Outcomes from the
MindFreedom Action Conference
April 29 to May 1, 2005
A Call to Action
MINDFREEDOM/WASHINGTON
COLLEGE OF LAW ACTION CONFERENCE
APRIL 29, 30
& MAY 1, 2005
Action Description
Sheet
Track: How the Law Can Help Fight Forced
"Treatment"
Description of Action: Fight Forced "Treatment"
The Legal Track
decided that there are many different ways and avenues to fight forced
"treatment" and working on this single action item was both the most
important thing and plenty to do.[1] For a number of reasons, including being able
to utilize the resources available and because the laws involving involuntary
"treatment" are state-specific the organizational structure and
follow-up mechanism the Legal Track adopted is employ State Coordinators. The key things the State Coordinators will
work on are:
- Recruiting Lawyers
- Pro Bono programs
- Law Schools
- Lawyer organizations
- Identifying & Recruiting Expert
Witnesses
- Finding Cases
- System Change Cases
- Appeals
- Create Trouble for Hospitals
- Help people
- Providing Information
- "cookbook" for the various
states.
- Coordinating with the MindFreedom
Program
PsychRights will
help with technical assistance and advice, including preparing materials for
use by the State Coordinators and post state specific information on its
website. The State Coordinators will be
the follow up Committee and Jim Gottstein was elected to be the liaison to
MindFreedom.
Timeline of Action Steps and Persons Responsible for Completion (What needs to be done by when?):
The Track didn't
really establish timelines, but feels the structure it has created, including
establishing an e-mail list for collaboration and Jim making follow-up contacts
can be very effective. The State Coordinators
or people who have agreed to try and find one are:
- Krista Erickson/Jodi
- Yvonne Smith Interim Coordinator --
- Anne Dox
--
- Greater Upstate Law Project. gulpny.org
- Louise Bouta Interim Coordinator –
- Byron Stith Coordinator Recruiter –
Virginia
- Francesca Allan -- BC,
- Jim Rye Recruiter --
- Aby Adams –
- Janie Lee --
- Jim Gottstein --
Of course, the Track
is seeking State Coordinators for all of the other states as well.
In addition Byron
Stith has agreed to help in recruiting lawyers by contacting lawyer
organizations, such as Trial Lawyers for Public Justice.
Measures to be Used to
Monitor Progress and Effectiveness (How will we know whether we’re being
successful or not?)
The following
measures were developed to know how we are doing:
- No of State Coordinators
- No of Lawyers
- No of Expert Witnesses
- Cases
- Results of Cases
- Other concrete impacts
Track Participants
- Jim Gottstein – Facilitator
- Nels Kurt Langston
- Krista Erickson
- Aaron Frishberg
- Alison Hymes
- Byron Stith
- Jodi Norman
- Francesca Allan
- Anne Dox
- Louise Bouta
- Yvonne Z. Smith
- Terry Grimes
- Aby
- Marcus Planet
- Janie Lee
- Andrew Phelps
- Paula Caplan
- Ron Thompson
- Nat Lehrman
- Stephen A. McFadden
- Leslie Dugas
- James Rye
MINDFREEDOM/WASHINGTON
COLLEGE OF LAW ACTION CONFERENCE
APRIL 29, 30
& MAY 1, 2005
Action
Description Sheet
Track: International
Liaisons/co-chairs: Celia
& Linda
Description of Action:
1. Support Emerging Voices
in Developing Countries:
Encourage the development of
culturally-appropriate resources and awareness to support the voices of people
labeled with psychiatric disabilities for empowerment and self-determination.
2. Sound the alarm about the
globalization of the psychiatric drug industry.
Timeline of Action Steps and
Persons Responsible for Completion (What
needs to be done by when?):
* Build an international
steering committee.
a. Network with allied groups such as MDAC, MDRI, WNUSP [Linda & Larry]
b. Request resources from WHO [David] and other sources.
c. Create graphics & text for
brochure and resource manuals.
d. Use interactive web site to easily
add material [Brian].
e. Translate materials into other
languages [Laura].
f. Public forums to encourage the voices [David & Linda]
g. Support Lobbying Alert Letter for the International Disability Convention.
