Mental Health Committee

Chewerl Radican, Chair

We in Benton and Franklin Counties are pleased with many aspects of our current mental health system including caring and proficient professionals and administrators; some housing for persons needing support and care at less than hospital levels; a local psychiatric hospital; mental health providers in each of the three Tri-Cities. At the same time, we should not be satisfied with the status quo. Too many with mental illness are untreated. Too many get jail sentences whose only real offense is being mentally ill. Too many with mental illness still lead disturbed, empty lives, who might, with best demonstrated practices, recover from their symptoms and reintegrate into society.
With this background, the Benton Franklin Community Health Alliance authorized formation of the Mental Health Committee in January 2003.
The mission of the committee is to facilitate the development of a comprehensive, coordinated mental health delivery system for the residents of our communities by bringing all stakeholders into the process.
First efforts were to recruit committee participation from stakeholders throughout the community including mental health providers, advocates, law enforcement officials, jail personnel, hospital staff, and the general public. A strong committee is in place. The interaction between mental health and law enforcement is particularly noteworthy inasmuch as they are both deeply involved with persons whose illness is not stabilized.
Next, the committee outlined the strengths and weaknesses of the system as it now exists in the bi-county area. The committee then went on to describe the ideal mental health system. The goal now is to make progress toward the ideal system.
These initial efforts, which will be continually revised and improved, have already identified worthwhile administrative improvements and areas deserving further evaluation. Specifically, the committee is addressing the benefits of closer integration of mental health and substance abuse services as a possible way to leverage available resources to gain improved services.

Annual Reports

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2007 Annual Report of Mental Health Committee

2006 Annual Report of Mental Health Committee

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	Mental Health Committee Chewerl Radican, Chair We in Benton and Franklin Counties are pleased with many aspects of our current mental health system including caring and proficient professionals and administrators; some housing for persons needing support and care at less than hospital levels; a local psychiatric hospital; mental health providers in each of the three Tri-Cities. At the same time, we should not be satisfied with the status quo. Too many with mental illness are untreated. Too many get jail sentences whose only real offense is being mentally ill. Too many with mental illness still lead disturbed, empty lives, who might, with best demonstrated practices, recover from their symptoms and reintegrate into society. With this background, the Benton Franklin Community Health Alliance authorized formation of the Mental Health Committee in January 2003. The mission of the committee is to facilitate the development of a comprehensive, coordinated mental health delivery system for the residents of our communities by bringing all stakeholders into the process. First efforts were to recruit committee participation from stakeholders throughout the community including mental health providers, advocates, law enforcement officials, jail personnel, hospital staff, and the general public. A strong committee is in place. The interaction between mental health and law enforcement is particularly noteworthy inasmuch as they are both deeply involved with persons whose illness is not stabilized. Next, the committee outlined the strengths and weaknesses of the system as it now exists in the bi-county area. The committee then went on to describe the ideal mental health system. The goal now is to make progress toward the ideal system. These initial efforts, which will be continually revised and improved, have already identified worthwhile administrative improvements and areas deserving further evaluation. Specifically, the committee is addressing the benefits of closer integration of mental health and substance abuse services as a possible way to leverage available resources to gain improved services. Annual Reports All reports require the free Adobe Acrobat Reader program to view or print. To download visit Adobe Acrobat. 2007 Annual Report of Mental Health Committee 2006 Annual Report of Mental Health Committee

Mission

Mental Health Committee

Annual Reports