Save Hale Na'au Pono: Save Mental Health Consumers From State Medical Malfeasance!

PRESS RELEASE

State Department of Health out to Destroy Wai`anaes Community Mental Health Center

   The Adult Mental Health Division (AMHD) of the State Department of Health has targeted for destruction the only non-State operated community mental health center (CMHC). The Wai`anae community, over 2 decades ago broke away from the State to form its own center to meet the special needs of the Wai`anae mentally ill population. Within that period of time, it has garnered national and local recognition for its high quality of services. It has received national (CARF) accreditation for its services five consecutive times since 1995 (each accreditation covered a maximum 3 year term.)
 
   Hale Na`au Pono has developed an array of services from housing to social interaction to alcohol, tobacco and drug treatment, to clinical services covering the most seriously mentally ill to those well able to manage their illness. No other CMHC in the State ha  been able to extend its service array to the extent Hale Na`au Pono has. No other CMHC in the State has been able to retain national CARF accreditation.
 
   Over the past three months, the State Department of Health has attempted to shut down all clinical services of Hale Na`au Pono. It is now requiring that its clients be reassigned to other service providers, none of whom are located in the Wai`anae community.
 
    In a few months, the situation in Wai`anae will become explosive. The States action is medical malfeasance.

For further information, go to www.wccmhc.org or contact Bernie or Alvina at Hale Na`au Pono at 696-4211.

PETITION

The Department of Health notified Hale Na`au Pono on June 2, 2008 of the decision not to extend Hale Na`au Pono's Community Based Case Management (CBCM) contract for another year. The current service from Hale Na`au Pono is scheduled to terminate by the end of June 2008. Over 350 seriously mentally ill consumers will be affected.

     The consequences of this decision will be far-reaching and potentially explosive for with Wai`anae community. The reason behind this decision remains undisclosed by the Department of Health.

     We, the undersigned, request the Department of Health continue with Hale Na`au Pono's CBCM contract services for the next three months, allowing this decision to be reviewed by the Governor's office, giving more time for Hale Na`au Pono to transition the CBCM consumers, and permitting this community to prepare for the changes to come.