New Jersey Mental Health Coalition

Collaborative Support
Programs of New Jersey

Coalition of Mental Health Consumer Organizations

Community Health
Law Project

Mental Health Association
in New Jersey

NAMI NEW JERSEY

National Associations of
Social Workers—NJ

NJ Association of
County Mental Health Administrators

NJ Association of
Mental Health Agencies

NJ Mental Health Board

NJ Parents Caucus

NJ Protection and
Advocacy

NJ Psychiatric
Rehabilitation Association

Supportive Housing
Association in NJ
 

Honorable James McGreevey, Governor

Dear Governor McGreevey:

We know that New Jersey is facing a $2.8 billion deficit and that you have many difficult decisions ahead of you. In response to these budgetary concerns, former Governor Donald DiFrancesco froze the funds for the Redirection II Initiative. We urge you to find a way to move the Redirection II Plan forward.

The Redirection II Plan is a well thought out, balanced approach that reflects the needs of all stakeholders throughout the state. It is also a response to an urgent concern about the safety of state hospital patients at Greystone Park.

We want to make you aware of a groundswell of reaction to the recent newspaper stories about the petition signed by Greystone patients and statements made by Interim Governor Richard Codey about the need for a larger hospital. In just one week, 1171 mental health consumers living in the community have signed petitions (enclosed) taking the following position:

• Community services are vital for recovery and to avoid hospitalization
• Consumers deserve a new and improved psychiatric hospital
• NJ mental health consumers are voting citizens whose needs are as important as any other special interest group

In short, these citizens agree with the Mental Health Coalition that hospital and community services must be considered together to create a truly effective service system.

It is important to recognize that the vast majority of people who have serious mental illness live in the community and that the number of institutionalized people has decreased year after year all over the world. This trend will continue and will be beneficial to consumers if both the need for both community and hospital services is addressed.

The Redirection II Plan is the best solution for New Jersey. It is consistent with the Supreme Court Olmsted decision. It addresses the need of the 388 state hospital patients, identified by state hospital and community mental health professionals, who are ready for community living but have no services or housing to support them in the community. It develops the capacity of the community service system to keep people out of the institutions. And it creates a better Greystone Hospital, one that will be set up for rehabilitation and recovery, not just custodial care.

We look forward to further discussions with you and your staff and to a partnership on behalf of mental health consumers that will be good for New Jersey.

Sincerely,

Cc: Mary Sibley, Governor’s Health Policy Advisor
      Senate President Richard Codey
      Senate President John Bennett
      Chairs and Vice-chairs, Senate and Assembly Health and
      Human Services Committee
      Members of Senate and Assembly Health and Human
      Services
      Committees
      Acting Commissioner of Human Services James Smith