Gov. Beshear Announces New Homelessness Prevention and Housing Program

Kentucky.gov: - Press Release

RANKFORT, Ky.—Gov. Steve Beshear, along with Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC) Chief Executive Officer Richard L. McQuady, and Kentucky Interagency Council on Homelessness (KICH) Chair Kentucky Sen. Gerald Neal, today announced that Kentucky has applied for more than $18.5 million for a new program to provide rental assistance and services to prevent people from becoming homeless and to help those who are experiencing homelessness.

On Feb. 17, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which includes $1.5 billion for the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program.  In Kentucky, this program is called Kentucky’s Housing and Emergency Assistance Reaching The Homeless (KY HEARTH) Program.

Louisville, Lexington, Covington, and the state have applied for direct allocations of funding for the KY HEARTH Program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  KHC will administer the funding for the state. Nonprofits or units of local government are eligible to apply for funding from the state through a competitive process. KHC will hold an application training on June 16 and applications will be due to KHC by July 14, 2009.  KHC will select all subgrantees and obligate funds to them by Sep.30, 2009.  Individuals seeking assistance should contact subgrantees after Sep. 30.  For more information about KY HEARTH, visit the Kentucky Homeless Web site at www.kyhomeless.org.

Kentucky Attorney General Conway Announces $5.1 Million Settlement With Eli Lilly

Kentucky.gov: - Attorney General Conway Announces $5.1 Million Settlement With Eli Lilly

Attorney General Jack Conway today announced a $5.1 million settlement with Eli Lilly and Company over allegations of improper marketing of the antipsychotic drug, Zyprexa. The settlement resolves allegations that Eli Lilly engaged in unfair and deceptive practices when it marketed Zyprexa, used to treat certain psychological disorders, for off-label uses that had not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The claims alleged that Eli Lilly promoted the off-label sale and use of Zyprexa primarily through an aggressive marketing campaign called “Viva Zyprexa.” The campaign promoted the drug to psychiatrists and primary care physicians for unapproved uses such as treatment for depression, anxiety, irritability, disrupted sleep, nausea and gambling addiction.  The company also allegedly persuaded physicians to prescribe Zyprexa for pediatric use as well as for treating dementia patients in long term care facilities, often at the expense of Medicaid.

“This settlement not only allows us to recover funds for a vital state program that benefits the sick and needy, it also sends an important message that Kentucky will not tolerate drug companies that fail to comply with the rules by misleading and deceiving the public,” said General Conway.

The consent judgment resolves both Medicaid fraud and consumer protection claims and contains comprehensive injunctive terms that will prohibit Eli Lilly from any further unfair or deceptive promotion of Zyprexa. The terms, which will remain in effect for six years, require the company to disclose payments of more than $100 to promotional speakers and consultants and register all studies and post the results of those studies.  Additionally, Lilly sales representatives may only sample Zyprexa to a health care provider whose clinical practice is consistent with the product’s labeling.

Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder) - HealthyPlace

Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder) - HealthyPlace

Social Phobia is characterized by an intense fear of situations, usually social or performance situations, where embarrassment may occur. Individuals with the disorder are acutely aware of the physical signs of their anxiety and fear that others will notice, judge them, and think poorly of them. This fear often results in extreme anxiety in anticipation of an activity, a Panic Attack when faced with an activity, or in the avoidance of an activity altogether. Adults usually recognize that their fears are unfounded or excessive, but suffer them nonetheless.

DPH Releases 2008 Health Behavior and Chronic Diseases Survey Findings

Kentucky.gov: - BRFSS08

The Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) today announced the release of the state’s 2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Systems (BRFSS) data, a national survey conducted in all states now considered the world’s largest, ongoing telephone health survey system.

Among other things, the survey found that in 2008 vast numbers of Kentuckians continue to categorize themselves as unhealthy and leading unhealthy lifestyles. The BRFSS, which is conducted by the Division of Prevention and Quality Improvement in DPH, looks at numerous health indicators, such as diet and physical activity, to determine the health and lifestyle habits of Kentuckians.

“The BRFSS is a wonderful tool that allows us to paint a portrait of our state’s health status,” said William Hacker, M.D., DPH commissioner. “Each year, we use information from this survey to learn more about health risk behaviors, shape recommendations for preventive health practices, and determine to what extent Kentuckians have access to care, particularly for chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.”

