To whom it may concern at MH Commission:
*Note: This e-mail was sent to MH Commission at MHCommission@dmh.mo.gov - The board consists of the following, (Phillip McClendon, Ron DIttemore, Beth Viviano, Patricia Bolster, Kathy Carter, David Vlach, and Joann LeyKam)
I am expressing displeasure with the current events at Missouri Department of Mental Health. They have not followed the wishes of the Missouri Deaf community for past few years.
They have ignored our pleas to have Deaf mental health professionals to meet the needs of Deaf consumers. The programs are lacking and mismanaged.
I am asking that the Missouri Mental Health Commission intervene for the Deaf Community as we are asking MH Commission to step in and correct the wrongs.
We are not pleased with Keith Schafer's performance and handling of the Deaf programs. The funds are mismanaged. We understood that the $539,000.00 was or is designated for sign language interpreting programs. They ignored our request to amend the funding to allow DMH to hire four Deaf mental health professionals. We have asked DMH several times the past few years to follow the master plan that the Deaf community have provided the solutions to the problems of lacking mental health services for the deaf.
We are requesting a meeting with the MH Commissioners. This is a final step before initiating a legal remedy. DMH has been colonializing us for years. We would like to remedy the situation with your help.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Paul Kiel
St. Louis, Missouri
a private citizen
Novemer 2, 2008
