PUBLICATIONS

Overcoming Barriers to Community Integration for People with Mental Illnesses

Forward: Joyce T. Berry, PhD., J.D.
Center for Mental Health Services

Editors: Carol Bianco, Susan Milstrey Wells
Advocates for Human Potential, Inc.
Albany, New York

Prepared under contract between The Gallup Organization and the Division of State and Community Systems Development (Mental Health Block Grant Branch)

Center for Mental Health Services
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Description:

The landmark 1999 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Olmstead v. L.C. held that unnecessary segregation of people with disabilities in institutions is a form of discrimination that violates the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The decision highlighted the need for states to provide community-based services to meet the needs of all individuals who can benefit from living in the community.

To this end, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has created a National Coalition and statewide coalitions to promote community-based care for people with serious mental illnesses. In particular, the National Coalition has been charged with examining the characteristics and service needs of those individuals with serious mental illnesses who are inappropriately hospitalized or at risk of psychiatric hospitalization;
delineating the barriers to serving these individuals in the community; and exploring strategies to ensure their successful transition to community living.

This report outlines some of the barriers and strategies that National Coalition members will review.

Download this Report

This report is in PDF format, readable with Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have the reader, please download it for free from Adobe.

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