The BRFSS program tracks health conditions and risk behaviors of adults 18 and older in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) established the survey in 1984. 
The Kentucky BRFSS is the main source of non-reportable disease data in Kentucky broken down by demographics like gender, race, age group, income levels, education status and geographic areas like Area Development Districts.

In 2008, Kentucky adults 18 years and older reported a 20.3 percent prevalence of fair or poor general health. In general, residents of Kentucky’s Appalachian counties reported higher rates of poor health and chronic diseases than those in non-Appalachian counties. In addition, Kentuckians with a high school degree or less and those with lower income levels reported higher rates of poor health and chronic diseases.

Eagles’ Shawn Andrews Battles Doubts and Depression

Eagles’ Shawn Andrews Battles Doubts and Depression - NYTimes.com

In an interview May 3 at the Eagles’ minicamp, the 6-foot-5, 330-pound Shawn Andrews did something that athletes almost never do — especially offensive linemen in theN.F.L. who are shielded by helmets, pads and a macho culture that discourages any acknowledgment of vulnerability. He spoke at length about his struggles with depression, which he revealed last summer after holding out from training camp.

Andrews weighed 230 pounds by age 12 and said he had wrestled with his self-image for years, having been picked on because of his size and because he grew up poor in Camden, Ark. He said he received word before his rookie season in 2004 that a childhood friend was planning to have him killed over money. He said he had come to regret spending lavishly on expensive cars and other baubles that he now considered frivolous.

Accessibility in the Arts

Kentucky.gov: - AccessWkshps09

The Kentucky Arts Council and the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts have partnered to present a series of accessibility workshops in communities that have received Cultural District Planning Grants from the Kentucky Arts Council with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

 

The workshops will be led by Martha M. Newman, Director of Access Services at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts and will focus on a wide range of accessibility issues that face communities as they develop arts districts. Topics will include information about basic law covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act, tax incentives for compliance, making historic buildings accessible and basic protocols for working with people with disabilities.

 

The first workshop will be hosted by the City of Berea on Tuesday, May 26, from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EDT at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea, Berea, Ky.

 

Maysville's workshop will be on Tuesday, June 2, from 8:00 -10:00 a.m. EDT at theKentucky Gateway Museum, 212 Sutton St., Maysville, Ky.

 

The final workshop will be on Tuesday, June 16 from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. CDT at theKentucky Repertory Theatre Educational Arts Center, 107 E. Main St., Horse Cave,Ky.

 

Workshops are free but pre-registration is appreciated. To pre-register contact Martha M. Newman, Director of Access Services, The Kentucky Center,mnewman@kentuckycenter.org or (502) 562-0711 (V) 502-562-0140 (TTV).

Leadership Academy in June: applications due May 20

The Department for Mental Health Developmental Disabilities, and Addiction Services, and Bluegrass Regional Mental Health/Mental Retardation Board are presenting a Level I Leadership Academy for adult consumers of mental health services. The training will be held June 1, 2, and 3, at the Bluegrass Regional Office at 1351 Newtown Pike in the Board Room.

The Academy is designed to teach participants how to develop leadership skills, how to improve organizational and advocacy skills, how to identify and present issues, and how to develop group action plans.

Potential Leadership Academy candidates should be self-motivated, committed to self-recovery and helping others, be willing to participate in ongoing activities, have good verbal and organizational skills, and have an interest in representing consumer issues.

Please distribute this information to anyone you think may be interested in participating in this training initiative. They must complete the enclosed Registration Form/Fact Sheet and return to me by May 20^th at the address listed on the registration form address or email me with the information and carol.saylor@ky.gov. In addition, you may contact me by phone at 1-800-374-9146 if you have any questions or concerns.

We are looking forward to this collaborative training with Bluegrass Community Mental Health Center with excitement and enthusiasm.  

You can access the application form here:  http://xrl.us/ldrshp

The 2009 Youth Services Summit

http://www.performanceweb.org/2009/04/10/s262/

 

The 2009 Youth Services Summit

July 30-31, 2009
Optional Pre-Conference Workshop: July 29, 2009
Washington, DC

 

At this Conference You Will Learn to:
Address the Needs of Today’s Youth to Inspire Success in the 21st Century
Harness the presidential administration focus on youth to benefit your work today and in the future

Obtain Recovery Act Money to Further Youth Education, Development and Workforce Involvement
Prepare, plan for, obtain and manage funds under the Recovery Act to increase the workforce and drive results for your program

