DISABILITY RIGHTS GROUP RELEASES BRISBANE REPORT
-- CALLS FACILITY A "PLACE TO WAIT"
May 17, 1999 -- Trenton, NJ, --- A decade before the tragic death last year of Kelly Young at the hands of Arthur Brisbane Child Treatment Center staff, the state-run psychiatric hospital for children and adolescents had overwhelming problems with staff training, staff interactions with patients, and deficiencies in the areas of physical plant, and diagnostic, therapeutic and educational services. Brisbane is supposed to be a place where young people like Kelly can go to get help with serious mental health problems. But the state-run facility remains plagued with deficiencies, right down to its mission and purpose.
On May 18th, 1999, at 11:00 a.m., in Room 319 of the Statehouse, New Jersey Protection and Advocacy, Inc. (NJP&A) will host a press conference to release and respond to questions about its Brisbane Report, a comprehensive survey of the care and treatment adolescent patients receive at Brisbane. The report provides an in-depth historical and systemic examination of Brisbane's role in New Jersey's system of mental health services for children and adolescents, and describes why Brisbane has, for many adolescents, become a "place to wait." Conference panelists will include the report author, Ms. Nancy D. Feldman, J.D.; NJP&A Executive Director, Sarah W. Mitchell, R.N.,M.S.W., J.D.; and NJP&A Director of Litigation, Joseph Young, J.D. Mr. and Mrs. Kelsie Young, the parents of Kelly Young, are expected to attend and provide a statement.
The Brisbane Project report provides a local perspective on national issues currently receiving wide coverage, such as the misuse of restraints in psychiatric facilities. New Jersey's problems also highlight the importance of pending federal legislation providing for national standards on the use of restraints and the mandatory reporting of deaths while in restraint to protection and advocacy systems in each state.
New Jersey Protection & Advocacy, Inc. (NJP&A) is part of a nationwide network of agencies and programs established by Congress to protect the legal, civil and human rights of persons with disabilities. NJP&A was designated as New Jersey's protection and advocacy system by Governor Whitman in 1994, succeeding the Department of the Public Advocate. Through its Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness program, authorized by 42 U.S.C. §§ 10801-10807, NJP&A is responsible for monitoring the care and treatment of persons receiving services in mental health facilities, particularly state-operated institutions.
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Embargoed copies of the report will be available Monday, May 17, at 4:00 p.m. The report will be available at the press conference.