(cross-posted from Beyond Vermont State Hospital blog, here)

If Governor Peter Shumlin insists on replacing the Vermont State Hospital (VSH) and, the State of Vermont ends up building a new version of same old thing in order to do so, the new institution should be named Shumlin State Hospital or, Shumlinville for short.

However, it is hoped if enough people make themselves heard on these crucial matters, this might have a chance of changing the Governor’s mind as well as the minds of others within his administration on the subject or, if not, then the minds of state legislators, so the state can avoid making the mistake of going in this direction.

If you have not already done so, please consider signing onto the petition urging the Governor to build a more robust community mental health system, not a new state hospital, here.

In addition, please also urge others you know to consider signing onto the petition as well, particularly anyone living or working within Vermont.

In the meantime, as is sadly apparent from recent news articles concerning VSH, here (via vtdigger; September 15, 2011), here (ibid; September 16, 2011) and, here (via Waterbury Record; October 6, 2011), it appears the Department of Mental Health (DMH) is heavily leaning toward deciding to return patients and staff to the upper two floors of the state hospital, which is where they were before the flood occurred after Tropical Storm Irene hit in late August and patients were evacuated across the state.

Although the letter did not delve into specific details concerning what the state should consider doing down the road, various advocates from across the mental health and disability advocacy community as well as their allies signed onto a letter recently sent to Governor Peter Shumlin urging him to not reopen VSH. Read the letter (via vtdigger), here.

This is an extremely crucial step, being among the next of many vital steps that have to be taken, which include not replacing the state hospital with what would merely prove to be a new version of the same old thing, but rather to do what the aforementioned petition urges: i.e.,

… support the building of a more robust community-based mental health services system, including a major increase in peer run alternative services and supports as well as more affordable housing opportunities, in order to foster a holistic and healing, cross-disabilities, independent living, recovery-based and trauma-informed model, rather than building a new Vermont State Hospital (VSH).

Make sure your voice is heard on these matters as soon as possible, since, it is definitely now or never!

(cross-posted to Vermont Watch, here)

(above subject header sounds like what should be the title of a song. blues anybody?)

FEMA housing units headed to Vermont

‘Superstructures’ may be needed for winter

By Peter Hirschfeld

Vermont Press Bureau – Published: September 28, 2011

MONTPELIER – Displaced flood victims unable to find permanent shelters before winter could end up in mobile housing units provided by FEMA, state officials said Tuesday.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has already delivered 10 “park unit mobile homes” to a staging area in Springfield. Secretary of Commerce Lawrence Miller says additional units are at the ready if newly homeless residents cannot secure suitable shelter in advance of the cold season.

“We’ll use these as essentially the last resort,” Miller says. “We’d much prefer to find more traditional rental housing. But this could be a very good solution for some Vermonters.”

[…]

Read the article in full (via Rutland Herald; not behind paywall, at least for the moment anyway), here.

Now I finally know what was being indirectly referenced, however briefly, by Governor Peter Shumlin when he spoke during the half hour or so appearance he made at today’s joint Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition (VAHC) and Vermont Coalition to End Homelessness (VCEH) meeting.

Please excuse me while I simultaneously scratch my head during a “say what!?” moment and also pick up my jaw from off the floor where it fell after reading this article about something that appears to make about as much sense to me as the state seriously pondering going back to the two upper floors of the state hospital — which would be fine if it were to provide office space for the Department of Mental Health (DMH), but not for returning patients or staff there.

Hmmm, in the meantime, maybe those who think the FEMA trailers are a good option for those in need could volunteer to live in them and allow those in need of housing as a result of Tropical Storm Irene to use their housing instead. As if ….

Would really like to learn more about the meeting the article reported about as well as specifically who was at the meeting when this particular option was approved as well as, as importantly, who was not at or represented during the meeting.

Although one understands the need to do something versus doing nothing in such cases, one would of course hope there has to be better and different ways to resolve these matters.

One only hopes someone truly knows what they are doing in these regards.

