21 December 2007
HUD awards MHS $3.2 million in 2008 homeless assistance funding.

The Office of Homeless Services leads the community's efforts to provide coordinated, efficient, and effective services to protect the safety and health of homeless persons, and to help them achieve housing, income, and independence. The Office worked with non-profit organizations and units of local government to submit the County's comprehensive proposal to HUD in June 2007. All programs in the proposal were awarded the HUD funds that were requested. Ruth Gillett (at right), is Program Manager of the Cleveland and Cuyahoga County Office of Homeless Services.

References

HUD money to help homeless. (2007, December 22). Cleveland, OH: The Plain Dealer, p. B-3.

Sullivan, Brian. (2007, December 21). Bush Administration announces record $1.5 billion to support homeless programs nationwide. (HUD News Release No. 07-189.) Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Retrieved from
http://www.hud.gov/news/release.cfm?content=pr07-189.cfm

MHS child trauma services were featured for this year's Holiday Spirit campaign of The Plain Dealer.  MHS is honored to have again been selected to participate in Holiday Spirit, an effort of Plain Dealer Charities to help clients of human-service agencies during the holiday season.

MHS received an allocation of $9,000, all of which will be given to help children and their families meet critical, short-term needs that become apparent during the course of MHS services. Parents and guardians of these children often experience crises of a very practical nature, and need money for infant formula, basic bedding, deposits required for housing or utility services, or prescribed medicines and medical supplies. MHS thanks the generous donors to the Holiday Spirit campaign!

You may also read about MHS programs highlighted in Holiday Spirit campaigns of prior years: 2005, 2004, or 2003.

Reference

Suchetka, Diane. (2007, December 17). Counselors helped kids adjust after witnessing father kill mom. Cleveland, OH: The Plain Dealer, p. B1. Retrieve the article from Cleveland.com. (Articles are available without charge for a limited time.)

Frederick Frese, Ph.D. was for 15 years the Director of Psychology at the Western Reserve State Psychiatric Hospital, southeast of Cleveland.   He was uniquely qualified to understand the patients he served, because he has schizophrenia. Today, he is an eloquent advocate for the dignity of people who have mental illnesses. Plain Dealer reporter Fran Henry tells his fascinating story in the Arts & Life section of The Plain Dealer.

"I refuse to hide in the shadows and be ashamed," he says, adding that secrecy only reinforces the stigma of mental illness. "It's so obvious to me that the people who say they are protecting us are perpetuating the shame. . . . The professionals shouldn't assume the patient is ashamed of the illness." Dr. Frese was admitted and discharged from psychiatric hospitals for ten years before he began to manage his illness with what he calls "these wonderful pills." Although he earned a graduate degree in international management, he began working as a state-certified psychologist in prisons. He later earned a doctorate in psychology, working for the now-closed Western Reserve State Psychiatric Hospital.

He has since given more than 2,000 speeches to audiences nationwide, provided testimony to the U.S. Congress, and has been a guest on the ABC "Nightline" program "when they needed a schizophrenic with a Ph.D." he says. He states that the only thing that separates him from homeless people with schizophrenia is the medicine he takes. "They don't take their meds because they don't think they're sick," he tells reporter Fran Henry, who responds "And he knows for sure that he is. He'd like you to pass it on."

Reference

Henry, Fran. (2007, November 10). When reality escapes. Schizophrenia could take Fred Frese far away, but it also gives him a niche in life. Cleveland, OH: The Plain Dealer, pp. E1 & E4. Retrieve the article from Cleveland.com. (Articles are available without charge for a limited time.)

Cleveland has witnessed the violent deaths of more than ten children this year, many witnessed by nearby children and adults. Violent events like these have the potential to traumatize witnesses, leading to acute stress disorders and anxiety disorders.

MHS responds to these events because of its mission to resolve mental health crises. We briefly describe here the MHS response to two of the most recent events in which children died at the hands of violence.

On the sunny afternoon of Saturday, 1 September 2007, a 12-year-old girl, walking to a store, was shot and killed. Asteve'e Thomas, called "Cookie" by her friends, "was walking down a tree-lined brick side street when two men with guns began chasing each other, firing bullets as they ran," according to a story in The Plain Dealer.

Rosemary Creeden, Eileen Zatta, and other staff members of the MHS Children Who Witness Violence program have provided trauma assessment and intervention services for some of the people most affected by the shooting.

Rosemary and Eileen report that MHS staff members went to the homes of several individuals, including one who had been with Asteve'e at the time of the shooting. The City of Cleveland organized an information session at the Community of Faith Church, and CWWV staff members were there, providing grief support and answering the many questions posed by worried parents.

On 11 October 2007, a 14-year-old student of SuccessTech Academy opened fire with a gun, injuring two teachers and two students before fatally shooting himself in the head. The injured teachers and students survived, and were taken to hospitals for treatment. The fatal shooting was the nation's first at a school during this school year.

