August 6, 2004

The Michigan Mental Health Commission is currently considering key issues, proposed options, and cross-cutting issues as it works to improve the delivery and effectiveness of Michigan’s public mental health system.

Public feedback on these issues continues to be extremely important. The Michigan Mental Health Commission is asking for the public to review the proposed plans and offer comments and feedback.

The Proposed Cross-Cutting Issues and Options include the following and can be read in detail at www.michigan.gov/mentalhealth:

• Cross-Cutting Issue 1: Who Should Be Served?
• Cross-Cutting Issue 2: Model Array of Statewide Services - Mental and Emotional Disorders
• Cross-Cutting Issue 3: The Best Structure for the State's Mental Health System (including tensions between the community-based system model and the health plan model, and central/localized)
• Cross-Cutting Issue 4: System Funding (including the best use of current funds and the new options that would support the "best" structure.
• Cross-Cutting Issue 5: The Connection Between the Mental Health System and (a) Physical Health Care and Human Services and (b) Social and Health Policy (e.g. lead poisoning
• Cross-Cutting Issue 6: Identifying, Promoting and Implementing the Use of Research, Evidence-Based Programs and Best Practices and the Connection Between the Mental Health System and Universities.
• Cross-Cutting Issue 7: Public Expectations of the System Compared to What it Can Provide and What it Should Provide.
• Cross-Cutting Issue 8: State-Level Capacity for Monitoring and Evaluating the Implementation of Mental Health Commission Recommendations.

Individuals interested in providing public comment in person may do so at the Mental Health Commission meeting on August 17, 2004, from 8:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn West Conference Center, 7501 W. Saginaw, Lansing.

Other options for providing feedback include:

Online: www.michigan.gov/mentalhealth

Fax: (517) 484-6549

Mail: Michigan Mental Health Commission

         c/o Public Sector Consultants

         600 W. Saint Joseph Street, Suite 10

         Lansing, MI 48933

The Michigan Mental Health Commission, a temporary body appointed by executive order, is currently re-evaluating the state’s publicly funded mental health system with the ultimate goal of using its recommendations to transform Michigan’s mental health system into a national model. The commission is comprised of mental health consumers, advocates, providers, representatives from law enforcement and the courts, policymakers, and the public.