From: Heidi Sanborn [hksanborn@comcast.net]
Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2007 1:45 PM
To: Lael and John Walz; Al Rowlett; susan gallagher; Dave Schroeder;
Cameron Carter; 'Al Lipson'; 'Caroline Prod'; 'John Gilbert'; 'Lloyd
Lagerstrom'; 'Patricia Pavone'; 'Robin Zasio '; 'Sherrie Sala -Moore';
'Susan Whaley'; 'Templeman. Jeanne'; 'Valentine Lopez'; 'Valerie
Ries-Lerman'; A. F. O'Hara; 'Anthony S. Da Vigo'; Belinda Beckett;
'Bruce Hancock'; 'Christine Somach'; Corrine Liseno; cthays@comcast.net;
Dawn Correia; 'Dorothy Pisani'; efishb@aol.com; Emily Brayton; Harry
Nicholas; 'Hillerman. Andrea'; 'J. Y'Vonne Heriveaux'; 'JoAnne Mahaney';
Karen Owen; 'Linda Beilharz'; 'Linda Riccardo Henderson'; 'Lynn Cathy';
'Marilyn Hillerman'; Nafeesah Mustafa-Rasheed at Jackman; 'NAMI Office';
'Norm Probantz'; 'Randall Hagar'; 'Rebecca Thornton'; 'Rob Keiser';
s.dp@comcast.net; 'Steve O'Donnell'; 'Suzanne Gilbert'; 'Swapna Jain';
'Theresa Roberts PhD.'; 'Virginia Parket'; william glasper
Subject: FW: SCUSD Board To Discuss Mental Health Services 

Dear NAMI Board and Volunteers/Advocates:

The City of Sacramento School Board is taking up an important item next
Thursday the 16th on providing mental health care to kids.  For anyone who
is advocating for children's mental health services, this is a good meeting
to attend and speak-up.  I will be there to support early interventions and
care for children showing signs of mental illness - their future depends on
our providing the right care early-on.

Heidi
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The Sacramento City Unified School District  (SCUSD)  is currently
considering a proposal to become a direct provider of mental health services
to Medi-Cal recipients through a contract with Sacramento County.  Through
this contract, SCUSD will provide psychotherapy, case management,
psychiatric support and advocacy to approximately 500 children and their
families per year.  At the last SCUSD school board meeting, board members
raised questions about the following issues:

1. Is it the school district's role to address the mental health needs of
students?
2. Is the school district taking on the County's work by becoming a mental
health provider?
3. Won't the school district duplicate the efforts of community providers
who are already addressing these needs?

We need your help in speaking to school board members about these issues.
Right now, SCUSD is at a pivotal point in making a decision that could
positively impact the future for hundreds of children every year.  

The next SCUSD board meeting will be on Thursday, August 16th, from 7-9pm at
the SCUSD District Office, 5735 47th Avenue, near Stockton.  If you are
interested in speaking, please contact me at 643-9141 for more details.
Your assistance at this time is greatly needed.

Thanks,
Lawrence Shweky, LCSW
SCUSD Integrated Support Services
916-643-9141