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From the Publisher – The Economy’s Impact on People and Community Services
As we all watched on TV and felt firsthand when we pay our monthly bills, we have been in the midst of an economic meltdown not seen since the Depression of the 1930’s. The Stock Market tanked, the housing market crashed, foreclosures reached all-time highs, and many people lost their homes and...
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The Economics of Recovery: Demystifying Government Work Incentives
Joanne is diagnosed with Schizophrenia. She receives $761/Mo. in Social Security Disability Income (SSI), $200/Mo. in Food Stamps, she has her own one-bedroom apartment thru Supported Housing (Section 8), Medicaid and a half-fare bus pass. She applied for a part-time cashiers’ position at...
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An Overview of Timothy’s Law: Its Past, Present, and Future
Like many structural shifts in public policy, it often takes a horrific tragedy to move us to do the right thing. Case in point-Timothy’s Law. Named after Timothy O’Clair, a 12-year old boy who committed suicide shortly before his thirteenth birthday, the law demands that insurance companies...
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The NYSPA Report: New Federal Parity Law May Expand Coverage for Mental Illness in New York
This edition of the NYSPA Report discusses the impact that new federal parity legislation may have on the coverage of mental health and substance abuse services in New York State. The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, signed into law on October 3, 2008,...
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Mental Health Policy in a Time of Economic Crisis
Do we need to shift mental health policy in this time of economic crisis? I think we do. I think we need to worry about the impact of economic decline on people with serious, long-term mental illness, and I think we need to build concern about the emotional well-being of the American people into...
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The Economics of Recovery – What Recipients Want: A Look at Aligning Agendas
I find most people’s agendas are predictable; big corporations want more profits, politicians want to be reelected, bureaucrats want more job security, professionals want better outcomes, academics want more research, unions want, well, just more. But what do recipients want? Medications without...
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The NYSPA Report – NYS Governor’s Executive Budget Proposal: Issues for the Mental Health System
This edition of the NYSPA Report focuses on the Governor Paterson Executive Budget Proposal for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. Customarily, the Governor’s annual budget proposal is released in January of each year. However, because, in the words of Governor Paterson, the state is facing the most...
