Focus On Life - Suicide Prevention Village Meetings begin this Friday
10-21-2009
Wednesday, October 20, 2009- The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse (DMHSA) - Prevention and Training Branch staff is working with Guam’s mayors and vice-mayors  on scheduling monthly village meetings to discuss suicide prevention.  

In September of 2008, DMHSA was awarded a Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Grant, titled locally as
Focus on Life - Youth Suicide Prevention.  One of the goals of this grant is to increase community-based collaboration that will result in successful suicide prevention and early intervention efforts.

“The Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse staff will continue to conduct community outreach work in partnership with village leaders and residents.  With the Focus on Life Program funding, staff will succeed in facilitating increased community-based suicide prevention programs and access to mental health treatment.” said Director David L.G. Shimizu, DMHSA Director.

The first of a series of village meetings begins this Friday, October 23, 2009, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Yigo Senior Citizens Center.

For more information click here...

Agency Receives $10K CAHA Grant for Art of Healing Activities for Children and Youth Project
10-22-2009
DMHSA Continues Cycle of Improvement:
Agency Receives $10K CAHA Grant for Art of Healing Activities for Children and Youth Project
      
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 22, 2009

The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse (DMHSA) has been awarded a grant by the Guam Council on the Arts and Humanities Agency (CAHA) to fund various educational activities for Guam’s youth through its I Famaguon-ta Program. The Project period is for October 2009 thru September 2010 with an award amount of $10,000.00. This year’s funding will help to support different projects that help to provide our community with a better understanding of children and adolescents experiencing serious emotional disturbances. This grant will also support other activities including art workshops, digital story productions, and youth performances similar to the widely-attended Fidgety Fairy Tales, which was recently produced through DMHSA’s I Famaguon-ta Program, in collaboration with the Youth Enhancement Support Incorporated and numerous local business sponsors.

DMHSA Director Dr. David Shimizu congratulated his employees, “for their hard work in securing an additional source of funding to help provide valuable educational activities for Guam’s youth.”

“Our employees look forward to continue working with various members of our public, private, and military partners to help develop these and other valuable activities that directly benefit our children,” concluded Dr. Shimizu.

For more information please contact Mr. Jason Tedtaotao, DMHSA Deputy Director, at 647-5325.

DMHSA Employees Continue Cycle of Improvement: U.S. District Court commends employees for their efforts with respect to Amended Permanent Injunction and July 16, 2009 Court Orders; Issues 10 Orders
10-27-2009
DMHSA Employees Continue Cycle of Improvement:

U.S. District Court commends employees for their efforts with respect to the Amended Permanent Injunction and July 16, 2009 Court Orders;

Issues 10 orders for compliance prior to December Status Hearing
     

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23, 2009

The employees of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse (DMHSA) continue their efforts to improve consumer services. Among these efforts is the agency’s compliance to the Amended Permanent Injunction (API) and 16 orders issued by the U.S. District Court in July of this year during a status hearing before Judge Consuelo Marshall.

This afternoon, Dr. David Shimizu received copies of 10 Court Orders issued earlier today by Judge Marshall. In her orders the federal judge commended DMHSA employees, “for their efforts with respect to the Amended Permanent Injunction and the Court’s July 1, 2009 orders. In particular, the U.S. District Court is pleased with the agency’s work with respect to satisfactorily completing the Multi-Disciplinary Treatment Team evaluations and Individual Habilitation Plans, which the Court recognizes took a substantial amount of effort.”

The Court further encouraged DMHSA employees, “to continue to meet the goals articulated in the API and any subsequent order of this Court.” The agency is to continue meeting several reporting requirements and orders issued by Judge Marshall during the July 2009 status hearing. 

DMHSA Director, Dr. David Shimizu, welcomed Judge Marshall’s recognition of the progress his employees continue to make towards full compliance with the API and other orders of the Court, “as a clear testament of their hard work and unyielding commitment to improving the services we provide to those in our community who need our help.”