By the way, has anyone done some rigorous and independent quality control, structural, health and environmental testing on at least one of these trailers to the standard of the worse of what they could be put through during a long, hard Vermont Winter, etc.? If not, maybe now is the time, before it is far too late to do so. And, if these are used as a “last resort”, please do not put them within a flood plain either.

Morgan W. Brown

Montpelier

(cross-posted from Vermont Watch, here)

Will be heading over to state house to listen in to the afternoon segment of Government Accountability Committee meeting shortly. They are mainly focused on “Measurable  Outcomes for Mental Health Services & Substance Abuse Treatment &  Recovery” today (here).

To my knowledge, this particular committee is the hold over of what used to be termed or known as “Challenges for Change”, which a lot of taxpayer funds, resources and time spent was on doing and, all the nickel and dime’ing done in the name of “CoC” ended up costing lots more than it was supposed to have saved and, we have been paying for it since in a number of ways, the least of which has been taxpayer dollars and that is no small bit of change or challenge to pay for either (pun intended).

However this does that mean certain of those within either the legislative or administrative branches of state government will ever get a clue and leave it alone, heck no, of course not. They just call it something else, move on so-to-speak and keep on keeping on as if they are really doing something different and better when it is neither.

The fact is “Government Accountability” is an oxymoron, at best, particularly when it is government as well as political officials of the same trying to police itself.

( – promoted by odum)

(cross-posted from Beyond Vermont State Hospital blog, here)

While reflecting upon and then pondering where the state currently is with what is proving to be a fork in the road when it comes the enormous and severe damage caused by tropical storm Irene across Vermont, including at the state office complex as well as the Vermont State Hospital (VSH) facility in Waterbury (here) and, what lies ahead as well as how this crisis provides a unique opportunity for finally accomplishing what previously had been talked about for over twenty years as concerns VSH, the last three lines of the final stanza of Robert Frost‘s poem The Road Not Taken comes to mind:

[…]

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

In this particular case, as pertains to VSH and what would be the best course to take in terms of the future of the mental health system across the state, doing so would take plenty of courage, prudent risk taking, wisely changing one’s priorities, exercising the will and leadership to make it happen, widening one’s circle of those to be included in the process from the get go outside the usual inner circle as well as providing for complete and thorough transparency at all levels.

Up to now, when others who should be equals at the table have been part of the discussion — if one can even call it that, for the most part what they have to say is not fully considered on par as is the case with certain others, particularly when it does not fit with the fixed or rather set agenda as well as selected priorities and goals of those seemingly bent on leading from the top down as best serves their own interests.

It is high time for inclusion rather than exclusion and openness rather than continuing to do things behind closed doors or otherwise during meetings or other conversations with mostly insiders as well as those with direct and financial interests.

This is public policy after all and a lot is at stake, including what will determine the future of the mental health system in Vermont for the next 50 years or more as well as millions upon millions of taxpayer dollars too boot.

In my opinion, I believe the citizens of our state are up to the task if they are only given the chance to consider being part of the solution beyond their being expected to pay for it over the years. In addition, those who have also been invested in these matters for years upon years*(1) certainly have been doing all they can to be part of the process of improving the mental health system as well.

*(1: e.g., various stakeholders including peers [read: people with lived experience of being on the receiving end of the mental health system], family members, advocates, etc.)

It is only hoped that the state’s political leaders, rank and file members of the state legislature and those working in the mental health field, among others, will be up to doing what is required as well. Only time will tell however.

If you have not yet signed the petition urging Governor Peter Shumlin to support the building of a more robust community-based mental health services system, including a major increase in peer run alternative services and supports as well as more affordable housing opportunities, in order to foster a holistic and healing, cross-disabilities, independent living, recovery-based and trauma-informed model, please consider doing so, here.

(This is the time for Montpelier voters to come out and be heard. – promoted by Jack McCullough)

(just to be clear, although it is a crucial point in time for them to do so, the public hearing is not limited to only Montpelier voters or residents to attend or testify. it is of course open to all and all are free to speak within the limits of time allowed to do so. there will be a sign up sheet one needs to sign if they desire to speak. the committee is hoping to end at 9:00pm tonight if possible, however if it is needed, it is my understanding that an additional public hearing has been tentatively scheduled for later in the month as well — mwb aka norsehorse)

What: Taser Committee Public Hearing

When: Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 6:30 PM (EDT)

Where: City Council Chambers, Montpelier City Hall

The public hearing will be televised on local cable channel 17 as well as streamed live online, here.

