Alliance Supports Psychiatric Center
We of the Ventura County Alliance for the Mentally Ill (VCAMI) were alarmed to read the critical comments about the new [Hillmont] Psychiatric Center, which were attributed to someone who seemed to be speaking for our organization. This was not the case.
This was particularly annoying because VCAMI has supported the design and development of the new center for many years and because we are very grateful to the Ventura County Board of Supervisors and staff for providing this excellent facility.
As reported in the article, the design of this center is a result of about three decades of experience in treating the mentally ill in Ventura County. It is also noted that representatives of VCAMI, SHARE (Self-Help, Advocacy, Resources, Encouragement) and the general public participated in the design and frequent design reviews of the center plan.
Our organization is very pleased and grateful for the new center for treating people with severe neurobiological disorders.
VCAMI also supports retention of Camarillo State Hospital as representing a valuable capability for treating the mentally ill and disabled. It is much superior for this purpose than prisons, jails, streets and bridge underpasses.
VCAMI is an affiliate of the California Alliance for the Mentally Ill and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.
KATHLEEN PAYNE
President, Ventura County
Alliance for the Mentally Ill
Ventura
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