| Volume5 - Number 3 | May/June199 |
 |
| New DMHMR Commissioner Elisabeth Rukeyser (left) completes her swearing in and shakes hands with Supreme Court Justice Janice Holder as Governor Don Sundquist looks on. |
Governor Sundquist Proclaims May 4
|
|
| Tuesday, May 4, 1999 was proclaimed Co-occurring
Mental Illness & Substance Abuse Prevention Awareness Day in Tennessee
by Governor Don Sundquist.
The governor signed the special proclamation at the request of DMHMR Commissioner Elisabeth Rukeyser to reduce the incidence of co-occurrence through education and enhancing the clinical skills of professional staff. "An estimated 40 to 50 percent or more than 25,000 Tennesseans who have severe mental illness also have a co-existing substance abuse disorder," said Rukeyser. "Our department is cooperating with the Department of Health's Bureau
of Alcohol and Substance Abuse to improve
|
the skills of professionals on every level and to promote understanding of these disorders." The commissioner said the two agencies sponsored a professional conference for families, consumers, psychologists, nurses, social workers, mental health and alcohol and drug counselors in May. Held at Montgomery Bell State Park, the conference featured a faculty of nationally known experts who provided training in behavioral medicine, treatment and program development and advocacy for integrated treatment. The event was hosted by the Tennessee Voices for Children and the Dual Diagnosis Recovery Network. |
|
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Related Disorders held in May. These three conducted a panel discussion on "Developing a System of Care for Dually Diagnosed Children and Adolescents." |
|---|
Simons Heads East TN MR Services |
|
| Janet Simons, a 27-year veteran in providing
management and clinical services to persons with mental retardation and
other developmental disabilities, was named director of the East Tennessee
Regional Office of Mental Retardation Services in April.
Prior to the new position, Simons was director of Quality Enhancement for the DMRS, working out of the Central Office in Nashville.Simons holds a masters of education with a specialty in HealthCare Administration from Antioch |
University in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Her training
as a registered nurse was completed at Massasoit Community College in Boston,
Massachusetts.
She moved to Tennessee in 1996 as assistant director of nursing for Arlington Developmental Center. In 1997, she accepted the Central Office post as health care coordinator and was responsible for health services not only in Tennessee state operated developmental centers, but in the community. |
  |
 |