10-15-1984 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Mission Care Center, continued .n later years, the "Farm" became incorporated as Union City Mission, .i non -religious, non-profit facility; and in the 1930's began serving ;ndigent alcoholic males from the Minneapolis skid ,row area who came to the farm to live and work. Then, as now, the philosophy of the facilities is to s^rve the community by offering alternatives to intoxicated persons and/or those suftering from alcoholism or other drug dependencie-., F O C U S O N .TOINT MENTAL HEALTH RESIDENTIAL, COMMIT,rEE r, For the past year and a half, a group of human services providers from the West and Northwest Hennepin area have been meeting to explore ways of facilitating the development of mental health residential treatment programs in the Northwest and West Hennepin area. The Committee has been active in a number of areas to help educate policymakers and the community about the need for residential programming in the suburbs. As its initial task, it successfully advocated with Hennepin County's Mental Health Division to get them to put a priority in funding residential programs in the suburbs. When the County requested proposals, the Committee participated in committees to select which services would relieve funding. Hennepin County is funding five types of programs: 1) a respite care prog-am, 2) a pcagram for mentally ill adults over 35, 3) a program for people with a dual diagnosis of mental itlrwss and mental retarda- tion, 4) a program for mentally ill adults with special health and dis- ability problems, and 5) a program for peo,�Ie who are mentally ill with behavior problems. The committee has contacted providers who plan to locate in the we%torn irri northwestern suburbs, and offert•d racistince to them in securing the n,( "iory municipal and cummur}ity rpprov.il for their tat i l it ies. Another committee effort has been to develop a presentation for city councils and other groups on residential programs. The written and oral presen- tation covers information on deinsti- tutionalization, licensing, zoning regulations, mental illness, the need for programs, and information on mental health services in our communities. Several presentations have already been made. The Committee also has developed a guide to zoning regulations of the suburban municipalities and a guide for potential programs on locating their programs in a suburban area. On the horizon for this active committee is the development of a videotape explaining mental health residential programs and issues related to three programs. For more information on the committee and its activities, call the WHHS office at 920-5533. EMERGENCY PROGRAM rECEIVES GRANT For the past three years, Westonka Christian Services, Interfaith Outreach, Interchurch Community Association and St. Louis Park Emergency Program (STEP) in conjunction with West Hennepin Human Services Planning Board have been funded by Hennepin County to provide emergency food, shelter, clothing and transportation for people in economic crisis. The demand for these services has been great, and there has been no apparent decrease in the need for services despite the economic recovery felt by many other people. Because the demand has been high and the programs have had few funds for staff, they jointly applied to the Minneapoli,.: Foundation for a grant to allow them to provide advocacy services, provide information, and do follow-up with clients of the program. West Hennepin Human Services Planning Board would like to thank the Minneapolis Foundation for awarding a grant of $19,000 to provide these Advocacy and information services Continued on next page