Career Opportunities with Pathways to Housing Inc.: Service Coordinators/Peer Specialists

Read the employment want ad, here (via 7Days Classifieds).

Commentary: Do Not Cut to the Bone

(cross-posted to Green Mountain Daily, here)

Opinion

Do Not Cut to the Bone

The state should be cutting where the fat truly exists, not to the bone as had been its inclination: i.e., there is no need or justification for many departments or agencies across state government -- most particularly within the Vermont Agency of Human Services (VT AHS) -- to retain and have so many top and middle management positions that have grown since the current administration came into office: e.g., deputy commissioners.

As specifically concerns the Vermont Department of Mental Health (VT DMH), one of the positions that should be cut is the Deputy Commissioner position as this would result in cost savings and sparing much more needed positions further down the food chain.

While the DMH commissioner and others within the department may depend on the deputy commissioner quite a bit, it would seem that when one measures priorities about what is truly most important and what gets the taxpayers the most for their dollars as well as provides the most to those the DMH is supposed to serve, this and other such high level positions should be cut instead.

Morgan W. Brown
Montpelier

Sarah Launderville: Public Comments re: Closure of VSH Canteen

Upon my request, Sarah Launderville e-mailed me the following written comments of hers that she shared during last Friday's VSH canteen press conference held by advocates and concerned citizens:

VCIL: Statement Against Cuts to the Vermont State Hospital

Prepared Vermont Center for Independent Living (VCIL) position statement read by Executive Director Sarah Launderville during last Friday's VSH canteen press conference held by advocates and concerned citizens:

Sandra Steingard, M.D.: Open Letter to Governor Douglas re: VSH Canteen

An open letter to Governor Jim Douglas concerning the Vermont State Hospital (VSH) canteen written and submitted by Doctor Sandra Steingard:

Letter to the Editor: Reverse VSH Canteen Closure Decision

Below is the op-ed/commentary/letter to the editor version I wrote and submitted to various newspapers across the state concerning both the closure of the canteen at the Vermont State Hospital (VSH) as well as the future of mental health service delivery across the state in general for publication.

An Open Letter to Governor Jim Douglas: Reverse VSH Canteen Closure Decision

(cross-posted to Green Mountain Daily, here)

Dear Governor Jim Douglas, State of Vermont:

An Open Letter re: Reverse VSH Canteen Closure Decision

Sent to: Secretary Hofmann, Vermont Agency of Human Service (VT AHS); and,
Commissioner Michael Hartman, Vermont Department of Mental Health (VT DMH)

cc: State Representative Michael Obuchowski, Chair, Joint Fiscal Committee;
State Senator Ann Cummings, Vice Chair, Joint Fiscal Committee

Closing VSH Canteen “Last Straw” for Mental Health Advocates

(cross-posted to Green Mountain Daily, here)

vtdigger: Closing the Vermont State Hospital’s Canteen the “last straw” for mental health advocates (here):

Advocates hold press conference

Joshua (Malcolm) Sawyer: Public Comments re: Closure of VSH Canteen

The following is the written statement of Joshua (Malcolm) Sawyer he shared publicly during yesterday's VSH canteen press conference held by advocates and concerned citizens:

My name is Malcolm Sawyer. I have been to the state hospital twice. Sometimes while there I would wonder if my life was over. The canteen was the only place that made me feel alright. Being at the canteen gave me hope that one day I might return to the real world. Without the canteen, my stay at the hospital would have been really hard to get through. I can't believe that it is even being thought to close it down. I think the only sane move would be to keep it open. I implore whoever is responsible: Don't get rid of the canteen!

Joshua (Malcolm) Sawyer

Michael Sabourin: Public Comments re: Closure of VSH Canteen

Upon my request, Michael Sabourin e-mailed me the following written comments of his that he shared during today's VSH canteen press conference held by advocates and concerned citizens: