Annual Legislative Breakfast on Mental Health to Focus on Housing

PRLog (Press Release) - Jan. 18, 2013 - DURHAM, N.C. – January 15, 2013 – Time is of the essence if you have a severe or persistent mental health condition and live in an adult care home. The state has extended funding for these vulnerable members of our communities who live in group homes, but only through January 31 of this year. The mental health community will take up this critical social justice issue at its 35thAnnual Legislative Breakfast on Mental Health, January 26, 2013 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at The William and Ida Friday Center for Continuing Education, 100 Friday Center Drive, in Chapel Hill. Guests include legislators from a five county area, as well as local elected officials, mental health providers and interested community members. Registration is free, but a $15 donation is suggested. A link to register online is available at www.mhatriangle.org.

The event is a joint effort of Caramore Community, Inc., Club Nova, Josh’s Hope Foundation, Inc., Mental Health America of the Triangle, NAMI Durham, NAMI Orange and Threshold Clubhouse. Speakers will focus on issues with group homes and housing placement, with a special emphasis on the recent U.S. Department of Justice ruling, which found the state to be non-compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The summer 2012 state budget omission that could have assisted mentally ill group home clients will also be addressed. Speakers at the event include:

o   Emery Cowan of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services

o   Ann Akland of NAMI Wake

o   Alex Harrison, a group home resident

“We anticipate another successful gathering at the 2013 Legislative Breakfast on Mental

Health,” says MHAT Executive Director Ben Staples, “and we are excited to be involved

in an event that will hopefully shed light on the important issues facing North Carolina.”

Nearly 300 participants have attended the breakfast in recent years.

Event sponsors to date include Alberta Professional Services, Inc., Allied Behavioral Healthcare, Carolina Outreach, CASA, KidSCope, Shared Visions Retreat Center, UNC Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health, and Save Wright School. Space is still available for additional event sponsors and includes promotional advertising in exchange for sponsorship. For sponsor information, contact David Chapman at 919-967-3402, or by email at dchapman@caramore.org. For non-internet registration or questions, contact Steve Bailey, registrar, at steve@joshshopefoundation.org or call 919-526-5287.

About Mental Health America of the Triangle

Mental Health America of the Triangle (MHAT) provides free services, education and

support, and collaborates with other community organizations throughout the region to help those with mental health and substance abuse conditions. Established in 1966 as The Mental Health Association in Orange County, the organization affiliated with Mental Health America

in 2010. MHAT is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization Located at 3729 Murphy School

Road in Durham, N.C. and is supported by private and corporate donations and grants. For additional information, please call 919.942.8083, email info@mhatriangle.org, or visit www.mhatriangle.org.

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For additional information:

For additional information:

Benjamin Staples, MS, MBA

Executive Director

Mental Health America of the Triangle

3729 Murphy School Road

Durham, NC 27705

919.942.8083

bstaples@mhatriangle.org

www.mhatriangle.org

Or

Libbie Hough

Public Relations

Comma

118 North Churton Street

Hillsborough, NC 27278

919.967.8070

libbiehough@cmatters.org          

www.cmatters.org