What the State of California Said..

Well, my daughter received a call (several actually) for the State of California and this is what we now know.

Our county mental health services really dropped the ball with my granddaughter. In fact, they failed her miserably. She should have already been referred to a CMHP, County Mental Health Plan, which is specialized care. She should have been removed from Central California Alliance and switched to Medi-Cal (Medicaid for California). Central California Alliance is more of an HMO that has treatment restrictions and fewer care options and is for mild to moderate care. Medi-Cal is a state insurance that allows her more treatment and facility options, and is for moderate to severe cases (such as for my granddaughter's situation). She should have been switched from her current mental health care to specialized mental health care.

The State offices are looking into why none of the above was already done. They are contacting our county to find out why the proper procedures were not followed and to make sure that they correct this "oversight". The person who spoke to my daughter said that these specialized resources, specifically for children, have been in effect since 1965! That there are a "ton of resources for children" but nobody knows about them.

So, now my questions are these:

• Why has my granddaughter suffered for almost an entire year if there were resources available for fifty years? 
• Why has my daughter watched this steady decline of her child's mental health, living in fear of the day her child might take her own life, and feeling helpless to stop that from happening, if there has been resources for her to turn to for help? 
• What would have eventually have happened, had I not written a letter and lashed out to our President? 
• Why are the resources available so hard to find?

 I intend to get answers to these questions. I intend to share those answers with other parents and to help other families from that feeling of helplessness that my daughter endured. I cannot say it enough times - NO parent should be made to feel so helpless to help their child get recommended care. It just isn't right.

***Coming up - the journey continues, branching off into new directions and goals***
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