Additional information, here.

Committee members: Jeff Dworkin, Chair; Zack Hughes, Co-chair; Vicki Lane, Polly Ellerbe, Nick Marro and Marilyn Mode.

View an informational slideshow of mine on Montpelier, Vermont and Tasers, here.

(cross-posted from Vermont Watch, here)

There were two huge Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) trucks and their crews parked near the Vermont State House yesterday afternoon (Tuesday, August 30, 2011).

One, parked on Baldwin Street out front of the Joint Fiscal office building to the left of the state house, serves as the communications and command post for technical infrastructure and logistical support crews and staff, among others. The other, parked out front of the state house, as I understand it, serves as the hub for the public relations, social media and news desk crews and staff.

These vehicles can not be missed, not only due to their size, but also because the huge satellite dishes each has accompanying them.

Had stopped by the PR truck, but although I was able to strike up casual conversations with a few people, they all but blew me off no matter how hard I tried to ask them to at least pass along my request to speak with someone and have a conversation so I could blog some posts about their being here and what they do, etc.

That said, it is still hoped someone there will contact me, but I will not be holding my breath either.

So much for public relations or “social media”, something no one there seems to truly get, at least no one I was able to speak with yet anyway.

( – promoted by odum)

(cross-posted from Beyond Vermont State Hospital blog, here)

UPDATE: August 31, 2011

In my role as director of Vermont Legal Aid’s Mental Health Law Project I’ve received a list of all our clients and where they’ve been moved to. We’re in the process of getting in touch with everyone to let them know that we’re on top of their cases and will stay in communication with them.

If anyone talks to one of the evacuated patients please let them know they can give us a call.

Jack McCullough

*Updated 5x* (view *updates* near bottom of post, below the fold)

News accounts and other sources have reported that the Vermont State Hospital (VSH) has been evacuated, with those locked up there being sent to various sites across the state, here (via Burlington Free Press).

State Representative Anne Donahue (R-Northfield), who also is editor of Counterpoint, reported (via e-mail; posted with direct permission):

I was at the state hospital this afternoon; many unsung heros there. They were without power beginning last night. Ground floor flooded several feet deep (this includes the intake offices and the Brooks Rehab patient unit.) Those patients were moved to spend the night in the treatment mall. Red Cross brought McDonald’s breakfasts this morning. The estimated time for repair of the state office complex is 2-3 weeks, thus beginning this morning, staff began identifying emergency placements for all 51 patients, and expected all evacuations to be completed by nightfall. About 16 going to the Brattleboro Retreat, 7 to Fletcher Allen, other scattered with staff in groups of 3 or less, one group temporarily housed at Springfield Corrections with their own VSH staff in a separated area. Doug Racine and Christine Oliver were on site throughout.  All was going on without power and with impaired phone contact… forget about electronic health records. I saw the chair of the dept of psychiatry at FAHC loading a cardboard box of patient files into his car to take to Burlington.

Longer e-mail from Anne Donahue (excerpted; posted with permission):

… estimated 2+ weeks before VSH can reopen.

Here’s the breakdown (I may miss a few):

16 Brattleboro Retreat

7 FAHC

7 to Southern Corr. Fac, staying on a separated unit with GMH (not corrections) staff

5 to Second Spring, which is temporarily accommodating an “over census”capacity

1 Meadowview

1 Pines Nursing Home

1 Lamoille (discharge was already anticipated)

3 Batelle House

4 [can’t read my scrawled notes]

Doesn’t quite add up perfectly…

In most cases, they were being accompanied by VSH staff, to be providing the necessary extra staff.

National Guard had been called in last night on standby if Plainfield dam had a water release, for an emergency evacuation then, which was not necessary. However, there was no electricity or food since losing power late yesterday, Staff functioned in the dark overnight. Reception and Brooks Rehab were flooded out (many feet of water), and Brooks Rehab patients stayed in the treatment wall.

