Advocate Support Blog

CPRP Exam Application Deadline Extended!

If you have dedicated your career to providing exceptional psychiatric rehabilitation, now is the time to join the distinguished group of more than 2,600 individuals who have obtained the professional Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP) credential. 

 

The CPRP credential is a test-based certification that fosters the growth of a qualified, ethical, and culturally-diverse psychiatric rehabilitation workforce through enforcement of a practitioner code of ethics. Our CPRPs come from a range of backgrounds and practices; some hold GEDs while others PhDs, in careers ranging from occupational therapists to peer specialists, and social workers to case workers. But no matter what, our CPRPs share a commitment to the fundamental principle that recovery from serious mental illness is possible.

Retreat with Nellie Lauth

Jim Crosson
Advocate Support Services, Inc.

If you have medicare part D for your prescriptions, you have until December 31 st to switch plans, which might be beneficial for savings.



Go to www.cvs.com/medicare for a comparison tool, to select the most inexpensive plans based on medications you are currently prescribed.



Please remember this is very time sensitive. Go to www.medicare.gov for further info.

Maryland board approves more budget cuts | Washington Examiner

ANNAPOLIS, MD. — A state panel on Wednesday approved more than $361 million in cuts and other revisions to Maryland's general fund budget, bringing total budget revisions since the fiscal year started in July to more than $1 billion.

via www.washingtonexaminer.com

The $361 million in budget cuts which were made today included elimination of 21 jobs through the downsizing of a Rockville facility that serves children with severe emotional disabilities and elimination of 18 positions within the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

The State has plans to reduce Medicaid payments to hospitals by $20.8 million which includes a reduction in the Maryland Children's Health Program of $7.3 million.

Through the denial of unnecessary Medicaid services and ineligible claims, the State believes they will be able to save another $11 million.

Even with all the cuts that have already been made, Governor O'Malley says that only half the necessary cuts have been made and $1.5 billion is the projected shortfall in FY' 2011.

The good news On the positive side, the University System of Maryland at Hagerstown Hospital Center and other campuses weren't cut, this time.

I wonder if the "Public Option" will be needed in the near future to act as a safety net for those who find that their Maryland Medicaid card is denied like a maxed out credit card.

Still need a flu shot?

College of DuPage offers online Psychiatric Rehabilitation Certificate

The Psychiatric Rehabilitation certificate at College of DuPage prepares students for entry into the mental health field as a psychiatric rehabilitation technician. These workers assess clients for program eligibility based on specific criteria, co-facilitate group interaction, help clients with medication management skills, and provide small-group and community presentations on health and safety issues concerning individuals with mental illness.

 www.cod.edu

Check out this program if you are interested in obtaining a solid foundation for an entry level position in the mental health field.

Project 100

Kim brought some new information to my attention, and I was able to correlate it to the attached link.

http://static.baltimorehousing.org/pdf/project100.pdf

Looks like this program commits to providing education and assistance resources to 100 people per month. In exchange for complying with this program, attendees leave with food (significant, from what we're told by current clients).

The next enrollment starts tomorrow. Interested clients need to apply tomorrow morning -- looks like space is limited to the first 100 enrollees.

Classes run Tuesday 5:30pm -- 7pm, at 3939 Reisterstown Road (near Keystone, toward Park Heights section -- has a blue roof or awning?).

Please share the info with all clients. Thanks!

NAMI Webinar

American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Heatlh Webinar 11-17-09 4:00pm EST
Invitation to the American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Webinar, November 17 in honor of Native American Heritage Month, hosted by NAMI in partnership with IHS Division of Behavioral Health
http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=88575&lstid=275

Free Books in Baltimore

Please see the following link for information on how to get free books in Baltimore.  Pass info on to clients...

http://www.bookthing.org/

NAMI Meets with President Obama at White House

NAMI Executive Director Michael Fitzpatrick joined a group of 12 representatives from the disability community last week for a historic meeting with President Barack Obama.