We got a message from Paradise Center this morning. And a video.
In the video you meet Bobby and Marie and hear the story of their nightmare of dealing with MHMR-TC.
Paradise Center had this to say.......
We wanted to share with you this video that we shot today at Paradise Center, at the request of some members. As it was unfolding, it was so outrageous that, unless some of our phone conversations were on video, no one would believe it.
This video is of two members telling their horrible experience today with MHMR and how we were able to advocate for them.
Thanks for your support of Paradise Center. We exist for the folks telling their story, Bobby and Marie, and the hundreds of others in Fort Worth who are mentally ill and need support.
42 comments:
I'm glad the Paradise organization is helping this poor little couple. More important, I'm so thankful that you're helping get their story out because they're not the first mhmr client we've heard about who get upset regularly about mhmr holding their money to punish these very disabled people for doing or not doing something mhmr want them to do. This is wrong.
It appears that some employees at MHMR-TC could use some remedial empathy training. Maybe walking four miles in 100 degree heat a couple of days in a row themselves pushing another person in a wheelchair while hungry would get their attention.
No matter what your position at MHMR-TC, you are employed to be problem solvers - even if it's just to refer to the person or agency that can help - not to heap more problems upon the very people who are looking for your assistance in navigating their already difficult lives. While I can imagine that burnout is a real issue in this kind of work - if you can't do that, and do it with a level of respect, it's time to kiss your paycheck goodbye and get out.
We see one of the fruits of MHMR of Tarrant County + profit-driven Bravo Health business partnership ...the Brave crisis line/telephone support staff flippantly telling these poor desperate people to go retain a lawyer if they want to get their measly check. That's the professionalism and empathy that fit in real well with McDermott administration. This is pretty confirmation again that there are a lot of deep seated problems with this "health and human service" agency. I am now convinced that the Paradise Center organization and the director lady were victims of bureaucratic bullying and incompetence.
I am late to the story of Paradise Center and MHMR and I have a dumb question which probably has already been answered...
Who is/are the elected officials who are responsible for this type of reprehensible behavior on their watch?
I would certainly like to know who to help ease out of office during the next election cycle.
Big Ed, the "elected officials who are responsible for this ..." are the Tarrant County Commissioners Court (an antiquated British administrative titles). The elected commissioners are elected by voters living in their respective "precint" which are essentially quadrants of the county with Commissioners Johnson from the NW, Brooks from FW and southward, Fickes from the NE, and Nguyen from the Eastern parts that include Arlington and Mansfield.
The County Judge (again an antiquated title and not a real judge as we use the term) Glen Whitley is elected by all eligible Tarrant voters. He is the county's version of a city mayor and the four commissioners are like city council reps.
Each commissioner gets to appoint one member to the MHMR Board of Trustees to act as their representatives since MHMR is "sponsored" by the County government and gets a pretty large amount of ongoing support from the taxes collected by the County. Of course, a slick guy like Jimmy McDermott wields his political influence to get the commissioners to appoint people that he handpicked, which essentially neutralizes the whole idea of oversight by the sponsoring unit of local government over its sub-unit.
There was a long serving Commissioner named Van Raavensway (sp.?) from the Eastern precinct who was well known for being attuned to how MHMR was treating the county's residents. Whenever her office received a call or letter asking questions or reporting questionable treatment, it was almost a certainty that Ms. R. was on the phone asking MHMR for a good explanation and/or corrective action.
Ironically, the current Court is pretty much under the control of Jimmy McDermott when it comes to providing oversight and accountability vis-a-vis MHMR of Tarrant County. He uses his own little 501(c)3 called Visions to achieve this feat. Check out their website and it's full of pictures showing the Court "partying" with Big Jim and lists of how much money they give to his nonprofit.
Oddly, MHMR records show that MHMR spends money to support Visions, which is very ironic since its stated purpose is to BRING IN MONEY to buttress MHMR programs. That fact is why some have suspected that this 501(c)3's purpose is mostly "controlling" local political figures who have the duty to "control" MHMR.