Establish Performance Measures to Enhance Youth Services
Develop and utilize performance measures to evaluate progress and develop a plan to increase youth outcomes

Promote Collaboration and Drive Change through Public-Private Partnerships
Cultivate successful relationships with the business community, foundations, government agencies and youth serving-systems to create new opportunities

 

Indictment of a behavioral analyst at Our Lady of Peace

Kentucky.gov: - Our Lady of Peace Behavioral Analyst Indicted For Criminal Abuse

Attorney General Jack Conway today announced the indictment of a behavioral analyst working at Our Lady of Peace Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky for criminal abuse in the second degree. A Jefferson County grand jury indicted Jeffrey Dillen, 28, of Louisville, on Thursday, May 7, 2009 for criminal abuse II, a class D felony which carries a sentence of up to five years in prison.

Dillen is charged in connection with an incident in May 2008 when, while conducting research for a presentation, he allowed Katlyn Moore to bang her head on a concrete floor 129 times.  The victim, Moore, was a teenager diagnosed with cerebral palsy, autism, and mental retardation, with a history of self injurious behavior, all of which was known by the defendant.

Investigators from the Office of the Attorney General, Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control Division, conducted the criminal investigation of this case and prosecutors from the Medicaid Fraud Division are handling the prosecution at the request of the Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.

“Protecting our most vulnerable citizens is a priority for my administration and we will continue to investigate and prosecute abuse and neglect cases throughout this Commonwealth.”   General Conway said.

Arraignment is scheduled in Jefferson Circuit Court, division five on Monday, May 11, 2009 at 10:30 a.m.

An indictment is an allegation and the defendant is deemed innocent until proven guilty.

SCS and U of L to fight underage drinking

Seven Counties Partnering with U of L to Fight Underage Drinking

 Seven Counties’ Regional Prevention Center (RPC) has teamed with U of L to fight underage drinking and substance abuse among students. U of L’s Community Coalition to Reduce Underage and Problem Drinking includes students, faculty/administration, on- and off-campus law enforcement, parents, area businesses and Seven Counties' RPC. U of L was awarded funding from Beam Global Spirits and Wine to implement prevention strategies from the International Institute for Alcohol Awareness and its "Be Wise" Toolkit. RPC staff provides technical assistance to the coalition to strengthen campus drug and alcohol policies, community collaboration, social norms and education/intervention for at-risk students.

 Results from a 2008 National College Health Assessment survey of U of L students indicated that 49.4% reported using alcohol in the last 30 days and 20.8% reported drinking 5 or more alcoholic beverages at one sitting in the last 2 weeks. Students also reported that, while they had been drinking, 34.5% did something they later regretted; 33% forgot where they were or what they had done; 16.8% had unprotected sex; and 14.5% were physically injured. 

Goldie Hawn Champions Children’s Mental Health

NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 7, 2009

Contact: Christine Armstrong (703) 312-7893                                 

christinea@nami.org                                                                       

Goldie Hawn Champions Children’s Mental Health

           

Washington, DC– In honor of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, Goldie Hawn, child advocate and founder of The Hawn Foundation, campaigned for effective children’s mental health programs at a Congressional briefing today.

 

“Children represent a fraction of our population, but 100% of our future. One in ten suffers from serious mental health disorders, and most aren’t getting the help they need. We need to address this crisis before it’s too late,” Hawn said.

 

Working with leading neuroscientists, educators, and researchers, The Hawn Foundation developed a program for grades K-7 that improves children’s emotional and cognitive skills to help them understand and manage their own emotions, moods and behaviors; reduce stress and anxiety; sharpen concentration; increase empathy; and improve their performance in school.

 

“Increasing social and emotional learning skills is cost-effective and makes a big impact,” Hawn said. “Congress should increase funding to scale up programs like these to save our children’s lives, save our schools, and save our nation’s money, too.”

The briefing focused on investment in the educational future of children with mental health needs, a population that has the highest drop-out and failure rates and the lowest academic achievement of any disability group. The briefing was jointly hosted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Mental Health America, the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, and theNational Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health (National Federation).

 

Howard Muscott, director of the New Hampshire Center for Effective Behavioral Interventions and Supports, and Kathryn Power, director of the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), presented positive outcomes data from CMHS grant sites across the country. The data shows that effective children’s mental health programs promote positive youth development, recovery, and increased resiliency, allowing children with mental health needs to thrive in their communities.

