Legal Advocacy Group Alleges Colorado in Violation of the Law With Respect to People With Mental Illness
Orchid Mental Health Legal Advocacy, Inc. alleges Colorado is not complying with federal civil rights laws for people with mental illness who need housing and intensive services to avoid homelessness or incarceration. Orchid maintains the law demands massive access to housing, intensive services, a comprehensive State plan and waiting lists moving at a reasonable pace.
Centennial, Colorado, July 27, 2015 (Newswire.com) - Orchid Mental Health Legal Advocacy of Colorado, Inc. challenges State of Colorado officials to a television debate or discussion on the State's failure to comply with federal civil rights laws ensuring access to important community supports for people with mental illness.
Orchid argues that Colorado has no comprehensive State Plan on how to deal with the approximately 5,700 people with mental illness in Colorado prisons not to mention those in Colorado jails, and thousands homeless nor does it maintain sufficient housing or intensive services for those in critical need, nor maintain wait lists for these services moving at a reasonable pace.
"There are literally thousands of unconscionable situations involving people with mental illness in the State of Colorado in prisons, jails, homeless shelters, etc. It doesn't have to be this way. Not only that -- the Law demands that it NOT be this way."
Val Corzine, Executive Director, Orchid Mental Health Legal Advocacy of Colorado, Inc.
Orchid Mental Health Legal maintains that what it has proposed to the State are evidenced-based practices endorsed by the United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Additionally, Orchid maintains that the remedies that it has proposed to the State of Colorado are in line with United States Department of Justice Guidance, Findings Letters, and Settlement Agreements. Orchid has formally been attempting to negotiate with the State for approximately 9 months, and informally 6 months before that. For more information see the Orchid website www.orchidadvocacy.org
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