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IMPACT Leaders Show Up 100 Strong to County Board Meeting

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Last night, 100 IMPACT leaders attend Albemarle County’s Budget Work Session to voice their support for the Healthy Transitions program.

Last year, the City Council and County Supervisors committed to funding Healthy Transitions–a psychiatric re-entry program for ex-offenders. Since its inception in June, Healthy Transitions has provided lifesaving therapy and medication for this vulnerable population. Many of those who have benefited are stable and have found work and secured housing. This program, at a cost of only $42,500 to each jurisdiction, can save the community hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.

In the first release of the FY2012-2013 Albemarle County Budget, the Healthy Transitions program is “not recommended for funding.”

IMPACT will continue to stand for justice for ex-offenders with mental illness. Here’s how you can join us:

1. Spread the word in your congregation that Healthy Transitions is in danger.

2. Call your district supervisor (contact information here). Tell them:
-that you support the Healthy Transitions program and want theirs, too
-you expect to see them at the Nehemiah Action on March 26

3. Attend the Nehemiah Action on March 26 to stand up for justice for ex-offenders with mental illness, as well as unemployed youth.

Our work continues to be recognized in the community. You can our feature in the Daily Progress here.

Let’s continue to MAKE AN IMPACT!

Mental Health Initiative Update: IMPACT Goes to City Council and NBC 29 Feature

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On Tuesday, January 3rd, a delegation of IMPACT leaders attended the Charlottesville City Council Meeting to remind the Councilors of their commitments made last March in front of 1,500 to fund the Healthy Transitions Program.

We also heard from Robert Johnson, Executive Director of Region Ten, who said that this psychiatric re-entry program is an overall cost savings to the community. Becase Healthy Transitions is preventing homelessness, costly visits to the ER, and recidivism, this $85,000/year program will end up saving the community $680,000 per year.

Lauren Chapin, Co-Facilitator of the Mental Health Research Committee, was featured on NBC 29.

6th Annual Assembly: Recap

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On Monday, October 24th, IMPACTkicked-off its year with a strong and exciting start. 440 people from IMPACT membercongregations voted on the problem of job preparation for young adults to beaddressed for the upcoming year.
We welcomed Unity of Charlottesville as they joined the organization, as well as voted in and commissioned our new Executive Committee.
We heard a compelling testimony from IndiaSims, a graduate of both CATEC and the Virginia School of Massage Therapy, whois receiving calls from collection agencies because her school debt is greaterthan her annual income.
Robert Johnson, the executive director ofRegion Ten Community Service Board, was invited as a special guest. He gave theIMPACT Assembly an update on the psychiatric re-entry program, called HealthyTransitions, which was the result of IMPACT’s mental health campaign last year.This program is ensuring the continuity of care for ex-offenders with mentalillness, and making a significant positive difference in their lives. It’skeeping ex-offenders off the streets, helping them find and maintainemployment, and preventing recidivism. We look forward to working with theCharlottesville City Council and Albemarle County board of supervisors on theircontinued support for this program.
Throughout the winter months, we will beconducting our research into the area of jobs and job readiness for youngadults. We will present a slate of actionable solutions to those problems, withthe support of 1,800 people at the Nehemiah Action, on March 26th2012. We hope to see you there!

Young Adult Job Training Testimony

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Hello my name is India Sims. I had a spinal cord injury at 10 months old from a lumbar puncture and have been partially paralyzed since then. I graduated from CATech in 2003 and Virginia School of Massage in 2009 with degrees in cosmetology, make-up artist, esthetician, and massage therapy. While I have been successful during those times, I faced many unfair obstacles. I’m a success but I know too many people that didn’t make it.

During high school, I enrolled in CATech in order to get a cosmetology and barber license. I had to research CATech on my own, no guidance counselor or teacher suggested it. It wasn’t until after I asked; that my counselor helped me

Once enrolled in CATech, the process doesn’t get any easier. High school students have to pay for their materials and people had to quit classes because they couldn’t afford the costs. I was able to pay only because of disability insurance. My supplies cost between $100-$200 per semester. Financial Aid is difficult to obtain. I was told that was because so many people drop out that they are reluctant to give more aid.

