Adult: The Olmstead Decision and the New Freedom Initiative
Background
The Supreme Court ruled in its 1999 Olmstead decision (Olmstead v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581 {1999}) that under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), public services for people with disabilities must be provided in the most integrated setting possible. This integrated service method will provide them the opportunity to live independently in the community and not segregated in institutional settings. The New Freedom Initiative (NFI) is a federal effort to implement the Olmstead decision. It is a comprehensive plan that represents an important step in working to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to learn and develop skills, engage in productive work, make choices about their daily lives and participate fully in community life.
The Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) assists States in expanding resources and opportunities for people with serious mental illnesses to live in their home communities. CMHS is authorized to provide $20,000 of financial support, annually, to each of the 50 States and most, if not all, of the United States Territories.
In 2003, the former Department of Mental Health (DMH) conducted a two-year study of the use of Institutions for Mental Disease (IMDs) by California counties. The final report is available here “Long Term Strategies for Community Placement: Alternatives to Institutions for Mental Disease” (PDF). (Not DHCS)
In 2004 DMH contracted with the California Institute of Mental Health (CiMH) to develop a recovery-oriented curriculum and learning process for staff and residents of IMDs and county mental health liaisons to these facilities. The curriculum, a modification of SAMHSA’s Illness Management and Recovery (IMR) Toolkit, was designed to facilitate recovery and successful transitions of individuals from institutions into the community.
In 2009 DMH published the IMD Training Manual (including cover artwork by a consumer along with a compelling “artist statement”) and copies were furnished to both Los Angeles and Orange County. In addition, two components were funded:
- An enhancement of the IMR model within Los Angeles County, through the provision of support and consultation using a learning community approach, and
- An introduction to the IMR program in Orange County
For the current funding period, DMH enhanced the IMD Training Manual by adding additional educational modules in English as well as Spanish. DMH will also conduct statewide training on the manual via live webinar. The updated 2012 IMD Training Manual (PDF) (Not DHCS) , as well as additional information on training activities are available in the training section below.
Training Information
DMH will hosted a webinar training on February 15, 2012. This webinar was an introduction to the Illness Management and Recovery Program for IMDs. The program was adapted from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Evidence-Based Practices KIT and was developed as a part of California’s work to implement the Olmstead decision – ensuring that individuals with mental illness have limited stays in institutions and have the opportunity to live in the community instead of in institutions. The presentation included an overview of the manual developed for effective implementation of this program. The manual provides a recovery-oriented curriculum and learning process for staff and residents of IMDs and county mental health liaisons to these facilities. The curriculum is designed to facilitate recovery and successful transitions of individuals from institutions into the community.
This webinar also focused on program implementation and what the state, counties and local institutions can do to support the installation of this recovery-oriented model in local IMDs. The training was based upon the experiences and learning from a statewide IMD study and specific work with selected IMDs and county staff.
Participant Expectations
- Understand the background for development of the Illness Management and Recovery (IMR) program
- Develop a basic understanding of this practice for providing recovery oriented services and supports in IMDs
- Learn about what is needed to implement the program effectively
- Have a framework for a shared vision of recovery between IMD and county staff.
Training Materials
Olmstead Partners
California Health and Human Services Olmstead Advisory Committee (Not DHCS)
California Department of Health Care Long Term Care Alternatives
California Community Choices Planning and Advisory (Not DHCS)
CONTACT
For more information about Olmstead or the New Freedom Initiative, please email: Debbie.Sutton@dhcs.ca.gov