“This agency has been given a very tight schedule with which to meet the 10 orders issued by the Court today. Although we’ve made substantial progress in meeting the requirements of the Amended Permanent Injunction and other orders of the Court, our employees will continue to work closely with Governor Camacho, Lt. Governor Cruz, Speaker Won Pat, Chairman Aguon and other members of the Legislature, the Plaintiffs, Court Monitors, and others throughout our community to improve our capacity to effectively assist those who require our services,” concluded Dr. Shimizu.

For more information please contact Mr. Jason Tedtaotao, DMHSA Deputy Director, at 647-5325.

(Attachments: Court Orders 1-10 issued by U.S. District Court Judge Consuelo Marshall on 10-23-09)
10-23-09 Order No. 1
10-23-09 Order No. 2
10-23-09 Order No. 3
10-23-09 Order No. 4
10-23-09 Order No. 5
10-23-09 Order No. 6
10-23-09 Order No. 7
10-23-09 Order No. 8
10-23-09 Order No. 9
10-23-09 Order No. 10

Recruitment Annoucement (Nov. 10 )
11-10-2009

Tamuning, November 9, 2009 -   The Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse is announcing its intent to employ Ms. Rose Ann Bernal Cruz as a Physical Therapist II at the salary of $43,018.00, Step-10. This announcement is in compliance with Public Law 28-112, Recruitment Above Step, Section 5 and Transparency and Disclosure, Section 10. (6303.1).


The Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse is announcing its intent to employ Ms. Florence Blas as Psychiatric Social Worker II at the salary of $46,596.00, Step-10. This announcement is in compliance with Public Law 28-112, Recruitment Above Step, Section 5 and Transparency and Disclosure, Section 10. (6303.1).

DMHSA Employees Continue Cycle of Improvement: Agency provides monthly status report on 10 orders issued on October 23, 2009 and 8 orders issued on October 30, 2009 by the U.S. District Court
11-18-2009
DMHSA Employees Continue Cycle of Improvement:
Agency provides monthly status report on 10 orders issued on October 23, 2009
and 8 orders issued on October 30, 2009 by the U.S. District Court
      

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2009
 

The employees of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse (DMHSA) continue their efforts to improve consumer services. Among these efforts is the agency’s compliance to the Amended Permanent Injunction (API) and various orders issued by the U.S. District Court within the last several months. In her orders issued on October 23, 2009, Judge Consuelo Marshall commended DMHSA employees, “for their efforts with respect to the Amended Permanent Injunction and the Court’s July 1, 2009 Orders.”

Yesterday afternoon, Dr. David Shimizu transmitted the monthly status report to the Court relative to the 10 orders issued on October 23, 2009 and the 8 orders issued on October 30, 2009. This information provides an overview of tasks concerning these orders, completed and on-going, as of November 15, 2009.

Among the several orders that were recently completed include the finalization of the agency’s policies and procedures including the Multi-Disciplinary Treatment Team Policy and Procedure, which replaces the Interim Multi-Disciplinary Treatment Team Policy and Procedures; the Referral List Policy and Procedure, which replaces the Interdepartmental Waiting List Policies and Procedures; and, the Multi-Disciplinary Master Treatment Plan Policy and Procedure, which replaces both the Interim Individual Habilitation Plan (“IHP”) Policy and Procedures and the Interim Individualized Treatment Planning.

DMHSA also finalized the transition of consumers into appropriate residential group homes that had vacancies; is working to bring on board a full-time Quality Assurance Officer to inspect all facilities, programs, and services where consumers reside; and, will open a new residential housing program for consumers at the beginning of next month. 

Dr. Shimizu cited the attached documents as, “the most accurate information where anyone can find out what court order this agency has completed, or is in the process of completing, as of this month.”

“DMHSA employees will continue to work diligently to meet the remaining orders issued by the Court last month. Although we’ve made substantial progress in meeting the orders of the Court, thus far, our employees will continue the Cycle of Improvement in an effort to improve our capacity to effectively assist those who require our services,” concluded Dr. Shimizu.

For more information please contact Mr. Jason Tedtaotao, DMHSA Deputy Director, at 647-5325.

(Attachment: DMHSA November 2009 Status Report Pdf File)