=== Center of Attention ===
Newsletter of CHADD of Northern California
Also at: http://www.chaddnorcal.org/newsletter
27 September 2004

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>> IN THIS ISSUE <<
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*Calendar of Events
*Feature: CHADD of Northern California Supports Proposition 63,
California's Mental Health Services Act
*Please Tell Us
*Subscription Information
*CHADD Information

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>> CALENDAR OF EVENTS <<
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This calendar only has events for the next 3 or 4 weeks listed. It
also does not list some other CHADD groups which may be closer to you
and it does not list some non-CHADD events. For a thorough calendar,
including directions, look at: http://www.chaddnorcal.org/schedule
and also http://www.chaddnorcal.org/schedule/otherevent.htm.

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Online - 9/28/2004, Tues. 4 - 6 pm PST
"Ask The Expert" Chat -- Sandra Reif, MA, will chat on "Back to School" Issues
Online Chat, Internet - Contact: Chat Web Page: www.chadd.org - Support - Chat
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Alameda - 9/28/2004, Tues. 7 - 9 pm
Adult Support Group --
Lynnwood United Methodist Church, Pleasanton - Contact: Pattie: 925-548-3997
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Contra Costa - 9/28/2004, Tues. 7 - 9 pm
Danville Parent Meeting: -- Topic followed by Group Discussion
Los Cerros Middle School Library, Danville - Contact: Liz: 925-886-8735
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Marin - 10/4/2004, Mon. 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Parent Resource & Support Group -- Call for directions in Mill Valley.
Mill Valley Home, Mill Valley - Contact: Victoria Vogel & Holly
Seerley: 415-383-6048 or 415-924-6656
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Sacramento - 10/5/2004, Tues. 6:45 p.m.; 7-9 pm
The New ADHD and Bipolar Disorder -- Presented by John Capel PhD.
Sutter Center for Psychiatry, Sacramento - Contact: Greater
Sacramento CHADD: 916-552-1557
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Stanislaus - 10/5/2004, Tues. 7 - 8pm
Modesto Support Group -- (No children please)
Doctors Medical Center, Modesto - Contact: Bonnie: 209-523-4939
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San Francisco - 10/6/2004, Wed. 7:00 pm
Jonathan Mooney speaks! -- Parents Education Network (PEN) and
Convent of the Sacred Heart High School presenting. Donation
requested at the door, ($25 suggested).
Syufy Theater, San Francisco - Contact: Parent Education Network
(PEN): PENBayArea@...
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Santa Clara - 10/6/2004, Wed. 7:15 pm - 9:30 pm
Mark Schiller, M.D. -- Will discuss guiding medications with
electroencephalography
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Silicon Valley Warmline:
650-949-5472
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San Francisco - 10/6/2004, Wed. 8:30 am - 4:30pm
"Hoarding and Cluttering: Solutions 2004" presented by the Mental
Health Association of San Francisco. -- Confirmed Presenters
include: Sanjaya Saxena, MD and Ann Levine, Esq. Registration online;
No one turned away for lack of funds.
Marines Memorial Club - 609 Sutter, San Francisco - Contact: Mental
Health Association of San Francisco: 415-241-2926 or visit
www.mha-sf.org.
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Marin - 10/7/2004, Thu. 7-9 pm
Goals: Inside Out - Linda Lawton, E.T., educational therapist, coach,
Learningstrategies@...
A workshop for adults and teens. Learn some simple strategies to help you
take daily actions. Build a system that helps you appreciate your
accomplishments. (Note location change for this event.)
Town Center Corte Madera Community Room, Corte Madera - Contact:
Beverlee: 415-789-9464
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Santa Clara - 10/7/2004, Thu. 7:15 - 9:30 pm
Kitty Petty ADD/LD Institute - Discussion, Sharing Successful
Strategies with other ADDults. --
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Kitty Petty ADD/LD
Institute: 650-329-9443 or visit www.kpinst.org
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Santa Clara - 10/12/2004, Tues. 7:15 - 9 pm
Support Group for Partners! -- Support and community-resource
information for the partners of folks with ADHD. PLEASE NOTE: This is
NOT a support group for people with AD/HD, nor for couples, nor for
parents. It is EXCLUSIVELY for PARTNERS of people with ADHD, and
others will have to be turned away.
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Gina Pera: 888-759-9758
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Alameda - 10/13/2004, Wed. 7 - 8:45 pm
Tri-Valley Parent Support Meeting -- Possible speaker to be announced.
Thomas J. Hart Middle School, Pleasanton - Contact: JoAnn Matone: 925-484-2173
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Alameda - 10/16/2004, Sat. 9:00a.m.-12:00p.m
"The Reluctant Writer: What's Going On?" Featuring Regina G.
Richards, M.A. -- The First in Northern California - International
Dyslexia Association's Series: Writing Research, Writing Practice.
Tickets $40-$55.
UC-Berkeley Extension International Center, Berkeley - Contact:
International Dyslexia Association: 650-328-7667 or visit
www.dyslexia-ncbida.org
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San Francisco - 10/18/2004, Mon. 7 - 9 pm
Adult Success Group -- Share skills and strategies for success at
home, in the workplace, in relationships, etc.
First Unitarian Universalist Church, San Francisco - Contact: Rachel
Rosenfeld: 888-759-9758
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Online - 10/19/2004, Tues. 4 - 6 pm PST
"Ask The Expert" Chat -- Sam Goldstein, Ph.D. will chat on Resiliency
Online Chat, Internet - Contact: Chat Web Page: www.chadd.org - Support - Chat
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Contra Costa - 10/19/2004, Tues. 7 - 9 pm
Danville Adult Meeting: -- Topic followed by Group Discussion
Los Cerros Middle School Library, Danville - Contact: Liz: 925-886-8735
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Marin - 10/19/2004, Tues. 7-9 pm
Adult Support Group, with SueZee Poinsett, Professional coach and
organizer. -- Free, drop-in peer-support group. Talk with others who
really understand. And share and develop life skills. In addition, if
you want to work on skills for sorting and purging papers, bring your
paper piles.
Marin Community Mental Health, Greenbrae - Contact: Beverlee: 415-789-9464
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Santa Clara - 10/20/2004, Wed. 7:15 - 9:30 pm
Silicon Valley Adult, Parent and Spouse Support Groups -- Separate
peer-facilitated groups let you share struggles and strategies with
each other. Includes video.
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Silicon Valley Warmline:
650-949-5472
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Napa - 10/21/2004, Thu. 7 - 9 pm
Parent/Guardian Support Group -- Focusing on education,ADHD
strengths,and strategies to manage challenges.(it's good to call
first to confirm the date/time and to inquire about the meeting's
topic).
St. John's Lutheran Church, Napa - Contact: Karen Shepard:
707-452-8970, or ksnapa@...
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Marin - 10/25/2004, Mon. 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Parent Resource & Support Group -- Call for directions in Mill Valley.
Mill Valley Home, Mill Valley - Contact: Victoria Vogel & Holly
Seerley: 415-383-6048 or 415-924-6656
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Alameda - 10/26/2004, Tues. 7 - 9 pm
Adult Support Group --
Lynnwood United Methodist Church, Pleasanton - Contact: Pattie: 925-548-3997
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Contra Costa - 10/26/2004, Tues. 7 - 9 pm
Danville Parent Meeting: -- Topic followed by Group Discussion
Los Cerros Middle School Library, Danville - Contact: Liz: 925-886-8735
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Out of Area - 10/28/2004, thru 10/30/2004
The 16 th Annual CHADD International Conference on
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder -- Striking the Right Note
Through Science, Education and Support.
Renaissance Nashville Hotel and Convention Center, Nashville, TN -
Contact: See Website: www.chadd.org
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>> FEATURE ARTICLE <<
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CHADD of Northern California Supports Proposition 63, California's
Mental Health Services Act