2. Sound the
alarm
a. Design public relations campaign
themes.
b. Create brochure, poster, CD and web
site.
c. Write articles.
2. Measures to be Used to
Monitor Progress and Effectiveness (How will we know whether we’re being
successful or not?)
1. Support emerging voices:
a. Are there active liaisons with several allied groups?
b. Have we requested from WHO and other sources?
c. Are there brochures and resources manuals?
d. Is there an interactive web site with material?
e. Is material translated into other languages?
f. Are there public forums?
g. Is there an impact – are there more members, people
contacting us, signing up on alert list, etc.?
h. Short run: Have we discovered and supported new contacts
and built relationships with people labeled with psychiatric disabilities and
advocates in developing nations?
i. Very long run: Are there significantly more leaders,
active members and affiliates in developing countries?
2. Sound the alarm
a. Have we designed public relations campaign themes?
b. Have we created brochure, poster, CD and web site?
c. Are there articles explaining the globalization of the
psychiatric drug industry with facts and citations?
d. Short run: Find other campaigns such as tobacco and GMO
to model our campaign after.
e. Very long run: Millions of people have become aware of
the danger of globalization of the psychiatric drug industry.
Contact Information for
Track Participants (Address, Telephone and E-mail if available):
Larry
Linda
Laura
David Oaks
Celia
Dhanesh Samarasan
Diana Hoover – MDAC
Also, MDRI wants to be
involved via Laurie Ahern
MINDFREEDOM/WASHINGTON
COLLEGE OF LAW ACTION CONFERENCE
APRIL 29, 30
& MAY 1, 2005
Action Description
Sheet
Track: Open - 1
Description of Action:
Expand the use of advocates
to help people in the mental health system and to educate people about their
rights and support their advocacy.
Timeline of Action Steps:
1. Set up more drop in
centers
2. Train more advocates
3. Create chapters/networks
of advocates
4. Keep it simple (both
training and approach)
5. Raise funds from private
organizations to support and expand the availability of advocates.
6. Ally with similar
organizations.
7. Provide advocates with
additional resources and tools.
Persons Responsible for
Completion: Krista Erickson
MINDFREEDOM/WASHINGTON
COLLEGE OF LAW ACTION CONFERENCE
APRIL 29, 30
& MAY 1, 2005
Action
Description Sheet
Track: Open - 2
Description of Action:
Use Political action at
local and state levels to change the use of Medicade and Medicare funds towards
alternative treatments.
Timeline of Action Steps:
1.
Learn how to be a lobbyist.
2.
Start lobbying.
3.
Work on political campaigns.
4.
Develop relationships with elected officials.
5.
Meet with elected officials.
6.
Get more survivors to vote and get involved.
7.
Develop alliances based on common interest.
8.
Link up with the effort to train and make available more advocates.
Persons Responsible for
Completion: Susan Isadore
MINDFREEDOM/WASHINGTON
COLLEGE OF LAW ACTION CONFERENCE
APRIL 29, 30
& MAY 1, 2005
Action
Description Sheet
Track: Open - 3
Description of Action:
More and better research on
treatments other than psychotropic drugs.
Timeline of Action Steps:
1.
Research into genetic factors and medicine that supports and enhances
the natural functioning of the body/mind.
2.
Concrete evidence that alternative approaches are healthier and
cheaper.
3.
Additional research on using naturopathic medicine to treat “severe
mental illness.”
4.
Write-in campaigns using personal testimony to lobby for research on
alternative treatment.
