterbury, CT 06708
Phone/Fax: (203) 757-9603
Executive Director: Janine
Sullivan-Wiley
Chairman: Scott Ritchie
Email:nwrmhb@snet.net
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News and events
Wishing all of
our members and friends a very
Happy and
Health New Year!
NEWS:
- The Governor appointed the former Deputy Commissioner Pat Rehmer
as Commissioner of DMHAS. Congratulations!
This is clearly a time of transition in DMHAS as Pat Rehmer settles and
chooses her team, and in community services following all of the
retirements.
- Update on the Consumer/Family/Youth Continuous Quality Improvement Collaborative -
called the QuIC:
The work continues as this group moves into its
second year. The Central Coordinating Committee met again on December
10th, and will continue to meet the fourth Thursday of each month. Our Board
will be organizing one or more local feedback sessions on the standards that
are being developed.
- Legislative Info:
There is information and discussion about legislative issues at the
monthly Catchment Area Council (CAC) and Regional Board (RMHB) meetings.
If you are interested in Legislative Updates as
prepared by Doreen DelBianco, Legislative Liaison to DMHAS, you can
access that via the "links" button, above.
- Supported Employment and Supported Education re-bidding:
The winning agencies are now working to serve the people who were already
receiving services. In this region they are as follows:
Greater Danbury area: Ability Beyond Disability
Greater Waterbury: Mental
Health Association (MHAC), and The Kennedy Center
Greater Torrington and the northwest corner: Prime Time House
and a new provider for our
region: the Kennedy Center.
At this point all of the providers are settling in and further adaptations
within the system are underway, such as having supported employment staff
operating with or within other services in each area.
- The Regional Board's Work Incentives Committee has
been busy!
Their one
page resource flyer for people who have returned/are about to return to
work, titled ""You Got the Job... Now What?" is now available.
Call or email for a copy. Reprints may be made with permission.
It is a sequel to the widely used "Why Work" pamphlet
developed by that group.
The second Meeting of the Minds with Social Security was held on January
26th and has continued the progress made in the first meeting. We deeply
appreciate the collaborative manner that the local Social Security
Administration staff have brought to the table.
- The Board continues to be an active member of the Smoking Cessation
Supports Initiative (SCSI).
More and more clubhouses are getting staff and members trained in smoking
cessation skills. There are more and more groups being set up to help folks
stop if they want to, and more and more people are choosing to cut back or
stop smoking. This is all good!
January 1st 2010 there will be several changes
going into effect:
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There will be a new SGA limit (threshold amount), increased
from $980/month to a new amount of $1000/month.
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The state minimum wage goes up to $8.25/hour.
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A lot of Medicare Part D changes go into effect (co-pays and changes
in the drug lists).
OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS:
To really keep up with what's going on in your own area, you are invited
and encouraged to come to your own local Catchment Area Council meeting. The
dates of those meetings can be found on this website, as can directions.
ALL of our meetings are open to the public and guests
are always welcome.
If
there is specific information you are seeking, call, write or send us an
email.
Thanks for visiting our site!
updated 1/28/10
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