The Paradise organization called, wrote and even spoke live before the Comm. Court after their mistreatment by MHMR. But you guessed it, these elected officials completely ignored their reports and pleas for scrutiny and accountability of how Jimmy McDermott and his Board of Trustees had behaved. Of course, most people know not to even waste time trying to ask the Trustees for any help since they are totally under the ceo's control.
People in county government have always heard whispers regularly about how MHMR is allowed to do whatever it wants regardless of citizens' complaints. But since Comm. R. has been out of office, the perception is that the Court is a toothless tiger. And this very story is how such behavior affects the real and little people.
Why the hell is this story of the hell that these people are subjected to not reported by the newspapers and tv news stations? Why?
Mental illness should not be limited to be included only in reports about the homeless or some bizarre crime by someone who is out of their mind due to lack of proper psychiatric treatment.
Keep on advocating for your members, Paradise inc.
Thanks for giving us the "news", Durango.
The check he finally got was for $30. It was printed. The date ..June 01,2011. MHMR just didn't feel like giving the poor guy HIS money.
Well, these mhmr staff cannot be distracted from enjoying the big screen hi-def plasma TV, expensive Brunswick pool table,comfy leather couches, ad nauseam, now can they?? Especially since Jim McDermott had "cleared OUT!!!!!! " the lowly Paradise Center group and poured tns of thousands of tax dollars into HIS drop-in center, Communist center, or whatever name they use next month.
Something is really rotten in that human services agency. This story is a Brett Shipp (WFAA) or investigative journalist-worth material. The amateur video ain't too shabby either. Someone did a good job of editing it into a consumable and comepelling news-type report.
This story points out the worst and the best in people...and in our community.
See if this sounds familiar? MHMR-TC just transferred that couple to their old run down clinic in the north side...an extra FIFTEEN MILES FOR BOBBY TO PUSH HIS WIFE IN THE WHEELCHAIR WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR THEIR BUS PASS AND NEED MONEY FOR MEDICINE AND FOOD.
These folks better hope and pray that Teresa Davis and their organization Paradise Center have enough financial support to make sure they're not retaliated against even more severely.
Or that the agency leadership and attitudes and values are replaced soon....with outsiders who are competent and compassionate like Ms. Davis and Paradise.
I see why these paradise people pushed back the mhmr Goliath. They not only seem to be morally and legally right, but they balance compassion, professional skills, and a healthy sense of humor. Which is not the same thing as the crude and derisive laughter that came from the mhmr cons. Count me in as a paradise pro because these paradise folks have consistently acted like pros.
BTW, I tried to contact the MHMR-TC Trustees to express my feelings and thoughts shortly after that McDermott dude bullied and abused teresa Davis and tried to steal paradise from those people, but I was shocked to find out that I needed to communicate to the board THROUGH MCDIRTY'S PERSONAL SECRETARY!! What the hell...
Tell me again, What horrible misconduct or crime did that compassionate and professional woman Teresa commit to warrant a swift termination?
Did it have anything to do with her commitment to serving these very disabled people and when necessary standing to the bureaucrats and even calling up and calling out all the lazy and callous public servants in MHMR-TC?? --including the vice presidents and the demigod CEO himself. No wonder he and his gals were threatened by her and had to get rid of her because her attitude and conduct produce a stark and embarrassing contrast between the MHMR Way and the decent, American, and humane way that most people aspire to for themselves and their public servants. Especially those with lots of power over other people and millions of their hard earned taxes.
How much more incompetent and humiliating can MHMR leadership allow the world to see?
Forget dealing with the county commissioners in future elections, Joel Burns, Lon Burnam, Marc Veasey and Wendy Davis among other statewide officials should demand an investigation asap because Jim McDermott and MHMR are hurting many people.
Teresa Davis needs to mind her own business....starting with getting of her big "butt" and getting a job at the Jack-n-the Box. This is under Dr. Jim McDermott Control. So butt out..including the "Yankee" blogger who should get a real job to. Like at the same Jack-n-the Box. Thanks for giving us good paying jobs and having the clients under control, Dr. Jim McDermott.