The following is from http://www.yeson63.org/ For more analysis of
the proposition, see: http://www.lao.ca.gov/ballot/2004/63_11_2004.htm

Here are a dozen "Frequently Asked Questions" to help you understand
why this proposition is so important to us.

1. What would the Mental Health Services Act initiative do?

The Mental Health Services Act will expand mental health care
programs for children and adults. The measure provides services to
persons currently disabled by mental illness, persons showing signs
of mental illness in need of prevention services, and to families and
caregivers of those affected.

2. What kinds of services are offered?

The Mental Health Services Act will provide much more than mental
health counseling and care. The measure uses the "integrated
services" model to provide a range of services, an approach proven
through programs created under AB 34, enacted by the Legislature in
1999. Services include outreach, medical care, short and long-term
housing, prescription drugs, vocational training, and self-help and
social rehabilitation.

3. How much money would the initiative raise for mental health care
in California?

The initiative will directly raise approximately $700 million dollars
per year for mental health services in California. Because of the
initiative, California would also qualify for additional federal
funds, raising the annual total to more than $1 billion.

4. Does the initiative only help the poor and uninsured?

The Mental Health Services Act offers services to persons and
families without insurance, or for whom insurance coverage of mental
health care has been exhausted. Family payment obligations would be
on a sliding fee schedule based on ability to pay.

5. How will the initiative help children facing mental illness?

The Mental Health Services Act creates children's services targeted
to those not covered by existing programs, particularly those with
untreated mental disorders placing them at risk of severe mental
illness, removal from home, suicide or violent behavior.

Additionally, the Mental Health Services Act assures that parents
will not be required to relinquish custody of a child in order to
make the child eligible for medically necessary mental health care
services.

