Greyhound Therapy, Island Style?

Tourism officials are glowing over reports that mainland arrivals are up, but there's one man planning a trip to Hawaii that some aren't so thrilled about. FEGS, a so-called social services agency in New York, is planning to discharge a mental health patient and send him to Honolulu. They called United Self-Help and asked them to make sure he gets to the Institute for Human Services shelter.

"It's reminiscent of what people used to call 'Greyhound therapy' and put them on a bus and send them out of state to get them off their rolls," Dr. Thomas Hester, chief of the state Health Department's Adult Mental Health Division, told the Star-Bulletin.

This is nothing new, of course, and I suspect that we probably get at least a handful of new "residents" - sent either by other agencies, or frustrated family members - every year, especially as winter approaches. The only thing that's different about this is that we know about it in advance, and that the "referring" agency (FEGS) is being so... open about it.

If he does take the trip, at least he's already got a place to stay, and an appointment at the Diamond Head Health Center. Whether or not they'll be prepared for his mental health needs or given access to his records is another quesion.

There's are many thoughtful local comments in the Star-Bulletin piece: "They're discharging him to nothing,'' Tracie Kam of USH said. "They're setting him up to fail in a homeless condition." And: "I hate it when I hear of other states using us for a dumping ground, sending people who are mentally ill over here because they think they can, and they end up living on the street or under a bridge," said David Berggren, psychiatric social worker.

It's a tough spot to be in. We want to help everyone, but we should try to help our own, first. Then again, Corky makes a good point today, too. What are our priorities?

I'd be curious about what our own urban nomad Albert thinks about all this.

Comments

I saw Corky's piece too but to be fair the city built the dog park after enough people peition the city to build such a place where dogs can run without a leash. On the flip side of city government gone wrong, you gotta ask yourself that the dogs running free next to a park and ride.

Most of the fuss about this on Usenet centers on the idea that local taxpayers will be subsidizing this man. They will, of course, but only via Federal taxes. Given the man's history, he should have no problem qualifying for Federal SSI disability funds, which includes medical insurance and drugs, plus foodstamps. There should be no reason for him to require State assistance.

It is absurd that they are asking people to take him to IHS. If he's capable of taking the airplane trip on his own, he should be able to use The Bus.

And the Thomas Home would be a far better option than IHS since they specialize in providing shelter for people with mental health problems.

I dont think it makes a differance if state taxes or federal taxes are paying for this mans relocation. We all pay into both so either way you look at it, taxpayers are footing the bill for his mental healthcare. I think government could put that money to better use in so many different ways. But if the restorative nature of travel can help this man overcome whatever mental problems he might be going through. why not? a better question might be.. why!?
If it is just to lessen the load for one state to pawn him off on another, there is something seriously wrong with that. But I can see how someone might be better off in an environment such as Hawaii compared to a place like Detroit. (lol Ryan)
Millions of tax dollars are being spent in frivelous ways every year like paying for the high profile lifestyles of our congress, senate and other government officials who are supposed to be "servants of the people."
It may be a cynical or pesimistic outlook but those tax dollars are going to be spent on something anyways so if we can use it to help out a man who is not all there, sure!

I'm torn on this one. Yes, I think we should help those that are in need of help. But look around the state, you will see that many people are in need. Why not help these people first, before we start taking in people from other states.

One might point out that it is only one guy, but how long before more and more are sent to our shores? And at what number do we finally say enough?

Hawaii may have to adopt a similar policy that Canada has. They stop certain individual 'tourists' before entering the country to ensure they have enough money so that they wont end up staying there and become a ward of the state. If FEGS is going to 'dump' their problems on us, then they should be financially responsible for his care and needs while he is here.

Well, this is all academic (again)... the FEGS folks are now saying that they weren't ever going to pay for the man's trip, and that he changed his mind, anyway.

Doesn't want to come to Hawaii? What's wrong with him, is he mental? Oh wait, he is.

Sorry, I just couldn't resist that one.

From what I read on Wednesday's Star Bulletin the man used to live here before and he asked to come here. The folks in New York queried the folks in Hawaii about the available services and I guess this issue hit the media.

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