Lawsuit filed to preserve mental health services for students

Los Angeles — A class action lawsuit to preserve lifeline services for more than 20,000 students was filed today in federal court by Public Counsel, Disability Rights California, Mental Health Advocacy Services and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. For almost 25 years California has been providing critical "AB 3632" services through county mental health departments to special education students who need mental health support to stay in school. The services include crisis counseling, case management, medication management and residential placement.

On October 8, Governor Schwarzenegger severed the system with his line-item veto, without even bothering to offer perfunctory regrets.

Announcing the lawsuit, Laura Faer of Public Counsel said, "While the adults quibble about who is responsible—for funding, for services, for this entire mess—it is the children who are harmed. In the midst of this chaos, we are stepping up to fight for their continuity of care."

Jim Preis of Mental Health Advocacy Services reported: "One student precipitously cut off from care is Andrew, a 17 year old who was adopted from the foster care system when he was two-and-a-half following exposure to fetal alcohol and drugs. He was hospitalized following suicide attempts. Finally, the appropriate services for Andrew were lined up through Los Angeles County Mental Health. Because of the veto, he is now stuck in juvenile hall without the services he needs."

"Since the Governor blue-penciled the services, our phones have been ringing across the state," said Candis Bowles of Disability Rights California. "Parents are scared about what will happen next. We've had calls about kids who no longer get services designed to keep them in the community. There are children ready to leave institutions but can't because the support services are gone."

Counsel in the case also described the situation of Loni, a 6th grader whose residential placement has enabled her to continue schooling, and to receive her first positive evaluations in a long time. As a result of the cuts, Loni is about to lose her residential placement. Andrew, Loni and tens of thousands of other students are facing: deterioration of their mental health, re-hospitalization and interrupted schooling.

John Sharer of Gibson Dunn stated, "We are sure that many of the legislators who are disability rights champions will be working toward a fix of this unacceptable situation. In the meantime, we are bringing suit to prevent the interruption of critical mental health services for the thousands of students who need them."