This is Emergency Services as its Defined on a Community Services Boards' Web Site

Emergency Services/Crisis Counseling is a State mandated program. This unit provides short-term crisis counseling and referrals to individuals on an emergency basis. Emergency and crisis response services include: telephone interventions; face-to-face assessments and evaluation (including pre-admission screening); psychiatric consultation and other clinical consultation about mental health, substance abuse, and special populations which include children, adolescents, geriatric, people with mental retardation, and individuals involved in the forensic system. Emergency Services/Crisis Counseling is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Everything on this website has been thoroughly examined, reviewed, evaluated, and ultimately approved by The Citizens’ Committee for the Advancement of Rational Thought and Actions in Virginia's Mental Health System….


Things Sure Aren't What They Used to be..Conditions Sure Have Changed

coming soon........

Friday, January 18, 2008

Mom, if only you could have lived long enough to know that I'm now a Professional.....


I remember many years ago my mom would always say, Why don't you get an executive job? We never discussed exactly what that meant, though I'm sure in her mind it was at a minimum, a stable job with decent pay where I could wear a suit and not have to get dirty.
Anyway, old Mid-Mountain CSB, in order to try to weasel out of having to pay us overtime, call us professionals.
Great, hey. I'm now a real professional. I think my mom would be proud; however, I'm sure she'd be ticked off at Mid-Mountain for cheating (is that too strong a word?) me out of what's due (yes, my overtime).

Here's the U.S. Department of Labor's definition:

To qualify for the learned professional employee exemption, all of the following tests must be met:
• The employee must be compensated on a salary or fee basis (as defined in the regulations) at a rate not less than $455 per week;
• The employee’s primary duty must be the performance of work requiring advanced knowledge, defined as work which is predominantly intellectual in character and which includes work requiring the consistent exercise of discretion and judgment;
• The advanced knowledge must be in a field of science or learning; and
• The advanced knowledge must be customarily acquired by a prolonged course of specialized intellectual instruction.

Now, good old Mid-Mountain wants it both ways. They tacitly admit to the above definition.... advanced knowledge...predominantly intellectual in character and which includes work requiring the consistent exercise of discretion and judgment...acquired by a prolonged course of specialized intellectual instruction.

Wow, that sounds like a pretty skilled person. Maybe even a valuable person. Hey, this is someone who goes into the community and makes decisions and causes things to happen. Wow, again. Yeah, and you ain't gotta pay them overtime.

Of course, when old Mid-Mountain decides to make changes that effect these professionals...these highly trained professionals...do they ever consult with them to get their input (I don't like this word used this way....why can't they/them use suggestions, advice, something like that? input should be used when you're talking about an input jack on a computer...but, hey...they/them most likely say, Let's do lunch, and heck, they may even tell you what their sign is)? You know the answer to that one.
Yes, they have the skills and knowledge to act independently and be responsible for their decisions...held accountable for their actions...but, hey, they aren't knowledgeable enough to know what kind of so-called training they need; they aren't knowledgeable enough to make suggestions about procedures that would make their jobs easier and more efficient; no one (them/they) has ever asked their opinion about anything.....nothing! But, hey, when it's paycheck time....yep, these folks are professional. That they are.


Well.......I could go on and on...but no more time will be wasted here. I think you guys have the idea, hey?

CCARTAVMHS Welcomes two new Board Members


The Citizens’ Committee for the Advancement of Rational Thought and Actions in Virginia's Mental Health System….proudly announces the addition of two new board members. JBS and BR will bring with them new and fresh perspectives. We are all looking forward to working with them.

Congratulations and welcome aboard....JBS and BR

GC
RF
TL


Also, please note the photo of our adjunct members, who, as always, provide valuable insight into some of the issues that we have difficulty dealing with. Yes, they usually do stay in the background, so to speak, however, we did want to recognize them publicly for their tireless work and dedication...... The Bored of Directors.......CCARTAVMHS

The Wheels are coming off of the ES Wagon.....

Yes, the lug nuts are loosening up...the wheels are starting to wobble, and it's only a matter time before it all crashes and burns.
January 18, 2008....More soon....

Alienation in the Work Place.......


January 18, 2008......Coming Soon.........

Sunday, January 6, 2008

Don't shoot fish in a barrel....hmmmmm...

Hey, I just can't help myself.
You know, all the news that's fit to report and then some. A recent post was about the hospital that isn't. Well, have another for you.
OK. Here's the deal. A dear friend, whom I've known for over fifteen years, recently opened a crisis and detox center. She worked her butt off on this project. She did it from the ground up....writing procedure manuals, buying the furniture and stuff and hiring a 24-hour staff. Yep, mental heath folks, counselors, nurses, and hey...yes, even a doc.
Yes, I think you might know what's coming..... Hey, it ain't her fault. Honest.
Yes, the detox center can't DETOX! No need to say anything else........

Hosed Again!!!


To appreciate this in its proper context, you may want to take a look at the Carpenter Ad below. Yep, the one where the full time carpenters don't get overtime, time and half for holidays, and so on.
Well, they've done us one better. Just when we thought the limits of unfairness were finite...dang, if They didn't hose us again. Yes sir, now employees, other than carpenters of course, are getting differential pay. Yes, folks. That they are.
How does that work?
Well, if you work late at night or weekends you get more per hour.
Don't the carpenters get the extra pay?
Nope.
That doesn't seem fair.
No, it doesn't.
Why don't they do something about it?
Not sure if I can answer that one. You see, They don't seem to be accountable to anyone. And, besides, they have far more important things to do.
Things far more important than treating the carpenters fairly?
Oh, yes.
For instance, what would be more important than treating the carpenters fairly?
The meetings. You don't know about the meetings?
I'm confused, what meetings?
The meetings that They have.
And the meetings are more important?
Oh, yes. That's the most important thing in our company. The meetings.
Ah, I'm a little confused. What do they do in the meetings?
Come now. You don't know?
Actually, I don't.
They meet. Get it. They have meetings and meet.
Oh. They...ah....meet. Hmmm. I need to think about that for awhile. I think if I were a carpenter, I'd be....well....at a minimum...a little discouraged. What are the carpenters planning on doing?
I'm not really sure; however a few have mentioned that they just might be carpenters elsewhere. A couple have started oiling their AK-47s (just joking)...though as a group we're trying to keep everyone calm.
Well, it'll be interesting to see how all of this ends.
Yes, it will.