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NC And Federal Government Reach Agreement On Mentally Ill

http://66.225.205.104/20120823MentallyIll.mp3

North Carolina health officials and federal attorneys have reached an agreement that could move mentally ill residents from adult care homes into community housing. Under the agreement that was reached between the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and U.S Department of Justicethe mentally ill adults would not only be moved into community housing: they would also get help with rent, job training, and potential employment. The plan also calls for the creation of a 24/7 crisis care program for the residents. Vicki Smith is the executive director of Disability Rights NC. "We're very pleased that the state has agreed to resolve a situation that could have resulted in long litigation with the Department of Justice," Smith says. The Department found North Carolina to be in violation of federal law by having too many mentally ill residents living in the adult care homes. It was Disability Rights NC that filed the complaint that brought it to the Department of Justice's attention. Smith says mentally ill residents just don't get the care and services they need in the adult care homes.