Crisis Stabilization Units Update: As of 3PM today, neither Circles of Care or Wuesthoff Behavioral Health had anyone waiting for a Crisis Bed. Circles of Care has 7 people waiting for transfer from the Crisis Unit to long-term care and Wuesthoff has 1 person waiting for transfer to a state hospital. Hospitals in Brevard and Circles of Care are all reporting to DCF D7 the status of lack of Crisis Beds in Brevard by phone and via written reports.

Brevard County Mental Health Court Update (The Honorable Judge Cathleen Clarke presiding): As of 31 December 2005, there are 13 people who were diverted from Jail and under the supervision of the Mental Health Court. There were 15 cases reviewed by staff for Mental Health Court referral. Eleven (11) referred Clients did not fit the Administrative Order criteria due to charges. One (1) Client refused the services offered by the Court. Four (4) Clients were accepted into the Mental Health Court during the month of December and 3 Clients were awaiting State Attorney approval for acceptance. Four (4) Clients were discharged after having successfully completed the requirements of the court! No Client was dismissed during December 2005 because of further involvement with law enforcement. (Thanks to Lisa Krupa, Mental Health Court Coordinator, Circles of Care, Inc., for providing the Mental Health Court statistics.)

Stats from Mental Health Services of Jail: During December 2005, there were a total of 1122 Mental Health Contacts by Mental Health Specialists. There were 307 Initial Assessments from Referrals at Booking. There were 435 Mental Health Follow-up Visits and 107 Consultations and Case Staffings. There were 192 Mental Health In-house Moves during December 2005. Two hundred sixty-seven (267) Contacts for People on Special Watch Status and 16 Case Management Contacts were completed. There were a total of 119 Referrals to the Jail Psychiatrist including 116 Psychiatric Evaluation Referrals and 3 Emergency Medication Rechecks. Physician Contacts totaled 116. There were 25 Staffing Consults. There were 6 Court-ordered Mental Health Evaluations, 3 Baker Act Evaluations and Transfers from Brevard County Detention Center, 6 Case Management Placements, and 20 Inmates were released with Aftercare Plans. During the month of August 2005, the Director of Mental Health Services began a Psycho-educational Group to help Inmates learn techniques for stress management and coping skills. During the month of September 2005, 66 Inmates participated in this program; during the month of October, 69 Inmates participated; during the month of November, 88 Inmates participated. During the month of December 2005, 157 Inmates participated! These services were all completed by the Mental Health Services staff. The Circles of Care on-site staff member completed 88 Case Management Contacts and 3 Felony Diversions/Community Placements. There were 16 Inmate referrals to Mental Health Court. (Thanks to Tracy Higginbotham, Mental Health Secretary, Brevard County Detention Center (BCDC) for the Mental Health Stats.)

Stats from Jail: The MONTH AVERAGE number of Inmates in the Jail for the month of December 2005 was 1471, the HIGH AVERAGE was 1486 and the LOW AVERAGE was 1457. These numbers compare to the May 2005 average high of 1440, average low of 1408, the December 2004 stats of high 1262, low 1236, and average daily population of 1249, and the total Inmate population count on 29 Feb 2004 of 1459. (Thanks to Eryn Kelsey-Adkins, Administrative Assistant to the Commander of BCDC, for providing the BCDC Monthly Population Worksheet and End of Month Population Averages.)

