9/7/11 - 12:53 PM by Stephanie Patrick
Do you have questions about the work of the Advocacy Center, our priorities for 2012, or thoughts to share? Lois Simpson, AC's Executive Director, will be answering your questions and listening to your ideas on Wednesday, Sept. 14th from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm and Monday, Sept. 19th from 3:00 pm -4:00 pm.
Read more … Advocacy Center’s Executive Director Wants to Talk with YOU!
7/5/11 - 12:04 PM by Stephanie Patrick
DHH implements changes to the rules regarding the Elderly and Disabled Adult Waiver. Read more about how these changes may impact you.
Read more … DHH changes EDA Waiver rules
5/25/11 - 12:45 PM by Stephanie Patrick
On May 18, 2011, AC received a positive decision in Pitts v. Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH), which seeks to prevent hundreds of low-income people with severe disabilities from losing services and being institutionalized in nursing facilities. The judge ruled that the suit can proceed to trial, dismissing DHH’s motion for summary judgment.
Read more … Judge Rules: Pitts v. DHH Can Proceed
2/14/11 - 05:31 PM by Stephanie Patrick
Many parents of children with intellectual disabilities choose continuing tutorship to maintain guardianship and legal authority over their child after he/she reaches the age of 18. Due to a revamping of the continuing tutorship laws in Louisiana, those rights are not clearly defined.
Read more … The Uncertainties of Continuing Tutorship
9/22/10 - 07:32 PM by Stephanie Patrick
Seeking to prevent nearly 11,000 low-income people with severe disabilities from losing services and being institutionalized in nursing facilities, the Advocacy Center yesterday filed a class action lawsuit against the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) and its Secretary, on behalf of four people who receive Medicaid-funded personal care services.
Read more … CLASS ACTION FILED TO STOP CUTS IN HOME CARE
8/11/10 - 11:13 AM by Stephanie Patrick
In a victory for those unable to stand trial due to mental illness, a federal court ruled yesterday that all detainees who have been deemed incompetent to stand trial by Louisiana courts and ordered to receive restorative treatment must be transferred to the Feliciana Forensic Facility within 21 days. The court also ordered that a status report on the transfer of the detainees be submitted within 30 days updating the court on the implementation of its order.
Read more … Federal Court Orders Louisiana to Provide Mental Health Care for Pretrial Detainees
8/1/10 - 02:04 PM by Stephanie Patrick
Chisholm v. Hood is a class action lawsuit filed by the Advocacy Center in 1997 to make Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) live up to its obligation to arrange for necessary services under regular Medicaid to children on the “NOW” (formerly the MR/DD Waiver) waiting list or “registry.”
Read more … Update on the Chisholm lawsuit – August 2010
7/29/10 - 07:05 PM by Stephanie Patrick
In April, the Advocacy Center, along with the ACLU of Louisiana and the New York law firm of Kirkland and Ellis, L.L.P., sued the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, its Secretary, and two administrators over long-standing conditions for prisoners with mental illness. The law requires that pretrial detainees who are not competent to stand trial because of mental illness must be given restorative mental health treatment or be released from custody. These people have not been convicted of any crime, and they must be found competent before they can proceed to trial. Some inmates are ordered to be treated in jail or on an outpatient basis – but many are found by the courts to need inpatient treatment in order to be restored to competency.
Read more … Prisoners with Mental Illness Wait Months for Court-Ordered Treatment
7/28/10 - 05:03 PM by Stephanie Patrick
The managers of two group homes in southern Louisiana contacted an AC CLOP Ombudsman, about the lack of recreational activities for the young men- aged 14 to 18- in their homes.
Read more … Inclusion in Summer Youth Programs
6/2/10 - 04:18 PM by Stephanie Patrick
Tony, a man with developmental and physical disabilities, hoped to move to a new, more accessible apartment near his friends and family. However, when he and his guardian applied for a public housing slot, the Housing Authority declined his application.
Read more … Housing Win Brings Greater Independence
5/7/10 - 03:21 PM by Daniel Casbergue
In November of 2009, representatives of the Governor’s office, and the Secretaries of the Department of Social Services, the Department of Health and Hospitals, the Department of Education, and the Office of Juvenile Justice announced an important new cross-agency project that will, for the first time, create a true “system of care” for children with mental, emotional, and behavioral health needs in Louisiana. The system will serve children and youth that have significant behavioral health challenges who have had to be placed in out-of-home settings or are at imminent risk of out of home placement.
Read more … Survey for Parents of Children with Mental Illness in Louisiana
4/1/10 - 02:08 PM by Stephanie Patrick
Barthelemy v. Hood was a class action suit that was filed in 2000 on behalf of people living in nursing homes and people at imminent risk of entering a nursing home who preferred and could benefit from home and community based services.
Read more … Barthelemy Suit Ends
2/12/10 - 02:53 PM by Daniel Casbergue
New Orleans, LA, February 12, 2010 –
Governor Jindal’s budget for Fiscal Year 2011 reflects the Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities’ plan to close Northeast Supports and Services Center (NESSC) in Ruston, LA and to significantly reduce the population of other large institutions for people with developmental disabilities. Such centers include Pinecrest Supports and Services Center (Pineville), Northwest Supports and Services Center (Shreveport) and North Lake Supports and Services Center (Hammond). The Advocacy Center supports these budget recommendations.
Read more … Advocacy Center Applauds Plan to Promote Inclusion for People with Disabilities
