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| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #308 |
| Housing Assistance for the Mentally Ill |
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| Requester: |
Derya E. Williams |
Organization: |
River Region Human Services, Inc. |
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| Project Title: |
Housing Assistance for the Mentally Ill |
Date Submitted |
1/5/2004 2:10:51 PM |
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| Sponsors: |
Wise |
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| Statewide Interest: |
| The unmet need of mental health and substance abuse clients who are transient and homeless, needing residential care and supportive services. |
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| Recipient: |
River Region Human Services, Inc. |
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Contact: |
Derya E. Williams, Chief Execuitive Officer |
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660 Park Street |
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Contact Phone: |
(904) 899-6300 |
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Jacksonville 32204 |
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Contact email: |
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| Counties: |
Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, St. Johns |
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| Gov't Entity: |
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Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
Yes |
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| Project Description: |
| In May 1992, River Region Human Services, Inc. (RRHS) began providing residential care with overlay services including case management, substance abuse and mental health services to homeless, HIV infected, substance-abusing and/or metally ill individuals at its Adult Living Facility (ALF). The ALF provides housing for people who are not currently requiring 24-hour a day skilled medical care. Many of these people would otherwise be homeless & unable to make successful transition to the community. The mentally ill client without support and structure does not adequately take care of oneself. Additionally, housing, supervision, and support services including day treatment and case management, narrows the gaps for future infection rates of HIV.
A critical need exists for these residential services for individuals living with mental illness in Jacksonville. Individuals with mental illness and/or chronic substance addiction are priority populations for The 2002 Duval County Homeless Continuum of Care. It is well established that metal illness and substance abuse often lead to homelessness. Furthermore, a lack of drug-free housing often leads to drug relapse and chronic homelessness.
The World Book Online reports that during the 1950's, effective mental health medication treatments led to a reduction in the number of hospitalized individuals living with mental illness. In just a few short years, the number of patients admitted to psychiatric facilities dramatically declined. Unfortunately, many communities lack adequate services and facilities to help mentally ill people readjust to living independently. The RRHS ALF is desperately required to meet this need.
The ALF provides a suppotive environment in which clients receive help in getting medical care, attending appropriate treatment and taking medications. Unless mentally ill individuals are able to adhere to medication regimens, they often decline emotionally and/or medically and de-compensate to the point of requiring emergency crisis intervention.
Residents of the ALF share a bedroom with a compatible roommate. They share a nicely decorated living room, laundry room, and bathroom with the other residents. Residents also have access to a community kitchen, and outdoor patio. Nutritious meals are delivered daily. Each individual is linked with appropriate supportive services. Transportation is provided to necessary appointments. To address medical needs, each individual that moves into the ALF has an assessment with a River Region nurse, who obtains information on disease history, medications, general health and medical care.
To ensure the most appropriate mental health services are delivered, River Region's mental health professionals use an in-depth narrative developed by its Medical Director to assess each indiviual's mental health needs. After the psychosocial assessment, the staff Psychiatrist conducts a psychiatric evaluation using another in-depth narrative. For individuals with indications of mental health disorders, the psychiatrist and mental health professionals develop indiviual treatment plans (ITP) of mental health services appropriate for clients' needs. Clients review and sign ITPs to acknowledge goals and objectives for treatment. Mental health professionals monitor progress toward meeting goals at least bi-monthly. In addition, River Region's Registered Nurse Practioner has many years of experience in the mental health field. As and ARNP and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, she is qualified to prescribe psychiatric medications under the supervision of a medical doctor, as well as provide mental health counseling. With over 20 years of experience in providing human services, RRHS has a proven track record of providing comprehensive services to ensure individual client's needs are appropriately met as cost-effectively as possible. |
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| Is this a water project as described in Chapter 2002-291, Laws of Florida? |
No |
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| Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
| 1. Through appropriate placements-50 mental health or substance abuse clients will be served. 2. Continuous medical management of at-risk mental health clients through direct observed therapy. |
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| Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$750,000 |
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| Total cost of the project: |
$750,000 |
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| Request has been made to fund: |
Operations |
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| What type of match exists for this project? |
Local |
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Cash Amount |
$ |
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In-kind Amount |
$50,000 |
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| Was this project previously funded by the state? |
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No |
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| Is future-year funding likely to be requested? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget? |
Unknown |
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| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
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Documentation: |
Matter of Records - Dept. of Children and Families |
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| Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)? |
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Yes |
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Hearing Body: |
Duval County Delegation |
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Hearing Meeting Date: |
11/14/2003 |