This morning it became clear that restoration of power and other repairs would be  lengthy, and they began the process of making calls to place patients.

Doug Racine says BGS said it would be 2-3 weeks time for the campus, but he told them all efforts must focus on VSH first.

Patient files were being hand carried to go with patients.

[…]

The river surge power a was incredible. Office furniture was strewn around rooms. The staff locks on Brooks Rehab were knocked onto the floor. Everything was slippery with mud.

Racine, Christine Oliver, etc, etc, were there all afternoon.

[…]

So, as I understand it based on news accounts as well as other sources, including Anne Donahue among others, fifty-one (51) or so people who had up until today been locked up at VSH have been or currently are being transferred elsewhere across the state due to the recent flooding and damage caused by it.

This, however, potentially proves a point I have made over the years of how the state not only could have closed the state hospital long prior to now, but could have also relocated patients elsewhere in order to do so.

In my opinion, the state should not reopen VSH and, particularly for those placements that might only be considered more temporary in nature of one sort or another, the state should find other placements for those who could be elsewhere, including where appropriate, within permanent housing in the community of their choosing for those who should no longer be held at VSH or other such facilities but have continued to be held there due to lack of either other less restrictive setting placement or permanent housing, etc.

*Update 1*: Word is, much like most of the rest of the Waterbury office complex as I understand it, which includes the headquarters of the Agency of Human Services (AHS) as well as some of its departments, the Department of Mental Health (DMH) has no e-mail at this time, as their servers either had been underwater or are still without power or both.

Word also is that Washington County Mental Health Services (WCMHS) has taken ten (10) people total from VSH into Second Spring and other facilities of theirs.

WCMHS has also created shelter for nine (9) people from the Kirby House community care home within their transitional recovery program in Waterbury and have taken two additional residents to crisis beds and have arranged for cots through Red Cross for sleeping. The WCMHS “Sunrise House” day treatment program located in Montpelier is preparing and delivering food.

In addition, WCMHS provided support to residents during their evacuation and bus ride from a trailer park in Berlin and assisted Red Cross at the Barre City Auditorium.

Have also received word about how four (4) people from VSH were placed at Hill House and Robinson House at Counseling Service of Addison County.

*Update 2*: From the Burlington Free Press, here (paragraphs 18 and 19):

[…]

Nearby, the Vermont State Hospital, where 51 psychiatric patients were housed, was evacuated Monday. The patients were sent to various private facilities around the state and the state prison in Springfield. Some employees were sent with them and are being housed in motels, Mental Health Commissioner Christine Oliver said.

Oliver said the details of how much the state will pay those facilities or how long the patients will be there had not been worked out when the move was made. Racine said Wednesday that the arrangements were made with the expectation that they would be for weeks, but because it now appears it will take months to make repairs in Waterbury, some of those patients might have to be moved again.

[…]

*Update 3*: In response to the above update (i.e., update 2), which I had sent out via e-mail as well, someone replied with the following (posted with permission on condition of there being no attribution):

It takes a village to raise a child. It takes a hurricane to close a state hospital.

*Update 4*: Within an e-mail to Governor Peter Shumlin and top members of his administration, I shared the following (excerpted):

[…] based on conversations I have had with others who have been following and very interested in these matters whether via e-mail, instant messaging or in-person, I have found I am not alone in my sentiments that repairing and reopening the Vermont State Hospital (VSH) is not a wise or prudent decision, nor a good or best use of taxpayer dollars and other resources. This, particularly given how prior to tropical storm Irene and the destruction it caused, top members of the administration — including Agency of Human Services (AHS) Secretary Doug Racine — have previously stated how VSH should have been closed 20 years ago and is a not suitable or safe environment for persons who are locked up there or staff working there, nor could it be rehabilitated in order to improve it enough to make it more suitable either. The crisis at the state hospital and what to do with after the facility was damaged so significantly by tropical storm Irene should be taken as the opportunity that it is and VSH should be shuttered once and for all. It makes no sense to attempt to repair it as much as can be afforded when there are plans to close it down the road, no sense at all. That said, do not take my word for it, ask around and find out for yourself. If you have not already done so, please reconsider this decision very carefully.

