In the 1970s, after I returned from Vietnam, I chose a career in mental health. After nursing school, I worked in locked psychiatric facilities, including our county jail.
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(3) comments
Well said, Robert!
Would it be possible for the N-R staff to contact the author to correct this sentence? "Senator Ron Wyden’s legislation to divert those with mental health disabilities to crisis options besides taking up space in our already overcrowded jails."
Good catch, melrosereader. For others, there's a link below to an article. In a nutshell:
"U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced that Oregon is the first state to earn federal approval for Medicaid reimbursement of community-based mobile crisis intervention services that help people struggling with mental health and substance use disorders."
The goal of the program is to address mental health crises with trained responders instead of law enforcement. It was pioneered in Eugene and Senator Wyden worked to extend it throughout Oregon and the nation.
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-oregon-the-first-state-to-earn-federal-approval-for-medicaid-reimbursement-of-mobile-crisis-intervention-services
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