A Mental Health Nightmare in Connecticut

5th Letter to Governor Rell and Others in Power in ConnecticutMoosie

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:19:56 +0000

I guess I was very naive to think that all the people involved in this situation who had worked so hard to affect needed change for our son had actually accomplished their goals. It hasn’t worked so far. Now, I had to write the 5th letter to the Governor and others in the [...]

A Letter to the Assistants of Senator Christopher Dodd, Senator Len Fasano, and Representative Mary FritzMoosie

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:29:02 +0000

This is a letter I wrote today to the assistants of Senators Dodd and Fasano and Representative Mary Fritz. These women are FANTASTIC advocates and have been extremely helpful to me and my family while we navigate the murky waters of the mental health system in CT and at the Federal level for SSI. [...]

Testimony Before The Appropriations Committee on February 15, 2008Moosie

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 15:24:58 +0000

This is my actual testimony to the Appropriations Committee on the 15th of February, 2008.  This is the 2nd time I have testified, and I was more nervous than the first time!  After I post my testimony here, I will do other posts on the descriptions of what took place during and after the hearings. [...]

Testimony Before The Appropriations Committee on February 13, 2008Moosie

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 15:17:49 +0000

What follows is my actual testimony to the Appropriations Committee in Hartford on 2/13/08.  This is the first time I ever testified like this, and although it was certainly scary and intimidating, it also was invigorating and everyone involved were wonderfully helpful and supportive.  The Staff at NAMI CT walked me through everything and could [...]

Updates Since I Returned in JanuaryMoosie

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 14:45:16 +0000

Well, now that I have been back in Connecticut since early January, I finally have gotten to a place where I can share updates since I got home:   I had to come back to CT when I did, or our son’s Social Security Benefits would have expired, and we would have had to go through all [...]

Going Home At Last!Moosie

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 23:30:33 +0000

Well, I am finally ready to go home!  I am packed, and my husband and I are so ready for this!  Our son’s benefits are all in place, and he has an interview with a good group home next week.  We did get the medications our son requires from Rushford, after I had very contentious conversations [...]

Hopes Dashed Once Again!Moosie

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 22:22:36 +0000

I called our son’s Case Worker at Rushford Behavioral Center today to share the great news of us going home, and while she was very excited and happy, there were a few things she had to check on. This is what I told her I would like to have done before we get home, [...]

We are Finally Going Home!Moosie

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 22:05:22 +0000

Well, we are finally going home to CT! On Saturday, January 13th, 2008, our son and I will make the long drive back to Connecticut after almost three and a half months of waiting and separation. My husband and I are so excited that we can barely stand it! Our son has a scheduled [...]

A Medical EmergencyMoosie

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:30:11 +0000

Well, I have learned something very important. If you are receiving SAGA benefits and you are physically out of the State of CT for more than 30 days, then you will automatically lose your benefits. This means that you cannot get the limited health benefits that SAGA provides, and you cannot get any [...]

A Miracle!Moosie

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:25:56 +0000

Yesterday, we received a call from Senator Dodd’s office that our son’s Social Security appeal had gone through and he was approved for disability benefits!  This is a HUGE milestone, and we will never be able to thank Senator Dodd’s office enough for their invaluable support and assistance in getting that accomplished!  If it weren’t [...]

A True Random Act of KindnessMoosie

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 01:25:36 +0000

Well, after many months of struggles and contentious phone calls and meetings with various agency representatives in CT regarding getting appropriate services for our son, I want to pause and recognize some people who touched our lives in an incredibly kind, generous, and positive way. The people mentioned here did not do this because [...]

Tangling With a DMHAS Staff Member Part 4: The Attempt at Plan ImplementationMoosie

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 23:53:46 +0000

Tangling With a DMHAS Staff Member Part 4: The Attempt at Plan Implementation So, after explaining the plan for our son, and after talking with our son and several experts on the matter, we came to a general consensus. Our son should not go to a respite center, even in an interim placement, as it [...]

Tangling With a DMHAS Staff Member Part 3Moosie

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 23:14:33 +0000

Tangling With a DMHAS Staff Member Part 3: The Plan The caseworker from DMHAS assured me that he had a plan to get our son and I back to CT within the next few weeks. I listened to his plan, but was hesitant from the start. Here it is: The caseworker was going to get a “respite” [...]

Tangling With a DMHAS Staff Member Part 2Moosie

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 01:19:29 +0000

Tangling With a DMHAS Staff Member Part 2 Now that I have calmed down a little bit, I can continue my story…. Over the course of the last several weeks, the DMHAS caseworker that I had dealt with last Summer was again assigned to assist me in procuring appropriate services for our son. At first, I did [...]

Tangling With a DMHAS Staff MemberMoosie

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 23:14:41 +0000

Tangling With a DMHAS Staff Member Last Summer, in 2006, when our son was homeless, I called DMHAS looking for help for our son. We needed urgent help and the gentleman I talked to treated me like I was an imbecile. All he could seem to do was recommend that I take the parenting [...]

After Thanksgiving 2007Moosie

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 18:50:50 +0000

Well, I had a vicious migraine during my entire Thanksgiving away from Connecticut. I am not surprised, as the overall stress of this situation is adding up over time. I thought alot about being with my Mother for Thanksgiving, which I was very thankful for, since it has been 12 years since I [...]

Current Breast Cancer Drug Looks Promising for Mania re Bipolar DisorderMoosie

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 16:12:10 +0000

Here is another article I received via a news feed. This looks promising! A current drug for breast cancer may have promising results for people suffering from bipolar disorder when they are in a manic state. Check out this article: Channel 8 Drug Article Commentary is welcome! [...]

Another Tragic Mental Health Casualty in ConnecticutMoosie

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 16:02:37 +0000

I learned about this mental health tragedy this morning, when I received a feed about a news article regarding the death of a young woman being cared for in the Connecticut mental health system. This is a HORRIBLE story — and our hearts go out to this family and the young woman’s friends and [...]

The Thanksgiving I Won’t Spend With My Family in CTMoosie

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 19:28:54 +0000

Well, I am coming to the realization that I will not be spending Thanksgiving in CT with my husband, son, and daughter. I cannot describe the profound disillusionment, sadness, and anger that are all welling up inside me. This is so unfair and unbelievable! Why can’t I go back to CT for [...]

Contact Matrix for Mental Health Related Staff in ConnecticutMoosie

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 02:35:35 +0000

This is a table of all of the mental health related agencies and pertinent staff people I can find in the State of Connecticut. I will update this table as time goes on. I hope this helps finding the resource you need easier. Table of Mental Health Contacts in Connecticut [...]

My Thoughts on Where We Have Come to This PointMoosie

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 18:51:04 +0000

Today is November 11, 2007. I have now been in NC at my Mother’s, with our son, for over 5 weeks now. I am completely desperate to go home to my husband, my dogs, and my home. I have battled with depression myself for many, many years. For the most part, [...]

4th Letter to Governor Rell and Others in Power in ConnecticutMoosie

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 22:50:32 +0000

Here is the 4th letter I sent today to Governor Rell and others in positions of authority in CT. This letter was prompted by a call from our son’s case worker at Rushford Behavioral Center to me this afternoon. Just another example of the pitiful turns this situation takes as time goes on. [...]

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