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

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:

  -          There will be a new SGA limit (threshold amount), increased from $980/month to a new amount of $1000/month.

  -          The state minimum wage goes up to $8.25/hour.

  -          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