Oct. 6, 2008

Wheatley holding hearings across Pa. in October

on mental health care and substance abuse treatment

The House Subcommittee on Health, chaired by state Rep. Jake Wheatley, is traveling around Pennsylvania in October. These four subcommittee meetings will serve to hear testimony from state and local government, advocacy groups, and provider organizations on mental health care and substance abuse treatment, with each hearing focusing on challenges faced in each region.

The schedule is:

1. Scranton: 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9

Co-sponsored by Rep. Ken Smith

Gymnasium, Dunmore Senior Center, 1414 Monroe Ave., Dunmore, 18509

Topics:

Youth with mental illness

Mental health and substance abuse

Access to mental health services in the Commonwealth

2. Philadelphia: 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10

Co-sponsored by Rep. Kathy Manderino

Community Room, People’s Emergency Center, 325 N. 39th St., Philadelphia, 19104

Topics:

Housing

Peer specialists

Access to pharmaceuticals

3. Pittsburgh: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14

Homestead Grays Room, Allegheny County Human Services Building, 1 Smithfield St.,

Pittsburgh, 15222

Topics:

Corrections

 Mental health courts

Stigma of mental illness

4. Erie: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15

Co-sponsored by Reps. Pat Harkins and Flo Fabrizio

Main Hall, Pennsylvania National Guard Armory, 350 E. 6th St., Erie, 16507

Topics:

Veterans with mental illness

Elderly people and mental illness

Access to mental health services in rural Pennsylvania

Click here for information on the initial hearing in this series, which was held Aug. 15, 2008, in Harrisburg.