Other interesting Jail stats from the Jail Population Worksheet are: Of the 1410 total Inmates in the Jail on 31 December 2005, 1237 (87.7%) were male and 173 (12.3%) were female. There were a total of 1153 Inmates (82% of the Jail population) awaiting trial (1016 male, 137 female) of which 948 were for felonies (845 male; 103 female) and 205 were for misdemeanors (171 male; 34 female). Only 7 Inmates (7 male; 0 female) were awaiting sentencing, 71 Inmates (56 male; 15 female) were being held for other jurisdictions, and 9 Inmates (9 male; 0 female) were awaiting transfer to a state hospital. Five percent (5%) of the Jail Population on 31 December 2005 - 75 Inmates (67 male; 8 female) - were awaiting transfer to Department of Corrections. A total of 95 Inmates (7% of the Jail population) are sentenced to BCDC (81 male; 14 female). Of the 95 Inmates sentenced to BCDC, 64 are there for Felony convictions (54 male; 10 female) and 31 are there for Misdemeanor convictions (27 male; 4 female). Of the 1410 total Inmate population, 112 Inmates are in Jail for Violation of Probation Only and 317 Inmates are there for Violation of Probation w/Charges. Comparison of 31 December 2005 vs 30 November 2005 vs 31 Oct 2005 vs 30 Sep 2005 vs 31 Aug 2005 vs 31 July 2005 vs 30 June 2005 vs 31 May 2005 stats: 1410 vs 1574 vs 1574 vs 1610 vs 1546 vs 1514 vs 1482 vs 1506 Total Inmates; 1153 vs 1218 vs 1229 vs 1268 vs 1187 vs 1177 vs 1129 vs 1239 Inmates awaiting trial; 75 vs 125 vs 127 vs 91 vs 121 vs 121 vs 145 vs 91 Inmates awaiting transfer to DOC; 71 vs 83 vs 85 vs 83 vs 86 vs 86 vs 81 vs 72 Inmates held for other jurisdictions --- 11% of the Inmate population was awaiting transfer on 31 December 2005 vs 14% on 30 November 2005 vs 13.8% on 31 October 2005 vs. 11.2% on 30 September 2005 vs 13.8% on 31 August 2005 vs 13.9% on 31 July 2005 vs 15.6% on 30 June 2005 vs. 11.2% on 31 May 2005.

FACT Team Update: As of 28 April 2005, the Brevard FACT Team reached capacity enrollment of 100 Clients. The FACT Team staff has served a total of 139 Clients since it became operational on 20 August 2001. A FACT Team staff member is on call 24 hours per day, 7 days per week and promotes independent living for the FACT Team Clients.

Members and Fellow Advocates: Thank you for your consistent and untiring advocacy.

For those of you who are experiencing a crisis situation, an illness, grieving the loss of a loved one, or have a problem yourself, our thoughts and prayers are with you. We wish you and/or your loved ones a speedy recovery and a quick resolution to whatever crisis you have. Thank YOU for everything you do to make better the lives of those who have a mental illness. You DO make a difference!

This will be the last newsletter I contribute to as President of NAMI - Space Coast, Inc. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve and I regret having to step down. I will continue to be involved to support, educate, and advocate as much as I can.

Freda

ANNOUNCEMENTS / REMINDERS / IMPORTANT MEETINGS

REMINDER: The 2005 Florida Statutes - Title XXIX, PUBLIC HEALTH, Chapter 394, Mental Health - 394.4615 Clinical records; confidentiality. - (9) Nothing in this section is intended to prohibit the parent or next of kin of a person who is held in or treated under a mental health facility or program from requesting and receiving information limited to a summary of that person's treatment plan and current physical and mental condition. Release of such information shall be in accordance with the code of ethics of the profession involved.

Reminder: Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage began on 1 January 2006 for those who signed up by 31 December 2005. Prescription drug coverage is available for ALL Medicare recipients. The Medicare Phone Number is 1-800 MEDICARE (1-800-633-422). The Medicare web site is www.medicare.gov. For those of you who have not signed up and don't have a clue which provider will best meet your individual needs, there is a “fee for service” provider in Brevard County: Hooley Resource Group, Dawn Hooley, RPh., Pharmacist & Insurance Advisor. Ms. Hooley's phone # is 321-394-6177, Email address: Dawn@Hooleyresourcegroup.com and web site - www.HooleyResourceGroup.com. Ms. Hooley is a NAMI Advocate who has been extremely helpful to this organization since the Medicaid Formulary became effective.