Persons Responsible for
Completion: Sandra Lykins
Contact Information for Open
Track Participants (Address, Telephone and E-mail if available):
Al Galves
(h) 505-522-8371
(c) 505-571-3105
Jeffrey Wilson
3236 Summer
(h) 614-871-8483
Susan Isadore
(h) 240-461-8477
Sandra Lykins
8177 S. Harvard #84
(h)
918-271-2327
Ralph
Hoffman
(h)
925-837-4498
Krista
Erickson
MINDFREEDOM/WASHINGTON
COLLEGE OF LAW ACTION CONFERENCE
APRIL 29, 30
& MAY 1, 2005
Action Description
Sheet
Track: 2. US
Congress/Federal Government, and state governments
Description of Action:
·
Address as a matter of
extreme urgency the plan for mental health screening based on the Texas
Medication Algorithm Project (TMAP)
·
In the longer term, educate
all branches of federal, state and local government, as well as the public at
large, regarding issues collectively referred to as MH.
Timeline of Action Steps and
Persons Responsible for Completion (What
needs to be done by when?):
·
In the next 60 days,
attention must be focused on TMAP-related matters, since the White House is
expected to issue directives to federal agencies imminently. These are likely
to include screening the Nation’s children for apparent vulnerability to MH
problems, and later the whole population.
Actions and
responsibilities:
1.
Educate and Inform Congress and the Public
a)
prepare brochures on
selected topics -
Dominick Riccio, Sharon Hoffman, John Oldfield, and Mike Castaldi.
b) support two
bills now in Congress: HR
181 Parental Consent Bill HR
*** Child Medication Safety Act -
all, plus MindFreedom members at large
c)
encourage MindFreedom members to personally visit and write local Congressional and Senatorial
legislators. especially their aides.
-
all of us
2.
Building Coalitions
a)
work with minority groups
-
Carla Moxon, Sharon Hoffman
b)
contact professional groups
- Mike Mancini, Jake Johnson, Mike Ostrolenk
c)
focus on the educational
sector
- Carla Moxon, Grace Jackson
Measures to be Used to
Monitor Progress and Effectiveness (How will we know whether we’re being
successful or not?
a)
“Boxer Rebellion” legislation passed
b)
Co-sponsors for supportive bills in Congress
c)
Increased public awareness and concern
Track 2 participants
Facilitators
Dominick Riccio
1036 Park Ave, 1B
New York, NY 10028
212-861-7400
Jake A. Johnson
Associate Professor, Bowie State University,
Department of Counseling
Bowie, MD 20715
310-861-3239
Other participants:
Carla Moxon
Citizens Commission on Human Rights International
6616 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
323-467-4242
Della Wilson
Director of “Consumer” run drop-in Center
Unlimited Alternatives
1115 Taylor, N.
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
616-846-8985 or 616-235-9529
Stephen A. McFadden
(contact Larry Plumlee
Michael Mancini
St. Louis University School of Social Service
314-977-2736
Michael Ostrolenk
Govt Aff. (ICSPP)
Paula J. Caplan
26 Alpine Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
Michael Castaldi
919 South Clinton Ave.
Apt 508
Rochester, NY 14620
Sharon E. Hoffman
1103 Pittsford Mendon Road
Pittsford, NY 14534
John V. Oldfield
300 Berkeley Drive
Syracuse, NY 13210
MINDFREEDOM/WASHINGTON
COLLEGE OF LAW ACTION CONFERENCE
APRIL 29, 30
& MAY 1, 2005
Action
Description Sheet
Track: Media & Public Education
Description of Action:
Develop a campaign that will (1) attract media attention; (2) recruit members
and allies.
“Prescription for Truth” campaign
Timeline of Action Steps and
Persons Responsible for Completion (What
needs to be done by when?):
1)
George Ebert – 05/08/05
Set up list serve for a “Call to Conscience” for track members (and others with interest)
to solidify message and develop future actions.
George to email the Highlander
Statement for track members to view.
Highlander Statement concepts
to be utilized for campaign message.
2)
Track Participants – 07/01/05
Communicate via list serve to solidify campaign
message.