Adults wanting to take vocational classes face even more issues. There is no bus route to CATech so people rely on friends, walking, or expensive taxis to travel to and from school. Adults also have to take pre-tests in order to enter CATEC, PVCC, or other votech colleges. If they fail these tests they have to pay to retake the class until they pass it. For some it has been years since they took math or science and these pre-tests and the cost of remedial classes prevent many from entering a training program. Enrollment is difficult. Some classes are only offered at night and many classes fill-up quickly. The schedule for classes is not easy or manageable for many with children. I was fortunate to have my mom take care of my son. But it certainly wasn’t easy on her or me. She was taking care of an infant after a full day of work. For many there are no viable childcare options, most daycare facilities close before classes even start.

Financial Aid for adult votech training is extremely limited and difficult to obtain. I qualified for a loan but the aid office did not help me secure one. Even though I knew the system I couldn’t get a loan. I did everything I could but ultimately it was either keep on arguing and not go to school or finance it on my own. I will be paying back my school debt for at least the next 10 years. They were not upfront about the fees, and I didn’t know how much I owed until after graduation. I have been paying back my loan but they just sent my debt to collections. They are now calling my mom to try and get the money.

It’s not worth it to be in debt for years paying for training that is not valued. I paid more for my classes than my annual income. The biggest problem is that schools are too expensive and too difficult to access.

People should not have to face this many obstacles when they are just trying to better their lives. The difficulties I faced trying to get training were harder than those I face as a disabled woman. That’s just not right. I face enough challenges; it should have been easier to get an education and training. And it wasn’t.

Listening Process Update

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Last night, IMPACT Justice Ministry Team Members came together at Westminster Presbyterian Church to narrow down the problems to be brought to a vote at the October 24th Annual Assembly. It was an exciting meeting-an opportunity for people to share their congregations’ concerns with the whole of the organization.

The 3 problem areas to be voted upon at the Annual Assembly are: Lack of Vocational Opportunities, Mental Health, and Homelessness.

Responses that came directly from house meetings, congregational meetings, and one-to-ones are listed below.

Homelessness 

· “how do we meet the housing needs of people of no-income as well as low-income?
· Lack of homeless facility or night shelter, especially for families 
· Safety of the homeless, especially women and children 
· Need for better access to services, job training and life skills
-“Alcoholism/drug abuse is a huge factor for homelessness. Definitely more than 25% of homeless are alcoholics. In my relationships with men on the street, I find that these addictions are both the cause and effect for a lot of chronic homelessness. The existing treatment center at the Mohr Center is outstanding. But it’s hopelessly underfunded and too short (2 weeks) of a program. Further, the only option after those 2 weeks of “drying out” is a program in Richmond (ARC) which is dismal to say the least. There needs to be better addiction treatment in our city AND WE NEED IT NOW.”

Mental Health 
· Lack of affordable mental health services

· “Mental illness-people need somebody to live with them or at least visit them very regularly”
· “There’s no accessible mental health services for Spanish-speakers” … “no bilingual practitioner in area”
· “There are no psychiatrists to refer Region 10 outpatients to. All mental health services are overloaded.”
· “I have a niece with mental health issues and I see a need to integrate her and others into the community. She especially needs housing and employment”
· “I have a family medical practice and am seeing more severe psychiatric patients (bipolar, etc), especially as Region 10 funding declines. I don’t feel properly equipped to treat them.”
· Mental Health services for young adults 
· “The homeless with mental illness end up on the psych ward at the hospital and when are discharged have nowhere to go. Their meds run out, they can’t make their follow-up appointments. We release them to fail.”
· Transitional housing for those coming from Western State 
· “Concern for the mentally ill-particularly those with subtle illnesses such as depression. There is no place to go to get affordable medications if you’re poor and have little or no health insurance. There’s care if you have greater

Lack of Vocational Opportunities
· Lack of opportunities for those who do not go to college
· Skills and job re-training for the unemployed, especially in computers 
· General support for vocational training 
· Vocational training needs to be more affordable, especially for refugees 
-Need for non-English vocational training opportunities 

-“I have 3 part-time jobs and I still can’t get by”
-“It’s been hard for me to find work”

Remember: The Annual Assembly-where we will vote for one of these 3 problem areas-will take place on Monday, October 24th at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church on the UVA Campus. Sign-in begins at 6pm and call to order is 6:30pm. We expect 450 people to be in attendance. Come represent your congregation and make your voice heard!