1-866-942-0516
www.sachealth.org

Help for Adults with Mental Illness
Displaced from County Clinics

background

On March 16th the County of Sacramento announced that they planned to close nearly all contracted clinics providing care to adults with mental illness on June 30, 2010. The clinics to be closed include El Hogar, HRC, Northgate Point, TCORE, Visions Unlimited, and the medication support services at the Wellness and Recovery Center.

Google has more background.

latest information (updated 21July2010)

On Monday the 19th, a California Superior Court judge granted an injunction against the County Division of Behavioral Health Services (DBHS). The judge found that the RSTs had a reasonable chance of proving their claim that DBHS violated Welfare and Institutions Code section 5652.5 and that their violation would cause irreparable harm to the consumers served by the existing RSTs and TCORE. The judge ordered DBHS to immediately stop all actions leading to elimination of services to patients currently served by the RSTs and TCORE, and restore funding to the RSTs and TCORE.

On Tuesday the 20th, the United States Department of Justice joined a suit filed by Disability Rights California and other disability rights advocacy organizations. Their claim was that patients with disabilities were having their rights infringed by DBHS's violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and that the violation would cause irreparable harm. Today a judge agreed with the Department of Justice and the disability rights advocates and issued an order barring DBHS from moving forward on their plans to eliminate the RSTs and TCORE and transfer consumers to county-owned wellness centers.

Both of these injunctions are to remain in effect until the full cases are heard, which could be many months. In the mean time, patients will be able to continue to be seen by their doctors at the RSTs, TCORE, and Consumer Self Help's Wellness and Recovery Center.

If you have been called by someone from the county or have received a letter telling you that you were being transferred, you should contact your service coordinator at your RST, TCORE, or WRC as that letter or telephone call is now invalid.

You can also get recorded up-to-date information from our toll-free information line: (866) 942-0516

get active!

Take care of yourself. Take care of your community. Call Access to find out what plans the county has for you. File a complaint about the loss of services. Contact your favorite TV news crew. Let your families and your elected officials know what is happening. Even if you think you'll be okay, there might be someone next to you who cannot speak and needs your voice.

call the Problem Resolution Coordinator

To file a complaint about loss of services, you can visit the Sacramento County Problem Resolution Coordinator web site (scroll past the distracting links to the section headed "Consumer Problem Resolution") or call them at 888-881-4881 or 916-875-0853. Report that you have been told that your program is being closed but you haven't been offered alternatives with only a few weeks until the programs close. If they can't connect you with services and you have Medi-Cal, you have the right to request a Fair Hearing from the state.

call Adult Access

Try to find out what plans the county has for you. Call Sacramento County Adult Access at 916-875-1055. Ask them where you are supposed to get your care after June 30th. They know nothing now, but you want to be among the first to know when new services become available. Call early and often. Advocate for your friends, neighbors, and family members who cannot advocate for themselves.

sign a petition

There is a petition online, or visit your nearest RST to sign in person.

other places to get help

The county took the money but isn't providing the care. Private doctors and clinics can't help because Medi-Cal will tell them they have to collect from the county. There are a few places you can try:

The Effort

The Effort is a clinic providing medical, psychiatric, and substance use treatment downtown. Their phone numbers are 916-325-5556 and 916-313-8400. They have a special status that lets them bill the federal government directly, bypassing Sacramento County's mental health carve out. They can see patients who have Medicare, Medi-Cal, or both.

Free Clinic

I see patients at a small, informal psychiatric free clinic in Foothill Farms which focuses on medication refills for displaced county patients. Visit the web site or call (916) 282-0827 for more information.

Please email me if you have information about other resources that might be helpful.