3)
Track Participants – 07/01/05
Create PSA
4)
Track Participants – 07/01/05
Create FACT SHEET that will bullet specifics of the
message we finalize.
5)
Track Participants – 07/01/05
Compile a condensed statement from Highlander Statement and ask others to
add comments/”sign-on”
6)
Track Participants – 07/01/05
Compile psychiatrized/survivor stories to be
included in campaign message
Measures to be Used to
Monitor Progress and Effectiveness (How will we know whether we’re being
successful or not?)
Deadline
of July 1, 2005 for most action steps with the intent of beginning media
campaign on Bastille Day, July 14, 2005.
Contact Information for
Track Participants (Address, Telephone and E-mail if available):
Laurie Ahern
Bill Baker
74
901.763.4512
Vince Boehm
302.999.1116
George
Ebert
1663 Sterling Station
Sterling, NY 13156-4131
315.947.5888
Will Hall
www.freedom-center.org
413.582.9948
Brett & Sarah Hartman
Brett:
Mollie
Huster
413.467.2216
Alison Hymes
Gena K.
Janie Lee
Pierre
Loiselle
B3K 2N4 Canada
902.454.5921
Julie
Ann Rivers-Cochran
850.294.1227
Lynn Robinson
James Rye
68
New Avenue
jjryejjrye@aol.com
Joseph Schuman
616.235.9611
Unlimited
Alternatives
office:
1115
616.235.9529
home:
Grand
616.846.8985
MINDFREEDOM/WASHINGTON
COLLEGE OF LAW ACTION CONFERENCE
APRIL 29, 30
& MAY 1, 2005
Action
Description Sheet
Track:
CHOICE IN MH
Description of Action:
Timeline of Action Steps and
Persons Responsible for Completion (What
needs to be done by when?):
CONFERENCE
Date chosen: MindFreedom
Board--by Dec. '05 (for conference to be held in spring of '07)
Site & location found:
Choice in MH Committee -Jan. '06
Accessibility subcommittee
& research special accommodations-Jan., '06
Develop budget-Choice in MH
Committee -Feb. '06
Potential Co-sponsors
identified:Choice in MH Committee -Mar. '06
Conference Coordinator
found:Choice in MH Committee -Apr., '06
Develop sponsor letter-Apr.,
'06
Co-sponsors chosen-Choice in
MH Committee-Sept. '06
Scholarship fund-Choice in
MH Committee-Nov. '06
Promotion/outreach-start in
June, '06-Choice in MH Committee
Find dynamic presenters-call
for presentations in Nov., '06
Developing registration
materials-start in Jan., '07
WEBSITE
Develop criteria for what
can be put on MindFreedom website section on alternatives-Choice in MH
Committee & Board-June, '05
Research existing
alternatives-ongoing
Work with MindFreedom
webmaster to set up this section of website--by Dec., '05?
Send out an announcement
about new section of website-David Oaks, Dec., '05?
Send our link to other organizations'
sites--Choice in MH Committee, Dec., '05?
Measures to be Used to
Monitor Progress and Effectiveness (How will we know whether we’re being
successful or not?)
Number of inquiries and
responses re conference on guestbook on website
At least 50 people(hopefully
200) attending the conference
Access to alternatives more
widespread and alternatives known more
widely
New ideas developed, groups
networked & actual alternatives being developed after the conference
Ideas for free, self-help
alternatives widely disseminated
People start leaving MH
facilities and using these alternatives!
Current Choice in MH
Committee
Janet Foner, chair
Celia Brown
Matt Morrissey
Mollie from Freedom Center
Leslie Dugas
Florence Brown
Caldwell Daniel
Alicia Newkirk
Contact Information for
Track Participants (Address, Telephone and E-mail if available):
Yvonne Smith
Leslie Dugas
Jane Buth
Caldwell Daniel(registered
as Daniel Caldwell, maybe--nametag was backwards)
Alicia Newkirk
Celia Brown
Florence Brown
Nat Lehrman