 

The briefing also highlighted the need for congressional support for Positive Behavior for Effective Schools Act and the Mental Health in Schools Act, legislation that recognizes the partnership that must be established between schools and communities to ensure that children with mental health needs are identified and linked with effective services and supports.

More info:

Christine Armstrong

Media Relations Associate

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

 

christinea@nami.org

Health Insurers Agree to End Higher Premiums for Women - NYTimes.com

Health Insurers Agree to End Higher Premiums for Women - NYTimes.com

Public Service Recognition Week

public_service_recognition_week

"Government Goes Green" is the theme of this year's Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW). Taking place on the National Mall inWashington, D.C. between 4th and 7th Streets, the public is welcome to check out tons of exhibits from different government agencies showcasing their work and what they're doing to make a positive impact on the planet through environmentally friendly practices and initiatives.

Running from Thursday, May 7th through Sunday, May 10th (military only exhibiting on Sunday) more than 100 civilian and military agencies will be represented. Friday is "student day" and will feature U.S. Secretary ofEducation Arne Duncan speaking at 10:30 a.m. Students of all ages are encouraged to attend. There will also be an astronaut on site for kids to meet.

For those seeking employment, many agencies like the Department of Labor will be showcasing exciting job opportunities.

For more information and a full schedule of events, check out the official PSRW website.

Children's Mental Health Awareness Event at the Newport Aquarium

Kentucky.gov: - KEYS Fashion

Kentuckians Encouraging Youth to Succeed (KEYS), a part of the Department for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addiction Services, will gather Saturday, May 9, at the Newport Aquarium to emphasize the importance of children’s mental health awareness.

Youth involved with the KEYS program along with students from Covington Holmes High School’s modeling club will conduct a fashion show and education event to promote awareness and reach out to their peer groups. The event will be at 5:30 p.m. at the aquarium. Tickets are required for entry, but the event is open to all media.

“Awareness of mental health issues, particularly for children, adolescents and teenagers, is important as we move forward in the recognition of mental health, accessible and affordable treatment, and erasing the stigma attached to mental illness,” said Devon Lindsey, KEYS marketing specialist. “Northern Kentucky teens want to show their peers that it’s possible to thrive when youth with mental concerns have the right supports and services available.”

An original educational video produced by students from The Art Institute of Ohio-Cincinnati profiling youth in the show will be featured. Additionally, program participants will stage a fashion show showcasing a variety of fashions in the shade of green – the color symbolizing children’s mental health awareness – donated by Plato’s Closet, with hair and make-up from Art Institute students.

The goal of the event is to reach out to teens in northern Kentucky, bringing children’s mental health issues to the forefront. Ultimately, the program aims to help young people feel comfortable addressing mental health needs.

“One in five children and adolescents has a mental health disorder, and one in 10 has a serious emotional disturbance, but many of our young people don’t know how to seek help,” said Lindsey. “We have to erase the stigma attached to mental illness so that our young people can get the help they need and thrive in the community.”

Statement from Gov. Steve Beshear on UofL, Norton Healthcare

Kentucky.gov: - Statement 

Governor Steve Beshear's Communications Office

Statement from Gov. Steve Beshear on UofL, Norton Healthcare

Press Release Date:	Thursday, April 30, 2009
Contact Information:	Jay Blanton Jill Midkiff 502-564-2611

FRANKFORT, Ky. — “I met Wednesday night with University of Louisville President Jim Ramsey and Norton Healthcare CEO Steve Williams. The meeting occurred at my request because of my increasing concerns about the ongoing dispute between these two critically important institutions. Few health issues are more important in Kentucky than accessible, high-quality trauma care. I wanted to hear from both leaders that they share that priority. I was pleased to receive assurances from both Dr. Ramsey and Mr. Williams about their commitment in that regard. It was not – and is not – my desire to take sides in this dispute. The issues here are complex and both sides have strong, sincere points of view. But the people of this state expect, and deserve, Level 1 trauma care. They need to know that our leaders are committed to that goal. I appreciate the fact that both Dr. Ramsey and Mr. Williams are committed to the principle that this level of care will remain intact.”

More info:  http://www.hospitalreviewmagazine.com/news-and-analysis/legal-and-regulatory/norton-healthcares-hiring-of-university-of-louisville-neurosurgeons-could-lead-to-legal-action.html

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090419/NEWS01/90419002/Legal+action+possible+over+doctors++hiring

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090419/NEWS01/904190421/U+of+L-Norton+dispute+threatens+neurosurgery+program