Morgan W. Brown

Montpelier

For those who are so inclined, although he and members of his administration are quite busy with many other matters at the moment, now is the time to weigh in and share your views on the subject of VSH as well as the mental health system as a whole with Governor Shumlin, well before they proceed any further, here. This is well worth doing! It is now or never!

*Update 5*: It is my understanding that the Department of Mental Health (DMH) has received five (5) proposals that would reduce the numbers of VSH beds, however the proposal by Collaborative Solutions Corporation (CSC) would appear to completely eliminate the need for state hospital beds and allow for closing the facility.

That said, the proposal is still very much residential and institutional heavy, nor is it entirely truly community-based and certainly does not appear to include peer-based alternative approaches, nor permanent housing opportunities for people to move onto, either. In addition, many of the sites would have more than six beds, when three to six beds are better. Not too mention how this is still the medical model approach, highly dependent on the use of psychotropic medication, including of the forced drugging variety, not to mention shock treatment (ECT).

To my knowledge this proposal was written and submitted to DMH well prior to tropical storm Irene and done so in response to an informal request stated by DMH Commissioner Oliver for proposals for a community-based approach after the administration decided to go through the motions of reconsidering its plan to build a new version of the same old thing all while continuing to barrel ahead full steam with their original plans.

One fear is how the administration and others concerned could also now consider more fully rehabbing the existing VSH facility in Waterbury and remaining there when it is once again habitable, given how it would take at least a few months to restore enough to bring people and staff back again anyway, so what is another few or more months added on.

This despite how administration officials — including Agency of Human Services (AHS) Secretary Doug Racine — had previously stated how VSH could not be sufficiently rebuilt in order to provide a safe, sound facility.

Rather than being what it took to close VSH, tropical storm Irene could be what it takes to rebuild it and remain in place for 50 or more years.

Stayed tuned … (as additional information as well as reports become available, this post will be updated accordingly)

(cross-posted from Vermont Watch, here)

Ongoing efforts concerning seriously as well as meaningfully addressing homelessness within Vermont:

Yours truly has been serving on two different subcommittees concerning the Vermont Intergency Council on Homelessness (VICH).

One concerns the VICH and the drafting of a new executive order. Four of us met once three weeks ago and, among other things oftentimes passionately discussed during the meeting, we commissioned one of our members to draft a version for us to get started on. We had agreed to continue our work via e-mail from there on out rather than meeting in person again. Received the initial draft this evening and, for my part, I have gone over it and suggested a version built and crafted from the original draft. There will of course be much more work done to it before it is ready to be presented to those attending the next VICH meeting as well as later on to the administration.

The other subcommittee I am serving on concerns the 10-year plan for ending homelessness. This subcommittee had its initial meeting two weeks ago and had even more people around the table for a long and productive discussion as well. There is another meeting of this particular subcommittee coming up on September 1st, however since it is being held in Waterbury and I do not have transportation and am disinclined to go begging for rides, will not be able to attend it.

There is a VICH meeting also being held in Waterbury afterwards, yet because I just received word there will be the means to attend it via video conferencing at various sites across the state including Barre, it looks like I will be able to be present for that one. Had not been able to attend the last VICH meeting in person, but did so via phone and that means does not really work so well, thus I think the video conferencing should improve things quite a bit.

Although much of this is taking place deep behind the scenes and is happening somewhat slowly with a lot more hard work ahead, it is my belief that we are on course to have good proposals to move forward with which to present to the administration in time for them to consider well prior to what they might put forward to the state legislature upon their return next January (2012).

(cross-posted from Beyond VSH blog, here)

As sent to Vermont Department of Mental Health (VT DMH) Commissioner Christine Oliver, among others within the administration, fyi (hey, if one cannot have a little fun in this “business”, it just isn’t worth the bother doing):

Mental Health Advocacy Humor Break

Since it is on sale this week, I bought my first pint(s) of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream in a real long time. Could not decide on which of two different flavors to get, so ended up buying both. It is good to be able to enjoy the premium brand name version, rather than generic (lesser quality) versions, of my one and only preferred anti-depressant medication, which is always best when taken proactively of course. I only wish doctors were able to prescribe such and insurance covered it, then I could afford it more often when needed. The fact is I am not, nor have I ever been “treatment resistant”, just very particular about using what works, not what doesn’t.

