1962 Survey of Mental Health Needs, Florida Association for Mental Health File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Betty Mae James Smith, BettyMaeS@aol.com USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. This file may not be removed from this server or altered in any way for placement on another server without the consent of the State and USGenWeb Project coordinators and the contributor. *********************************************************************** Memorandum Florida Association for Mental Health 1 May 1962 Fact sheet #1 State-Wide Survey of Mental Health Needs and Resources In 1960, the Florida Association for Mental Health fanned a committee to explore means of securing a" state-wide survey of mental health needs and resources, by a ccmpbtent3 professional team. It was believed that out of this would come a blue-print for the future3 which all interested organizations and persons could adopt and follow. There had been no comprehensive look a mental health picture in Florida for more than 10 years. The committee members were Dr. William Corwin of Miami, John H. Burwell of Fort Lauderdale, Dr. Arnold Eichert of Hollywood and Lawrence Renfroe of Tallahassee. As a result of the efforts of this committee and many other interested persons, the 1961 Legislature set up the Governor' a Advisory Committee on Mental Health, charged with securing the survey, and appropriated $25,000 for the cost. The Governor appointed Lawrence Renfroe of Tallahassee Chairman, and the following members: William Corwin, M.D. of Miami Peter Regan, M. D. of Gainesville Mrs.Karl Krastin of Gainesville Mrs. L. B. Wright, of Jacksonville Mr. Harry Gonzalez, of Jacksonville Mr. David Yoakley, of West Palm Beach The Committee has met a number of times and discussed the kind of survey desired. Late in April a contract was signed with the American Psychiatric Association to conduct the survey at a cost of $32,000. The extra amount needed was provided out of private funds. Having no money to employ staff, the committee has asked the Florida Association for Mental Health to do certain preparatory studies required by the APA survey teams3 and to organize public hearings about the state when appropriate. More information will be supplied you later, as developments occur. Memorandum Florida Association for Mental Health 31 May 1962 Fact Sheet #2 STATE-WIDE SURVEY OF MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AND RESOURCES The Florida Advisory Committee on Mental Health, set up by the Governor on the authority of the 1961 Legislature3 has engaged the American Psychiatric Association to conduct this study. This organization has been chosen in view of its experience in the field9 In recent years it has studied Mental Health programs of some 20 states9 The Committee, consisting of Lawrence W. Renfroe (Chairman) of Tallahassee, Dr. William Corwin of Miami, Dr. Peter Regan and Mrs. Karl Krastin of Gainesville, Mrs. L. B. Wright and Harry Gonzalez of Jacksonville and David Yoakley of West Palm Beach, met in Jacksonville May 22 with Dr. Don Harnmersley of the A.A.A. and Malcolm Baker, Consultant to FAMH. Baker has been borrowed from FAMH to help the Committee do the necessary planning for the survey. Dates were set for a series of public hearings as follows: Pensacola July 16 Orlando July 23 Tallahassee July l8 Miami July 25-26-27 Jacksonville July 19-20 Tampa July 30-31 Invitations to appear at the hearings will be sent to interested and knowledgeable persons and groups throughout Florida. The Mental Health Chapters in the hearing cities will handle the scheduling of those who wish to appear. Time will be limited to 15 minutes per person or organization, but each will be urged to submit a written statement of his position, of any length5 for the information of the survey team. Either Dr. Mathew Ross, Medical Director of the A.P.A., or Dr., Don Hannersley, will preside at the hearings. * * * * * * In September and October, various consultants engaged by the American Psychiatric Association, will visit the various mental health facilities, pubic and private, and make reports to the Survey committee. Preliminary recommendations should be ready early in 1963, Memorandum Florida Association for Mental Health Instructions for Chapters regarding Public Hearings of the A.P.A. Survey Team ALL CHAPTERS ARE URGED: I.. To issue news releases to local papers, radio and TV stations, as information is received. a) At once, based on Fact sheets #1 and #2 b) on June 22, when 3000 invitations will go out to appear at the hearings. c) after the hearings, on persons present and highlights of statements. II. To send FAMH a copy of whatever directory of community agencies exists in the county, with checks opposite names of persons and groups who should be invited to the hearings. Where no directory exists, or in addition to it, sand