Mental Health Centers

Priorities and Solutions for Community Mental Health

What are the most urgent changes needed in the delivery of community mental health services? How can we continue to improve our profession? What are the solutions can bring forward as contract or public policy proposals in the upcoming legislative session?

Campaign for Quality Community Mental Health leaders came together from around the state on May 22, 2010 to begin discussion of these questions. The leadership team developed a set of possible goals for discussion with our membership. At chapter meetings over the next few weeks campaign leadership asks members to discuss the list of possible goals below and respond to this question: What should be the priority or priorities of our Campaign for Quality Mental Health Services in 2011, and why?

Our campaign leadership will reconvene on July 24, 2010 to review and analyze member ideas and feedback so that we can move forward with a program that is truly based on our members’ best thinking.

Our 2011 bargaining and legislative campaign is our best opportunity to make a real difference for ourselves and our clients. Under the current economic conditions we know making positive change is not easy, but in the past when members are focused and active we have won important victories against strong odds. All members are urged to participate in this important discussion.

2010-2011 Possible Campaign Priorities for Member Discussion from May 22, 2010 Leadership Meeting

1. Improve Quality of Service in Community Mental Health
a. Lower caseloads
b. Raise pay & benefits
c. Improve access to services
d. More innovative programs
e. Include within “productivity” credit for all work that contributes to improved quality of service
f. Improve safety (e.g. infection control)

2. Cut “Waste” in Community Mental Health
a. Reduce and standardize paperwork
b. Invest in technology
c. Develop or implement more innovative programs
d. Improve safety (e.g. duplication of care)

Mental Health Membership Meeting Schedule

“Now is the time for members from all agencies to bring to light the issues that affect the quality of care for clients and find solutions. We need to have a team approach to fix issues as broad as those that affect Community Mental Health. The upcoming chapter meetings will be crucial in developing our Mental Health Campaign that will make a real difference for our clients.”

Kristina MacCully, Youth Counselor/CDP, Bellingham Recovery, Catholic Community Services

Compass South
June 8, 12:00pm – 1:00pm, Federal Way, Bldg 1, Room 42
June 15, 11:00am – 12:00pm, Greenhouse
June 23, 12:00pm – 1:00pm, Bailey Bldg, 3rd Fl
June 23, 2:30pm – 3:30pm, Mukilteo E&T, Court Room
June 25, 2:00pm – 4:00pm, Skagit E&T, Court Room

DESC
June 9, 12:00pm – 1:00pm, Connections
July 6, 3:30pm – 6:00pm, Lyon Building, Large Conf Rm
PACT, To Be Determined
1800, To Be Determined

Compass North
June 10, 12:00pm – 1:00pm, Whidbey Island
July 1, 12:00pm – 1:00pm
2nd Ave, To Be Determined

WCPC
June 10, 12:00pm – 1:00pm, WCPC
July 8, 12:00pm – 1:00pm,WCPC
Additional Meetings To Be Determined

CPC
June 10,2:30pm – 4:00pm, Cascade Hall
June 15, 2:30pm – 3:30pm,El-Rey, To Be Determined
June 17, 12:00pm – 1:00pm, 4120
June 30, 12:00pm – 1:00pm,Northgate, Sunrise Center
Belltown To Be Determined

KMHS
June 16, 5:00pm – 7:00pm, Olympic Coffee, Bremerton
June 30, 5:00pm – 7:00pm, Olympic Coffee, Bremerton
July 14, 5:00pm – 7:00pm, Olympic Coffee, Bremerton

BHR
June 18, 2:00pm – 4:00pm E&T, Activities Room, To Be Determined
June 24, 12:00pm – 1:00pm, Hoquiam
June 24, 5:00pm – 8:00pm, Martin Way Board Room

CCS
June 23, 5:00pm – 7:00pm, Union Temple, 2812 Lumbard St, Everett, WA
July 2, 12:00pm – 1:00pm, Bellingham Recovery
July 6, 12:00pm – 1:00pm, Skagit Family Center, To Be Determined
Railroad Ave To Be Determined

Navos
June 28, 6:30am – 7:30am, Rec Room
June 28, 2:30pm – 3:30pm, Board Room
June 28, 10:30pm – 11:30pm, Board Room
June 29, 6:30am – 7:30am, Rec Room
June 29, 2:30pm – 3:30pm, Board Room
June 29, 10:30pm – 11:30pm, Board Room

Additional Meetings To Be Determined

Labor Management Committees Making a Difference

“I think these upcoming chapter meetings are an important place and time to have our concerns aired. It’s the perfect time to contribute to our Community Mental Health campaign directly. At our leadership meeting we were all collaborating on our workplace concerns. I spoke about the safety and illness issues at the E&T. The lack of cleanliness has been our biggest concern. This is a powerful moment to have our concerns heard and it’s an important opportunity to hear from all members!”

Gloria Pashinski, Social Worker, Mukilteo E&T, Compass Health

As part of bargaining contract extensions at our chapters last year, our members made implementing strong Labor Management Committees in all chapters a key part of our program, so that workplace issues can be heard and resolved.

Labor Management Committees are now up and running at almost every chapter and making a difference:

Members at Downtown Emergency Service Center have created an effective joint-advocacy model for client advocacy at the state level that is now being applied at the city-level.

Behavioral Health Resources members just pressured management to create a new vacation-approval guideline for management through the LMC.

Members at Community Psychiatric Clinic had their first LMC meeting in over four years and are preparing an on-call pool of current full-time employees to limit forced overtime of staff in residential settings.

We still have a way to go but a strong foundation is in place.

Do you have an idea for your Labor Management Committee or want to get involved? Bring it to the upcoming chapter meeting.