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Advocacy Initiative Network of Maine

The Advocacy Initiative Network (the Network) is a statewide organization developed by, for and with customers of mental health services throughout Maine. Our mission is to support the creation and sustainability of programs & initiatives that provide a better quality of life for Maine consumers.

Our beliefs have influenced how we have determined what constitutes consumer involvement.

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Latest News

Forcing Psychiatric Drugs Can Increase Violence

Tuesday, 04 March 2008

"Forcing Psychiatric Drugs Can Increase Violence," Warns New Task Force on Mental Health Legal Advocacy & Activism

Promising to fight what they call pervasive and harmful violations of mental health clients who are involuntarily drugged and electroshocked in the United States, The Law Project for Psychiatric Rights (PsychRights) and the MindFreedom Shield Campaign announced today a joint Task Force on Mental Health Legal Advocacy & Activism. The new partnership of law and nonviolent direct action has an initial focus in the states of California, Massachusetts and New York.

PsychRights' President Jim Gottstein declared, "People's rights in forced drugging proceedings are ignored as a matter of course, resulting in great harm to them and decreased public safety." David Oaks, Director of MindFreedom International (MFI), noted, "Violence by a few individuals labeled 'mentally ill' has led to a backlash calling for a massive increase in forced psychiatric drugging."

Mr. Gottstein added, "Contrary to public perception, forcing people to take psychiatric drugs can often increase violence, rather than decrease it. If people were warned that both taking and withdrawing from these drugs can at times contribute to committing terrible acts, they and their loved ones can be alert to the possibility and tragedies averted."

Krista Erickson, MFI board member and Chair of the MFI Shield Campaign, said, "I'm excited about MFI and PsychRights expanding our partnership and focusing the combined power of legal advocacy and activism on specific cases." The MFI Shield Campaign supports the wishes of a member to be free of involuntary mental health intervention with an international "Solidarity Network" of advocates. The new Task Force plans to use both the court of law and the court of public opinion.

Task Force organizers say the combination of PsychRights' expertise for strategic litigation and the "people power" of MindFreedom activists around the country will bring a synergy and geographic reach to their demands for people's legal and human rights. Daniel Hazen, Northeast Coordinator with PsychRights, added, "In the United States the 'mental health' industry is a labeling system that often dismisses self- determination, legal capacity and alternatives. 'Treatment' can be forced through the court systems. People ought to 'have their day in court' but this is often far from what actually occurs."

MFI is an independent nonprofit coalition defending human rights and promoting humane alternatives in mental health. The Law Project for Psychiatric Rights is a public interest law firm devoted to the defense of people facing what they call the "horrors of unwarranted forced psychiatric drugging and other forced psychiatric procedures." PsychRights office is in Anchorage, Alaska: http://www.psychrights.org. The MFI office is in Eugene, Oregon: http://www.mindfreedom.org

Last Updated ( Friday, 02 May 2008 )

GEAR UP Maine

Wednesday, 27 February 2008
GEAR UP Maine supports students who are economically disadvantaged in preparing for, accessing, and succeeding in postsecondary education http://www.gearupme.org/index.htm Frequently asked questions about GearUp Maine http://www.gearupme.org/faq.htm

Medicaid, State Revenues and Federal Spending Plans

Wednesday, 20 February 2008

Healthcare and the Economic Slowdown: Medicaid, State Revenues and Federal Spending Plans
Alliance for Health Reform and Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured
This event looked at Medicaid and the current economy. In the wake of the 2003 economic slowdown, Congress and President Bush agreed to increase the federal Medicaid matching rate by $10 billion for 15 months, as a way to help states deal with sharply decreasing revenues and sustain coverage during a poor economy. Policy makers are considering whether an increase in Medicaid funding is needed during the current economic downturn. Meanwhile, the president's Fiscal Year 2009 budget proposes to reduce projected Medicaid spending by more than $18 billion over five years. This briefing focused on the relationship between Medicaid spending, state budgets and the economy, and assessed fiscal pressures associated with state Medicaid programs.
A podcast is also available.

TANF-EBT Online

Wednesday, 27 February 2008
You can check your TANF - EBT cash and food stamp balance online. A certificate warning will pop up. It pops up because you will be giving information on the next screen (social security number, date of birth and PIN number) to access your account. You just need to click continue. Maine EBT http://www.pinetreecard.com/

Opportunity Maine

Wednesday, 27 February 2008

Opportunity Maine is a new program that will make college more affordable for Maine students. Beginning with any loans that a student takes in January 2008, he or she will be eligible to claim a large tax credit to pay student loans after they graduate. Businesses are also eligible for the tax credit if they agree to pay a students' loan.

To be eligible, graduates must work and pay taxes in Maine after they finish school - but there are no restrictions on leaving Maine for graduate school or programs such as the Peace Corps.

To find out more, go to: http://opportunitymaine.org/