ChosenFast.com

Some of Western North Carolina’s mental health patients could be left without care in October when the region’s largest provider closes its doors, the company’s chief executive said today.

Will Callison, chief executive officer of New Vistas – Mountain Laurel, said people who rely on state funds to pay for their mental health care instead of Medicare, Medicaid or insurance might have no where to turn after Oct. 31.

Read more on 10,000+ In Western NC Losing Mental Health Services…

My computer is sick, so it went to the doctor this morning. I’m using my daughter’s computer to do a quick email check, but I’ll be mostly offline for a least a couple of days. Oh well, I have a full schedule today and tomorrow anyway: Task Force meeting, meeting with cops (about Task Force business), NightWatch meeting, Homeless Advisory Committee meeting, Healthy Homes Bus Tour, City Academy, Substance Abuse Symposium and NightWatch. So look for reports on all (or at least some!) of that, coming soon. Oh, I’m having a birthday, too, so pray that I don’t have to buy myself a computer for my birthday! Because it would have to be some kind of Fisher-Price one on my current budget. LOL. Me and the computer guy spoke some Scripture over mine, so we’ll see how it goes.

Read more on My Computer Is Sick…

As officials continue to move mentally ill folks out of state facilities and into local communities that are often ill-prepared to care for them, Wake County is training law enforcement officers “to recognize symptoms of mental illness and defuse problems without violence… [S]tate and county mental health officials, advocates for the mentally ill and law enforcement agencies have teamed up to offer a voluntary 40-hour training program in crisis intervention.”

Read more on Cops Train to Respond to Mental Health Crisis…

Beth at Greensboring wrote a recent post about her encounter with a homeless panhandler on High Point Road. She wasn’t sure how to handle the situation, but she chose to buy the man breakfast. Great choice, and the one that I most often encourage people to do. If someone tells you they’re hungry, and you’re willing and able to give them something to eat, then by all means, do so.

Read more on On Panhandling & Chronic Homelessness In Greensboro…

Lex covered the Stand Down for homeless veterans in Greensboro on Friday. (Lex’s N&R article is here. My previous post is here.)

Of the 102 vets who came, 74 enrolled in Veterans Affairs’ homeless program, said Mark Byrd, a social worker at the Salisbury hospital, who helped organize the event.

Read more on Stand Down…

Tagged by PotatoStew:

1: Do you like the look and the contents of your blog?

At the moment, yes, although I’ve changed both a few times. And my next big change will probably be a switch from Blogger to WordPress.

Read more on Meme Tagged…

Slideshow

Grace Community Church turned 19 this week and we had an anniversary service outside under the trees. The worship team led us in music, teaching Pastor Bill Goans preached from Ephesians, a train rolled by during the sermon (awesome!), we had lunch on the lawn, then we were entertained by the Glenwood Dance Team and “the twins” who sang for us.

Read more on Happy 19th Grace!!…

“Although there is always the possibility that anyone can become homeless, Martha Are, a homeless policy specialist for the NC Department of Health and Human Services, said that the people who are remaining on the streets are the ones with physical and/or mental disabilities…”

Read more on TYP Task Force Town Hall…

“For you have heard of my previous way of life… BUT WHEN GOD… then I went… and they praised God because of me.”

An interruption brings life. May it be so for each of us.

Read more on But When God……

Via Archie Barrows, ESC:

Read more on Homeless Veterans: Stand Down 2006…

Two articles in this morning’s New & Record caught my eye with their opposite commentaries on whiteness. (Neither article is currently posted at N&R, but I found them both online elsewhere.)

One article discussed the new season of Survivor and the controversial decision to divide the teams by race:

Read more on Whiteness: 2 Views…

The third annual Healthy Homes Bus Tour is coming up on Thursday, Sept. 28th from 3:00-6:00p.m. Register now and get your tickets for a seat on the bus! Details on the Greensboro Housing Coalition web site, here. Info about the 2005 bus tour is here.

Read more on Healthy Homes Bus Tour, Sept. 28th…