That "anonymous" comment cannot be real. People don't really brag about clients being under control. Somebody must be pranking us. Please, tell me this is a joke. It makes me sick to think our tax payer dollars would pay someone like "anonymous" to clean toilets, much less deliver care to clients.
T2TMax, right these lazy and mean bureaucrats wouldn't say or do anything that defy common sense and common decency.
That sick and simple man Bobby was grilled by an MHMR-TC case manager for about 15 minutes before he got his check. She was asking him all about the circumstances surrounding his being in jail for two weeks. All in the guise of being concerned about his health and well-being. She then let him leave, because he was anxious to get pharmacy before they close, with the promise of telling his former case manager who has no need or right about his current legal problems.
Can't wait for my spouse's transfer so I don't to continually see such violations of people's rights and dignity by all levels of this arrogant but incompetent government agency.
Elections are a little way down the road. I would keep a close eye on the Board of Trustees because it wouldn't surprise me to find out later that old McDurty and his gals got them to approve or revise their contract terms to cushion themselves from when all this s*****hit the proverbial fan. Soon.
There are kinds of wrong with this story. The Client Rights guy Paul Duncan is supposed to investigate such an allegation of neglect and abuse. The African-American County Commissioner Roy Brooks bears some responsibility for this abuse, and the abuses connected with the scandal. This falls inside his precinct and he was informed about the injuries inflicted and the potential damages early on, but he chose to ignore the issues, especially when so many African-Americans like this couple would suffer the most at the hands of McDermott and his gangsters.
Where's the media? Or the public outrage? Sorry, we forget, this isn't Dallas county.
Glad to see that people don't think the recent ignorant comment by the MHMR con even deserves a response. On the other hand, this allegation of abuse requires a response from MHMR beyond the intimidating tactics employed against their disabled clients in the days following this major incident that the Paradise group took all the way up the mhmr chain of command and forcing the CEO to get involved. He's lucky there's no real media in this county.
My brother told me that MHMR sent extra staff out to the Penn clinic and drop-in center a couple days after Bobby's ordeal. While his disabilities make it often hard to grasp everything he tries to communicate, he clearly got the impression that those MHMR staff were talking to clients about not "making a big deal" when they feel mistreated like Bobby. They were reminded how dependent they were on MHMR, especially those who have MHMR as their payees, and shouldn't stand up for and ask for help in retaining their rights and money. It obviously worked because a few clients who were active with Paradise have suddenly quit going or communicating with their friends at Paradise and have attended the Bravo program faithfully. If not happily ...they risk losing the basics of life like food, shelter, and treatments. And retaliation if they make the people holding so much power mad in any way. Scary stuff for my brother and his peers in Tarrant county, Texas.
Listen i now Lynn Currant for a long time. She talks so rude to people. She always looks mean. I think that Paradise Center is prabably glad she didn't go with them. The peoples that left at the old place wish she would leave to. And take Lawrnce with her. He mistreats people like he's the boss man. And he talks about people like he's a old lady.
And now you see why my family will not ever be apart of MHMRTC ! Everyone is invited to the Fort Worth Convention for the Southwest Believers Convention with Kenneth & Gloria Copeland on July 4 thru 9th. 3 services a day with different speakers. MIRACLES HAPPEN !
People have to keep in mind that Lynne, Lawrence, and Tony are mentally ill consumers. They're well enough to be "peer leaders". But just like if they're working at some other paying jobs, this one with MHMR-TC is very tough for them to cope and deal with. But fortunately for them, MHMR tolerates negative attitudes and unprofessional behavior. UNFORTUNATELY FOR ALL THE MHMR CLIENTS, MHMR-TC TOLERATES NEGATIVE ATTITUDES AND UNPROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR. Bobby and Marie aren't the first or an isolated case of neglect and abuse by MHMR. Hopefully, State Representative Lon Burnam will do something now that his office knows about these disturbing concerns.
It's very interesting to see how people from across the nation and even spanning the globe are reading about the scandalous things that MHMR-TC, Jimmy McDermott, and the Tarrant County Commissioners are allowing to go on during their watch. BUT NO LOCAL MEDIA COVERAGE...especially when there seems to be so much to report and expose.
