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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Tuesday, June 24, 2008
CONTACT: Brian Cook (Stark) (202) 225-3202 | Kimberly Collins (Smith) (202) 224-3932 | Bryan DeAngelis (Dodd) (202) 224-5372

REP. STARK, SENS. SMITH AND DODD TO EXPOSE BARRIERS TO YOUTH TRANSITIONING INTO THE ADULT MENTAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

WASHINGTON - Congressman Pete Stark (D-CA), with Senators Gordon H. Smith (R-OR) and Christopher Dodd (D-CT), will join tomorrow Wednesday, June 25th to release the findings of a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report highlighting the difficulties young adults with a mental illness face in transitioning from the child to adult services system. Senator Smith, Dodd and Congressman Stark also will introduce legislation in their respective chambers that day aimed at removing barriers to youth and young adults transitioning into adult mental health care and to incentivize states to direct services to this population.

WHO: Congressman Pete Stark, Senators Gordon H. Smith and Christopher Dodd

WHAT: Will Announce Legislation to Help Transition Youth into Adult Mental Health Services

WHEN: Wednesday, June 25th at 2:00 p.m.

WHERE: H-137 of the Capitol Building

Additional speakers will include two young individuals who will share their personal struggle with accessing mental health care and Arthur C. Evans Jr., Ph.D., the Director of the Department of Behavioral Health and Mental Retardation Services in Philadelphia, PA. Representatives from the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health, Youth MOVE National, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), Children’s Defense Fund and Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law also will be in attendance.

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