NC Policy Watch - Progressive Voices
Disability Rights North Carolina
NC Policy Watch 
Progressive Voices by Executive Director Vicki Smith  
(2/28/2012)  
New mental health policies are harming people in need -One of the hardest parts of the work at the group I'm fortunate enough to lead -- Disability Rights NC -- is listening to the stories we hear every day. Stories of people desperate for help because of disability-based discrimination. Stories of abuse and neglect. Stories of North Carolinians who have been denied [Continue Reading] 
Group blasts legislature for budget cuts, failure to care for disabled kids Disability Rights North Carolina is calling on state officials to provide necessary services to North Carolina's mentally ill children who also have other disabilities. The advocacy group's appeal follows an investigation that revealed a lack of available mental health services, leading to long waits in emergency rooms, hospitalizations, and institutionalization out-of-state.[Continue Reading] 
(11/3/2011)  
Deja Vu in the world of mental healthMore than a decade ago, North Carolina' s system for providing services to individuals with mental health needs, developmental disabilities and addictive disease was deeply troubled. Allegations of fraud, mismanagement and conflicted governance signaled poor accountability mechanisms. In response, the General Assembly directed the state Auditor to investigate the situation. In April 2000, the [Continue Reading] 
A "perfect storm"? Or are the stars aligning? posted 8/24/11 http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/2011/08/24/a-%e2%80%9cperfect-storm%e2%80%9d-or-are-the-stars-aligning/ Disability Rights NC's Vicki Smith discusses housing the state's mentally ill and the recent DOJ findings in a radio interview with Chris Fitzsimon. It is now archived on the NC Policy Watch website http://ow.ly/69JIf. A decade after North Carolina embarked on reforming its mental health system, the state finds itself on the verge of a lawsuit by U.S. Department of Justice. Disability Rights NC: DHHS in a "double bind" (video) NC Policy Watch. 
(8/8/2011)  
A preventable "perfect storm" for people with disabilitiesNorth Carolina's perfect storm was not the result of three weather patterns but three separate exposures of the State's failure to cultivate an adequate community based system of care for people with mental illness and other disabilities. Instead of investing in community-integrated housing and other supports to do right by its citizens with mental health needs and to comply with federal law, the North Carolina General Assembly and DHHS have once again slighted these citizens. http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/2011/08/08/a-preventable-perfect-storm-for-people-with-disabilities/ (8/8/11) 
(5/9/2011)  
Serving people with disabilities: Pay now or pay more laterThere's a simple and harsh truth when it comes to serving people with disabilities: If you cut services that allow them to live in the most integrated setting, you will eventually force them into more institutionalized settings. This, in turn, will cost the state more money. Serving people with disabilities: Pay now or pay more later 
Look and think before slashing services to people with disabilities (11/30/2010) Read the story. Article also printed at CarrboroCitizen.com. Radio Interview on 9/18/2010 - Disability Rights NC on warehousing the mentally ill in adult care homes Progressive Voices by Executive Director, Vicki Smith (9/15/2010)North Carolina's broken emergency mental health system http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/cms/2010/09/15/north-carolina%e2%80%99s-broken-emergency-mental-health-system/ Progressive Voices by Executive Director, Vicki Smith (5/18/2010)Children's mental health needs still going unmet. http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/cms/2010/05/18/children%E2%80%99s-mental-health-needs-still-going-unmet/ 
Documents are provided in PDF format, allowing any computer to open them with the free Adobe Reader. PDF 
5-18-2010 Children's mental health needs still going unmet 
 PDF 
3-18-2010 Medicaid: Eliminate Fraud But Keep Necessary Services PDF 
5-4-2009 Tough times are no reason to abandon people with disabilities 
 PDF 
1-21-2009 - For Real Mental Health  Reform, listen to the consumers 
 PDF 
8-19-2008 - Missing In Action: Services for People with Traumatic Brain Injury 
 PDF 
6-21-2008 - The Lay of the Land in the Disability Rights World 
 
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