It is such an abusive situation that ADVOCACY organizations like Nami-tc and MHA would do their work of advocating for people living with severe and persistent mental illnesses. That's another newsworthy angle right there.
Thanks for reporting these stories, Mr. Durango. And for serving as the de facto voice of advocacy in morally-twisted Tarrant County.
I agree with previous comments that this agency has deep seated problems. The whole scandal about Paradise Center Inc. gave us taxpayers a glimpse into the culture of corruption and incompetence in the McDermott regime. This latest report of neglect and abuse of mental-health-consumers is like fire alarms going off about the McDermott - MHMR way. No wonder, more and more clients are going to JPS for their mental health ...both the medical treatment and their emotional state.
BTW, wonder how many of these MHMR people could even retain employment with Jack in the Box since they require hard work and good customer service. These MHMR-TC con comments can be rather amusing in their goofiness and irony.
NAMI and MHA just confirmed that they've been bought and gagged by grants and donations from the McDermott political machinery. So sad.
The Copeland follower must be an employee of BRAVO Health....even MHMR's business partner's employee/s would never allow any of their own family members to use the services provided by the MHMR staff under the current corrupt and incompetent administration. That's saying something there...like " I work at that restaurant but I wouldn't let my friends and family eat there, though".
Thanks for the warning. We hope you'll receive a miracle, either working somewhere else or under less ungodly leaders.
AWE-some show of advocacy, NAMI and MHA. NOT!!! Heard BRAVO Health's business partnership with MHMR-TC and the Mcdirty gang ain't going too good. Could this blog exposure of the scandal have anything to do with this situation??
Wonder how many shares of BRAVO/Healthspring stock are owned by McDermeott and his cronies in government and so-called advocacy organizations?
This week's cover story in the FW Weekly could easily be about MHMR, Mcdermott, and this whole scandal involving Paradise Center Inc., Theresa Davis, Bobby and Marie, and other employees and clients. The similarities and paralells are pretty eery, Mr. Durango.
I was told by a sweet couple that go to Paradise Center that Elizabeth had a procedure at Childrens Hospital in Dallas to repair the hole in her heart. Broadway Baptist is praying for her. Let's keep her in our prayers.
FYI: paradise Center, Inc. is a consumer-operated nonprofit organization first and foremost. They used to contract with MHMR of Tarrant County to operate a day program at their community center.
So people belong to Paradise Center inc. first and foremost. And they go to their organization's headquarters/office that some call "center" for social support and other services that such a charitable organization provide. kind of like a local church. Speaking of which, Broadway Baptist don't give a care about this particular group of "the least among you" or their organization Paradise Center. Broadway should be honest and consistent by simply handing out sack lunches and accommodating the
GBLT community. We left that chuch after we got confirmation that the leadership heard appeals from Paradise Center following the coup but CHOSE TO DO OR SAY N.O.T.H.I.N.G.
Isn't there a quote somewhere on this blog about for evil to prevail only requires good people to do nothing? Good thing there are good and decent people like Durango and Theresa who speak the truth and stand up to evil ---both the deeds and the doers.
Forget Broadway and other institutions and advocacy organizations like NAMI and MHMA of Tarrant county. Apparently they can only $erve one ma$ter.
How embarrassing for Jim McDermott and even the man in charge of protecting Client's Rights Paul Duncan. This is the quality of service and professionals that MHMR and BRAVO produced.
Just curious. Does the shocking news that long-time state rep. Lon Burnam has a serious challenger in the next election have anything to do with this scandal and his alleged refusual top do or say any thing for his constituents "the least of these". Unlike what all he did for the gay community after the Rainbow Lounge coup and gang banging in 2009. Hmmmm.
How embarrassing for Jim McDermott and even the man in charge of protecting Client's Rights Paul Duncan. This is the quality of service and professionals that MHMR and BRAVO produced.