Responding to a request from the City of Cleveland on the afternoon of the shooting, Rosemary Creeden, Eileen Zatta, and other staff members of the MHS Children Who Witness Violence program went to the school to counsel traumatized students and parents.

Three students received intensive services, in response to assessments that revealed that they experienced a traumatic stress response to the shootings. These students had been in direct contact with the 14-year-old assailant during the time that he shot teachers and students.

The assailant and suicide victim, Asa Coon, was described in news reports as deeply troubled and violent. The day before his attack, he argued with another student about the existence of God, "took a beating" in a physical fight, and vowed to take revenge. As a child, he had been the subject an investigation by the Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) because of burns and scratches. After being charged in Juvenile Court with domestic violence at age 12, he was placed in a residential treatment facility, where he was reported to have attempted suicide. He was later treated with antidepessant medicine at a juvenile detention center, and was also admitted to an inpatient unit of Laurelwood Hospital.

SuccessTech is one of the Cleveland Public Schools' most successful high schools, with a graduation rate of 94%. It is located in downtown Cleveland, across the street from the local headquarters of the FBI. It has an enrollment of about 240, and receives funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

References

Garrett, Amanda; Puente, Mark; & Johnston, Laura. (2007, September 2). Girl, man killed in two shootings. Cleveland, OH: The Plain Dealer, p. A1. Click here to view the article. (Articles are available without charge for a limited time.)

O'Malley, Michael, & Baird, Gabriel. (2007, October 11). Four shot at school, gunman kills himself. Students and staff ran, hid in restrooms, closets. Cleveland, OH: The Plain Dealer, pp. A1 & A4. Click here to view the article. (Articles are available without charge for a limited time.)

Stephens, Scott, & Dissell, Rachel. (2007, October 11). Teen troubled, violent, called genius by some. Cleveland, OH: The Plain Dealer, pp. A1 & A5.

Omori, Dale. (2007, October 10). School shooting. (Video). Cleveland, OH: The Plain Dealer. Retrieved from http://www.cleveland.com/news/pdvideo/flash/index.ssf?101007_shooting_video

Puente, Mark. (2007, October 19). Cleveland cop used cell phone to snap photo of dead Asa Coon. Cleveland, OH: The Plain Dealer. On-line story posted at 2230 on Friday, 19 October 2007. Retrieved from: http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2007/10/cleveland_police_officer_used.html

A 48-year-old homeless man was stabbed in downtown Cleveland at an overnight protest of the city's new curfew law organized by the advocacy group, Cleveland Catholic Worker. The Plain Dealer reports that the man is in fair condition at MetroHealth Medical Center after being treated for wounds to his hand, shoulder, and chest inflicted by another homeless man at the protest who later fled the area.

On 8 August 2007, Cleveland City Council passed an ordinance establishing a new curfew between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. for the Public Square area of downtown Cleveland. "Proponents say the change will improve safety at night in the downtown area. Some homeless advocates say the ordinance unfairly targets homeless people who don't like shelters and prefer to sleep on the street," according to the article. "The group of about 65 people, organized by Cleveland Catholic Worker, camped out on Public Square at 10 p.m., knitting, dancing, drinking coffee, and sleeping. Some stayed overnight."

Megan Wilson, who organized the protest, told The Plain Dealer that the presence of the protesters prevented the man from being killed. She explained: "If they hadn't been allowed on Public Square, they would have just fought somewhere less public where someone would have been less likely to see them and intervene and we would have had one more murder on the books in Cleveland." Cleveland City Council Member Joe Cimperman disagreed. "There's a reason why every single public space in Cleveland has a curfew," Cimperman said. "That's a really illogical statement. I am grateful that they were there, but for them to say that this is going to happen somewhere else is upside down logic."

References

Zeltner, Brie. (2007, August 28). Homeless man stabbed at Public Square protest against curfew. Cleveland, OH: The Plain Dealer, pp. B1 & B4. Retrieve the article from Cleveland.com. (Articles are available without charge for a limited time.)

Curfew OK'd for Square. (2007, August 9). Cleveland, OH: The Plain Dealer, p.B3. Retrieve the article from Cleveland.com. (Articles are available without charge for a limited time.)

Donated cash and supplies have replaced most of the everyday items lost after torrential August rainfalls caused flooding of storage areas in the MHS Community Women's Shelter, according to a story in The Plain Dealer.

The donations came in response to an earlier article of 15 August (see below) in The Plain Dealer, and a broadcast appeal by WZAK-FM on 23 August. Dave Titus, who manages shelter services at MHS told The Plain Dealer reporter the "response has been incredible from the community. ... we had everybody showing up to help. We even had a cop on a motorcycle pull up today and said, 'Here's 20 bucks.'"

MHS thanks the many individuals and organizations who gave so generously!

