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TO RECOGNIZE THE COLUMBIA AREA MENTAL HEALTH CENTER FOR ITS OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT TO THE BETTERMENT OF THE LIVES OF MENTALLY ILL SOUTH CAROLINIANS AND TO CONGRATULATE IT ON BEING NAMED THE 2002 AND 2004 NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR THE MENTALLY ILL COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER OF THE YEAR.
Whereas, in fifty-one years of operation in Richland and Fairfield Counties, the Columbia Area Mental Health Center (CAMHC) has provided over 178,000 mental health services to over 7,000 individuals; and
Whereas, keenly attuned to the needs of the community, the CAMHC has created numerous outreach programs in support of those in need, including a 24-hour psychiatric crisis center, a jail diversion program, and various programs designed to help at-risk youth; and
Whereas, the CAMHC has garnered national praise for its extraordinary efforts in receiving the 2002 and 2004 National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Community Mental Health Center of the Year Award, an honor based on demonstration of values which support the family, demonstration of an ability to work with family members and the ill family member, and demonstration of commitment to family inclusion in treatment; and
Whereas, despite tremendous financial pressures brought on by recent budget cuts, the center still spends time with family members to ensure the best possible care for the ill family member, and remains sensitive to the needs of those individuals who are affected by the person's illness; and
Whereas, the CAMHC also remains committed to addressing emergency room crisis care, working with local hospitals and advocacy groups to put into place services designed to divert people with mental illness from local hospital emergency rooms; and
Whereas, remembering the importance of properly training its staff so as to best meet the needs of patients and their families, CAMHC continues to provide intense staff training in family-client-provider education in offering the ten-week National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Provider Education training; and
Whereas, it is with great pleasure that the House of Representatives recognizes all that the CAMHC does in easing the lives of the mentally ill and in strengthening the community as a whole by helping families of mentally ill patients function as cohesive units. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, recognize the Columbia Area Mental Health Center for its outstanding commitment to the betterment of the lives of mentally ill South Carolinians, and congratulate it on being named the 2002 and 2004 National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Community Mental Health Center of the Year.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Ms. Judy Noffsinger, Executive Director of the Columbia Area Mental Health Center.
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