PAMH other desirable names. Mote that all the names and groups listed on the attached sheets "Tentative Invitation List" will get invitations automatically. ABOVE TO BE DONE BEFORE JUNE 10TH HOST CHAPTERS in Pensacola, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa and Miami: III. Engage a suitable place for the hearing. This should be near the center of town, with good parking, air-conditioned, with good acoustics and comfortable chair (some people will have to sit in them all day long). It should accommodate 50 to 100 people, not so large as to require a PA system. Head table should have seats for 6 persons. An APA official will preside; a member of the Florida Advisory Committee for Mental Health will introduce him. Be sure there are ash trays, water, etc. The Chapter will set up a schedule for each day's hearings, first appointment at 9:30, last at 4:30, with a 75 minute break for lunch. This makes 24 appointments at l5-mirnute intervals. Fill in the schedule as requests are received, notifying participant of the appointment hour and the place of the hearing. Requests to appear will be received by the chapter, and also be forwarded to the Chapter from Jacksonville. Two extra appointments can be scheduled morning and afternoon, if necessary, with the understanding that the participants will be heard if possible. Try to eliminate those persons whose only desire is self-advertisement. Tell these persons the survey team will be glad to receive their written statements for study later. FLORIDA ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON MENTAL HEALTH Tentative Invitation List for Public Hearings of the A.P.A. Survey Team State Government Cabinet members Bd of Comrs ofState Institutions Directors of Divisions Mental Health Corrections Sunland Tr Centers Child Tr Schools Supts of Institutions ALcohol Rehabilitation Program and Clinics State BD of Health Directors Mental Health Maternal & ChHealth Local HIth Svces Dirs of 16 Clinics State TB Board Supts of TB Hosps Bd of Control Presidents of Univis Heads of Depts of Medecine Psychiatry Psychology Anthropology Social Welfare State Dept of Education Presidents Jr Colleges Vocational Rehab & District Offices State Dept of Pub Welfare District Offices Parole Commission District Offices Council on T&R in MH States Attorneys Asst Attys General Children's Commission Crippled Ch Commission Council for Blind & school Merit System Council Dept of Vets Affairs Fla Development Comm Hospital Division Bd of Nursing Sheriffs Bureau Highway Patrol US Attorneys Legislators Legislative Candidates County & City Government Health officers Public Welfare Depts City & County Commissions County Judges Juvenile Judges sheriffs City Police Cgiefs County School supts Childrens Committees MH Resouce Council, Tampa Private Groups Supts of all General Hosps Members of Fla Psychiatric Assn Members of Fla Psychological Assn Fla Medical Assn Mental Hlth Committee Local Retarded Children's Assns Schools for retarded Local Ministerial Assns Local Bar Assns Homes for the Aged United Funds & Planning Cncils Travelers Aid Societies Salvations Army Installations Amer Red Cross chapters Chapters of Am Assn of Retired Persons Libraries Local Alcoholics Anon groups Local Leagues of Women Voters Local Junior Leagues Tentative Invitation List Page 2 State-wide Associations Aging, Fla Council on American Legion, Fla Dept American Legion Auxiliary Arthritis & Rheumatism Fdn Anthropological Assn Bar Association Blind, Fed. for the Blindness, Society for Prevention Blue Cross B'nai Brith Federation Bus. & Prof. Women's Clubs, Fed. of Cancer, American Society Capital Press Club Chamber of Commerce, Fla Child Group Care Assn Childhood Education, Assn for Children under six, Assn for Children's Home society Council of Churches Church Women, United Circuit Judges Council Civil & Criminal Judges Assn Civitan Internatl Corrections Assn County Commrs, Assn of Crippled Children & Adults Assn Disabled American Vets Eastern star Education Assn, Fla. Exchange Clubs General Practice, Acedemy of Health Underwriters, Assn Heart Assn, American Hospital Assn Human Relations, Council on Jewish War Veterans Jr Chanber of Commerce Justices of the Peace Assn Kiwanis District Lions International Grand Lodge, Masons Nurses Assn Practical Nurses Assn League for Nursing Nursing Home Assn Occupational Therapy Assn Optimist International Osteopathic Medical Assn Congress of PTA's Peace Officers Assn Pilot International Probation & Parole Assn Psychiatric Treatment of Offenders Assn Recreation Assn Rehabilitation Assn Retared Children's, Council Senior Citizens Fdn Social Workers, Fla. Fed Of Social Workers, Natl Ass. TB & Health Assn Soroptimist Region Sertoma Veterans of Foreign Wars AMVETS League of Warren Voters Women's Clubs Federation United Cerebral Palsy Assn Muscular Dystrophy Assn Multiple Sclerosis society