Reference

Tinsley, Jesse (2007, August 27). Donations help shelter replace items lost in flood. Cleveland, OH: The Plain Dealer. Retrieve the article from Cleveland.com. (Articles are available without charge for a limited time.)

University Hospitals of Cleveland plans to relocate its adult inpatient psychiatric units from their current home in Hanna Pavilion to affiliated Richmond Heights Hospital and St. Vincent Charity Hospital, according to a story in The Plain Dealer.

Hanna Pavilion, currently home to 80 inpatient psychiatric beds for adults, is to be demolished. It is not clear whether all 80 beds will be relocated to the Richmond Heights and St. Vincent Charity Hospitals. The greater Cleveland area has already "lost 11 percent of private hospital beds for adult patients between 1997 and 2002," the article notes.

"Nearly one-quarter of U.S. private hospital psychiatric beds vanished between 1992 and 2000," according to the article. Insufficient reimbursement of psychiatric services by health plans is seen as a major factor leading to the reduced number of beds. In addition to the relentless reduction of inpatient capacity, relocation of the beds to the Richmond Heights suburb "raises concerns about access for poor people in the city, who make up a disproportionate share of admissions." Jim Mauro of the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Ohio commented that moving beds from an urban center "limits the ability of a lot of the population to get to the treatment centers."

Reference

Spector, Harlan (2007, August 17). UH project to move psychiatric unit off campus. Cleveland, OH: The Plain Dealer, p. B3. Retrieve the article from Cleveland.com. (Articles are available without charge for a limited time.)

The Downtown Cleveland Alliance, a nonprofit organization with the mission of "building a dynamic downtown," has begun a campaign urging businesses, visitors, and residents to refrain from giving money to panhandlers. The Alliance's message is "Don't Give Where It Can't Help."

"Some panhandlers aren't even homeless," notes the Alliance. "Panhandling intimidates visitors and a donation to a social service organization would help more than a handout on the street." Click here to learn how to support the homeless assistance services provided by MHS.

Reference

O'Donnell, Patrick (2007, August 16). Alliance wants you to say no to panhandlers. Cleveland, OH: The Plain Dealer, pp. B1 & B4. Retrieve the article from Cleveland.com. (Articles are available without charge for a limited time.)

Read a columnist's perspective on this initiative:
Schultz, Connie. (2007, August 24). Homeless problems? What homeless? Cleveland, OH: The Plain Dealer, p. B1. Retrieve the article from Cleveland.com. (Articles are available without charge for a limited time.)

An article in The Plain Dealer of Wednesday, 15 August 2007 describes how two August rainstorms caused flooding that destroyed furniture, pillows, personal-hygiene products, and arts and crafts supplies that were stored in the basement of the MHS Community Women's Shelter. On 2 August, five inches of rain fell in about an hour in downtown Cleveland, overwhelming the capacity of storm drainage sewers. Another storm on 7 August dumped another four inches of rain on downtown Cleveland in a few hours.

Nearly 1,100 women and children stayed at this Shelter during the fiscal year that ended 30 June 2007. Few of the women have any source of income, and many bring with them all the belongings they own. David Titus, who manages MHS shelter programs, appealed to the community for help.

To make a donation to the Community Women's Shelter, call 216-479-0020.

Reference

Tinsley, Jesse (2007, August 15). Cleveland shelter needs goods replaced. Cleveland, OH: The Plain Dealer, p. B5. Retrieve the article from Cleveland.com. (Articles are available without charge for a limited time.)

Northeast Ohio healthcare companies raised 60% more money from private investors in the first six months of 2007 than the state of Minnesota, the traditional leader in healthcare investments, according to a story in The Plain Dealer.

The total amount of private investments raised by Northeast Ohio companies in the first half of the year was $199 million, more than 80% of the $244 million raised by all Ohio heathcare companies, and much more than the $126 million raised by all healthcare companies in Minnesota. Data is from a quarterly BioEnterprise Midwest Health Care Venture Investment Report. "Cleveland biopharmaceutical company Athersys Inc. received the biggest investment during the first half - $65 million in a June financing round led by New York private-equity firm Radius Ventures LLC. ... Athersys has developed technology to discover drugs, as well as a line of therapeutic stem cells. A $25 million investment in Franklin & Seidelmann LLC, a specialty teleradiology firm in Beachwood, was the second-largest transaction in the half-year. Oak Investment Partners in Westport, Conn., made that investment," notes the article.

"As Clevelanders, we should see how the outside world is already regarding our region," said Baiju Shah, president and chief executive of BioEnterprise. He added that investors are "voting with their dollars, in terms of where they're spending time looking for new innovations in the medical sector."

Reference

Vanac, Mary (2007, July 24). Ohio takes lead in Midwest's private health care investments. Cleveland, OH: The Plain Dealer. Retrieve the article from Cleveland.com. (Articles are available without charge for a limited time.)

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