Thursday, June 16, 2006
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Blunt's Mental Health Task Force Identifies Action Items for Improving Death Investigations
JEFFERSON CITY –A special intra-state agency task force formed by Gov. Matt Blunt has identified five short term action items to improve investigations of abuse, neglect and fatalities at state mental health facilities and independent living centers.
Blunt formed the task force on the heels of several recent deaths in state operated and private mental health facilities. At Blunt's request, Lt. Governor Peter Kinder and interim Director of Mental Health (DMH) Ron Dittemore will oversee the group's recommendations and help determine if additional actions are needed to complement the short term goals outlined today and to ensure deaths at mental health facilities are being properly investigated.
To address gaps in the investigations process at the Department of Mental Health Blunt's task force has developed the following action items for immediate implementation:
- The Department of Mental Health will ensure that a DMH representative participates in every Child Fatality Review Panel evaluation of deaths of children that occur in DMH licensed or certified facilities.
- DMH will report every child death in a DMH facility to the DSS State Technical Assistance Team (STAT), and all child deaths will be investigated by STAT for at least the next 60 days.
- All reports of abuse and neglect in DMH facilities will be co-investigated by DMH and the Department of Health and Senior Services for the next 60 days.
- DMH will immediately notify the Missouri State Highway Patrol and local law enforcement of any deaths or assaults in a DMH facility.
- DMH will propose an administrative rule change that will mandate that all deaths in DMH licensed or certified facilities be reported to the coroner or medical examiner.
In addition to the DMH, the state Departments of Public Safety, Social Services, Health and Senior Services and the Missouri Highway Patrol provided representatives for Blunt's task force.
This collaborative effort creates a new level of protection and oversight and will draw on outside state agencies to play a specifically defined role in the investigation process. The outside agencies' role will lend objectivity and balance to any potential prejudice that might exist or be perceived in investigations.
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