6. Where will the money come from to pay for these new programs?

The Mental Health Services Act pays for expanded programs through a
surcharge on income above $1 million per year. The new 1% surcharge
applies to each dollar earned over $1 million. The surcharge would
raise approximately $600 million per year. The program phases in over
a three-year period. Some costs for facilities and education and
training of new personnel are included in the initiative's funding.

7. Who will ensure that the money is spent properly?

The measure creates a new Citizens Oversight and Accountability
Commission to annually review each county's expenditure plan and
ensure that all expenditures are in accord with the voters' wishes.
In addition, the initiative only authorizes services in accordance
with the Children's and Adults' Systems of Care. These systems
require each county's expenditures for each person to be approved by
the State Department of Mental Health. All expenditures are audited
by state and local agencies and all service providers are subject to
local oversight and state licensing.

8. Are there any benefits from this program for average California taxpayers?

The Mental Health Services Act generates hundreds of millions of
dollars in savings. Experience with AB 34 programs shows that, by
treating mental illness earlier and more effectively, savings are
generated in reduced hospital costs, jail costs, and medical and
welfare costs.

9. How will the money from Prop 63 be distributed?

Counties will receive funds to deliver services under Proposition 63
to the extent that they demonstrate that they have significant unmet
needs and establish that they have the resources and capability to
deliver services that meet the standards under the nationally
recognized integrated services model for adults and seniors and the
children's system of care. Similar requirements will be established
by the Oversight and Accountability Commission which must approve
expenditures for prevention and early intervention programs and/or
for innovative programs.

Under the law, many counties contract with private, mostly nonprofit
mental health agencies to deliver services. Counties and these
agencies will be required to establish positive outcomes to clients
as a result of the services delivered as a condition of receiving
funds in future years.

10. How will Prop 63 funding be distributed to counties?

See http://www.yeson63.org/site/PageServer?pagename=faq_counties

11. Should I believe the opposition's statement that Prop. 63 is a
"flawed attempt" to improve and expand mental health services?
See http://www.yeson63.org/site/PageServer?pagename=faq

Our present system is one of "silos" of services. Different programs
that provide services all have different eligibility criteria, which
has resulted in a system of services that is fractured, that is very
difficult to navigate, and that leaves clients without services in
many situations.

Prop 63 requires counties to restructure services based on the
integrated services approach of the AB 34 (Steinberg) programs. It
will provide funding only for that program (and a similar program for
children) which has specific standards and measures that demonstrate
how it has reduced hospitalizations by 66% and incarcerations by 81%.
Both that program and the children's system of care have been
recognized as national models by a recent Presidential Commission.
What is flawed is the opposition's argument, which ignores these
improvements in mental healthcare and tries to scare people into
believing the funding will go to outdated approaches, which leading
mental health policymakers have already rejected.

12. Will Prop. 63 fund a static system of delivery of mental health
services, or will the services funded by Prop. 63 be able to change
and improve as new best practices are established and new research
breakthroughs achieved?

Prop. 63 was developed and composed to establish a system that will
be able to change and grow because mental health is a changing field,
with new "best practices" being established on an ongoing basis, and
research breakthroughs occurring every day. Under Prop. 63, counties
will conduct a public review and hearing process to develop an
updated three year plan every year. Programs will be funded under one
of the categories under Prop. 63 to the extent that they establish
that they are able to provide services that are effective and
successful and lead to positive outcomes for the clients. Prop. 63
will fund innovative programs, prevention and early intervention
programs, services for adults and for children, capital facilities,
and human resources development. Outcomes for each program will be
evaluated, and only those programs that work the best will continue
to be funded with Prop. 63 money and counties will be required to
change their approach to respond to new evidence of best practices
and better outcomes.

More information at: http://www.yeson63.org/

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>> PLEASE TELL US <<
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We thank members for their responses to the Newsletter. Any comments,
suggestions, or criticisms will be greatly appreciated. Please
continue to help us make this newsletter and CHADD of Northern
California more beneficial to you all.

We also invite readers to share their experiences with us and other
members. Please feel free to write to us about anything that you
would like to see published.

You can e-mail your comments to us at Lew@.... Simply
replying to this e-mail will also send your message to the editor.

Lew Mills, Editor

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About the Newsletter:

The Center of Attention is CHADD of Northern California's bi-weekly
newsletter. The newsletter is designed to keep you up to date with
CHADD of Northern California's activities and updates in the field.

* CHADD Works to Improve the Lives of People with
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder through Education, Advocacy,
and Support *

Contact:
--

Lew Mills, PhD, LMFT
Editor, "Center of Attention"
CHADD of Northern California, Chapter # 504
mailto:Lew@...
http://www.chaddnorcal.org/newsletter
Fax or Voice Message: 510-291-2950
Toll Free 888-759-9758