Okay, the humor break is over now, sort of anyway.

Moral of the story aka food for thought:

Maybe if the State of Vermont were to consider voluntarily offering Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream, as well as, even more importantly, other things people could use to meet their basic human needs, including safe, decent and affordable housing when needed, rather than trying to find ways to make it easier as well as faster to force medicate and otherwise “treat” them (read: “treatment”) when they are experiencing a major crisis leading to the emotional and or so-called mental or psychiatric variety or vice versa, people would heal and eventually get better, outcomes would improve, as would their quality of life and, it would be more affordable to do too boot.

While the ice cream might not seem to be so important or vital in the greater scheme of things, it surely could not hurt and certainly would be an improvement over many of the damaging psychotropic drugs, including with all their hazardous effects, people are forced to take.

That stated, the key factor is most of the time they are denied choice in what should be their own treatment decisions, which should not be up to anyone else to make for them.

Do not take my word for it however, try a pint of Ben and Jerry’s and then try the medications forced on people locked up at the Vermont State Hospital (VSH) for yourself and find out which you would most prefer if truly given the choice.

Although the above also touches on more serious matters and concerns afoot of course, it is hoped it is received and taken with the dose of humor it is dipped as well as wrapped within.

🙂 [smile]

Morgan W. Brown

Montpelier, Vermont

“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”

—    Marie Curie

     French (Polish-born) chemist & physicist (1867 – 1934)

*Update 1*: As posted to Governor Peter Shumlin’s Facebook page (here):

I understand your recent concerns regarding Pete the Moose. In corroboration with H.91, I pardoned Pete and on Wednesday night the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board voted to stand behind Pete’s safety. As Governor, I can ensure Pete’s pardon is still in effect, as can Vermont Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Pat Berry, the Vermont Legislature and the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board. I will continue to keep your comments in mind as this moves forward.

Apparently it is not Pete the Moose whose head is on the block, however — if I understand it correctly — possibly over 200 other animals (i.e., “Over 200 Whitetail and a dozen moose”), here.

*Update 2*: fyi (excerpt; view full text of Act 54 (2011) summary, here; emphasis mine):

[…]

[…] Upon transfer of regulatory jurisdiction to the department, the captive cervidae facility shall be regulated as a captive hunt facility under the fish and wildlife board’s (board’s) rules governing the importation and possession of animals for hunting, except for the following: the entrapped wild cervidae may remain at the facility but shall be subject to hunt during an open season set by the board; the board shall adopt by rule a process to reduce the number of white-tailed deer or moose at the facility to zero over a three-year period from September 1, 2011, provided that the moose known as Pete shall not be hunted or killed; and the board shall adopt a process and protocol for a disease surveillance program at the facility. The act prohibits the owner of the captive cervidae facility from charging for the right to take white-tailed deer or moose, and no person may knowingly or intentionally allow wild cervidae to escape or be released from the facility.

[…]

Original post (updated):

Please help save Pete the Moose[‘s] as well as his friends today!

Apparently there is a plan afoot by the State of Vermont and its Fish and Wildlife Department to execute them  [over 200 whitetail deer and 12 other moose] on or about September 1st, despite what had been indicated previously would be the case.

Governor Peter Shumlin should save Pete the Moose[‘s friends], just like he said he would, here. There is no good or rational reason not to do so.

One wonders if Governor Shumlin has gone up to Irasburg in order to look Pete and his animal friends straight in the eye to let them know he has broken his promise and say something along the lines of “sorry Pete, but we’re going to have to execute you and your friends after all”. If not, then maybe he should do so.

Shame on Governor Peter the Hypocrite er, Governor Peter Shumlin!

Make sure to check out the related action going on at Facebook, here, here and here.

Although I cannot get up to Irasburg myself, it is hoped there will be huge numbers of people turning out up there before as well as on September 1st to show solidarity for Pete et al as well as to protest against this senseless slaughter.