By Crystal D. Swann
June 27, 2005

On June 11, 2005, The Standing Committee for Children, Health and Human Services Standing Committee convened a joint meeting with the Mental Health Task Force, convened by Committee Chair Richmond (CA) Mayor Irma Anderson. The session focused on the financial and social impact of mental illness in the workplace and the consequences of stigma in communities.

The mental health discussion lead by Toledo Mayor Jack Ford, Chair of the Mental Health Task Force, was joined by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) Administrator Charles Curie. SAMHSA, a department of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, funds and administers a portfolio of grant programs and contracts that support efforts to expand and enhance prevention programs and to improve the quality, availability and range of substance abuse treatment and mental health services — in local communities.

"Build resilience and facilitate recovery" stated Administrator Curie is only part of the solution, "...making sure that people particularly those leaving institutional settings need to feel connection to communities." Mr. Curie stressed that overcoming the stigma associated with mental illness is one of the greatest barriers to treatment and recovery in addition to not understanding how or where to go for treatment.

"All American need to know that recovery should be the expectation not the exception," stated Administrator Curie. In addition to addressing mental health stigma, Mr. Curie pointed to the important services that SAMSHA provides to address the re-entry into society of prisoners who have mental illness or substance abuse problems. SAMSHA provides services through their block grant program and the targeted capacity expansion grants program which provides funding to community based and faith based organizations.

"Targeted Capacity Expansion grants program was birthed with the US Conference of Mayors and SAMHSA. We now have hundreds of millions of dollars and hundreds of programs in cities in which targeted capacity expansion has been realized," stated Mr. Curie. The targeted capacity expansion grants program was created by USCM and SAMHSA to make available to cities direct funding, through a competitive grants programs, to focus on some of the emerging substance abuse and mental health programs in cities.

The Mayors reaffirmed their commitment to continuing to raise awareness on mental health and combating stigma in their cities.

In addition, the committee also heard from Lydia Lewis, President, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. DBSA is an organization of patients helping patients. -Those of us living with mood disorders face so many challenges such as isolation, stigma, education barriers, the inability to get meaningful jobs, not jobs at McDonald's but meaning work, the high risk of substance abuse, crime, homelessness, and the constant threat of suicide." Ms. Lewis stated that fear, stigma, and lack of understanding and knowledge, the reluctance of systems and many elected officials to allocate tax dollars for treatment of these "unpleasant" citizens and the emphasis on mental illness rather than mental wellness creates ever expanding problems. Ms. Lewis and Administrator Curie emphasized the same message — stigma needs to address with an aggressive and comprehensive awareness campaign.

During the business session of the committee meeting the following resolutions were approved and sent to the full membership of the Conference of Mayors were they became official policy. All resolutions passed and a brief summary of each is listed below:

Drug free sports resolves that The United States Conference of Mayors encourages states to establish steroid testing programs in schools and require minimum testing requirements for steroids and other performance-enhancing substances for major league sports associations engaged in interstate commerce.

Promoting physical fitness activities in cities as a means to improving health and limiting obesity amongst city residents throughout the united states resolves that The United States Conference of Mayors, supports local and national efforts to counter growing obesity rates and the myriad problems associated with being overweight, in children, youth and adult residents. Increased funding for the low income home energy assistance program (LIHEAP) supports an increase in LIHEAP authorization and urges Congress to increase the appropriations of the LIHEAP program to at least $3.4 billion in the FY 2006 budget.

Reauthorization of Ryan White CARE Act that The U.S. Conference of Mayors urges Congress to work swiftly to reauthorize the Ryan White CARE Act.

Urging full funding for the earned income tax credit that The U.S. Conference of Mayors urges the Administration and Congress to fully fund the Earned Income Tax Credit.

Head Start resolves that The U.S. Conference of Mayors strongly opposes any attempt to move Head Start to the states through a block grant or other means; strongly supports the current federal to local funding structure and supports the continued coordination of Head Start, child care and pre-kindergarten programs; and urges Congress to fully fund the Head Start program.

Honoring the bravery and sacrifices of our troops and their families with a new gi bill of rights resolves that the United States Conference of Mayors urges bipartisan congressional support and rapid approval of H.R. 2131, the New G.I. Bill of Rights for the 21st Century to honor the bravery of our troops and the tremendous sacrifices that their families have made.

Stroke and heart disease in women resolves that The United States Conference of Mayors United States Conference of Mayors recognizes stroke and heart disease in women as critical public health issues and strongly supports programs promoting comprehensive awareness targeted at women, advancing scientific research to further our understanding of stroke and heart disease in women, and improving medical services relating to stroke and heart disease.

Money Follows the Person Act of 2005 that USCM supports local and state efforts to ensure the civil rights of people with disabilities of all ages to receive community-based services and supports; and urges Congress to enact S. 528, the Money Follows the Person Act of 2005.

Supporting one-to-one community based mentoring for children of incarcerated parents that The U.S. Conference of Mayors supports efforts to mentor children of incarcerated parents in the proven one-to-one community based mentoring model in partnership with faith-based organizations

Food stamps which resolves that the U.S. Conference of Mayors calls on the Administration and Congress to protect the Food Stamp Program against budget cuts or weakening structural changes.

Medicaid Community-Based Attendant Services and Supports Act of (MICASS) which resolves that The U.S. Conference of Mayors strongly supports the independence and empowerment of persons with disabilities by promoting local, state and federal programs that enable them to live in their communities rather than costly institutions; and urges Congress to enact S.401 and H.R. 910, the Medicaid-Based Community Attendant Services and Supports Act of 2005.

Childhood obesity that The United States Conference of Mayors support comprehensive policies addressing childhood obesity which include a multi-faceted approach, promoting and encouraging nutrition education as well as physical activity to combat the sedentary lifestyle that contributes to overweight and obesity in children; and calls on Congress to enact legislation establishing sound, rational guidelines for state and local governments as well as community leaders that address child obesity as a health epidemic.

Funding for urban farmers markets urges Congress to appropriate the funds necessary to expand public and farmers markets around the country.