MCAR
ALERT
Dear friends,
MCAR is issuing this news alert, particularly for those of
you who live outside the area of the Baltimore press where the closing of Rosewood Center has been announced by Governor O’Malley and covered heavily in radio, tv and the newspapers.
Governor O’Malley made this executive order on January 15, 2008 with ½ hour notice to the families of
Rosewood residents. We are including (attached and below) a Baltimore Sun article of 1/15 and a Baltimore Examiner article of 1/23 to give you some information. As you know, the media carry only a portion of what actually goes on – we will
try to continue to offer updates as they unfold and ways to support the choice of Rosewood families to seek appropriate quality
services in the best setting for them. The families’ top three concerns for the future are safety, health care and life
quality for their loved ones according to Harry Yost, family spokesperson. Harry and others are seeking legal counsel and
beginning to formulate plans and participating in meetings for the future care and options for their loved ones. There are
many unanswered questions at this point including the best placement longterm for clients sent by the courts (forensic clients)
who have mental retardation/developmental disabilities.
What can we do?
1) Harry Yost asks for emails (yost841@hotmail.com)
to him with your specific reasons as to why Rosewood Center should remain open. Please contact him with your opinions.
2) Harry also asks for families receiving community services to send him a
list of positive / negative experiences with service delivery in the community. Let him know if you wish to remain anonymous
in that.
3) Write short letters to the editor of the
Baltimore Sun, the Baltimore Examiner or your local newspaper with support for quality, accountability and choice in services
and how the state residential center level of care is a key part of what is needed in Maryland.
This is an excellent time to write and, since the press is
interested in the timely topic, there’s a better–than-usual chance of having it printed. We need to keep our perspective out in front of the public. In
general, the public has no idea of the real values involved – they have heard for so long that “institutions must
be bad” that is all they really retain.
4) Be in discussion of ways this redistribution of persons seeking quality services may impact your state residential
center or your community services in your area. Stay in communication with your residential facility director, your family
group etc and be in touch with your legislators as well. Even though Governor
O’Malley issued an executive order to close Rosewood, you can see in the 1/23 Examiner article that the legislators
can still be very involved and can help ask critical key questions to work on issues needing resolution.
Thanks for your continued advocacy. Your help is truly needed. Together we can do much.
Sincerely,
Linda Scherer for MCAR
_________________________________________________
Questions: Contact webmaster@mcar.info OR Glenn Brown 301-422-3369 Sharon Hayes
410-546-1415 Linda Scherer 410-744-7421 See Link for "Archived Newsletters" at bottom of this page or by clicking
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