Just curious. Does the shocking news that long-time state rep. Lon Burnam has a serious challenger in the next election have anything to do with this scandal and his alleged refusual top do or say any thing for his constituents "the least of these". Unlike what all he did for the gay community after the Rainbow Lounge coup and gang banging in 2009. Hmmmm.
Hey reader from Dallas who had googled about whistleblowing against mhmr this past weekend: search for "the Citadel + medicaid fraud" and you should find reports about the Texas AG helping a lady file and win a Whistleblower lawsuit (or qui tam, in legalese) against MHMR of Tarrant County's for-profit business partner the Citadel group in a massive fraud in the early 2000's. Jim McDermott and his gang were probably emboldened from the fact that they managed to get away without much exposure for their substantial role in that massive fraud against taxpapers and using the mentally-ill clients as their pawns. Check it out and see.
That Paul Duncan guy is paid with our tax money to investigate reports of neglect, abuse, or exploitation OF disabled MHMR-TC clients perpetrated by employees and/or agents of MHMR-TC.
The behavior of MHMR-TC caseworkers and BRAVO's crisis line staff toward Bobby and Marie= abuse.
Client Rights Director Duncan's conduct after getting the report of such abuses= neglect ....at best.
And based on the facts, Jim McDermott and MHMR-TC's attitude and behavior toward the consumer-run organization = abuse, extreme exploitation, and even outright immoral. Add "cowardly " to how these bullycrats conducted themselves toward Ms. Davis, the Paradise Board, and the general membership.
He and his gals better not have gotten any raise or reward after their many contemptible instances of misconduct. They should simply be glad to still have their jobs.
there story was being talked about and laughed about would cause them to spiral down,be afraid to trust,even death.she cost me..... a case manager as per the usual talked me into helping a client move and in return me and my kids got bed bugs in wich my case manager knew of her bug infestation and even after loosing all our beds,furniture,and a crap load of money to debug our home she thought it was so funny.bed bugs....equal what ever else disease, anemia,just name it.ugggg.her and her office buddy sonnia wich is now at the midcities clinic tried to get me and my daughter of seventeen to sign over rites to a poor unborn baby my daughters very first child my very first grand baby.to who? sonnia? who had baby fever apparently and my case manager who started looking into adopting a baby.my case manager even took me to her phyc. to talk to her about a referral for adopting. which she came out crying i assumed it was a no. yeah an odd ride back that was.she has cried and laughed all within a few min apart yeah and im disabled,scared of people was absolutely freighted of her.it was pure hell trying to keep her happy my gog it was hell im so scared of people now faces dont mean shiet to me n if i just met you i may never trust you these people gave me forever p.t.d.s and fear of emotional people i issues now ill never be me again thanks to them. for months and years i played her game cause i was scared.until i was so scared and my teens were too that they wanted to leave the house and run from her...even then i was still way too scared until she called cps on my healthy spoiled grandchild accusing my daughter of being ...awww that did it her but crossed the line and i had to defend my family so i hid from her and reported her but guess what?she finally got canned as for all the money she owes me? nothing,she never returned my family's b-certificates or socials nope just copies as if trying to tell me something?uhgggg devious,sleek,viper in sheeps clothing.anyways since after the aps investigation...my utilities have been disconnected several times due to the co. not sending receipts on time and them refusing to do any check request until receipts were
giving.going weeks with out checks and no food,tp just the have to have kinda stuff to survive.so i still sit no money reimbursed,nothing except they put me on there shelter plus i mean as a sponsor but that is all...now i have to go out to midcities to avoid the patels and her buddies,but i have had sonnia refuse to let me or my now 18 yr. old speak to a supervisor as usual begging for my money....i had to leave b/c sonnia upset me to the point of a stroke so my daughter goes in to see what she can get done well she gets an im sorry shes gone and then gets up into my daughters face.....omg.....uggggg im so screwed in the head by these nuts now anyway my kid gets loud enough that someone gets the missing supervisor and still...no money for gas,food tp just basic survival stuff....ill never forgive them for what they have done to us...i wish there was some justice but nope they still get my check on the first,i beg,suffer,family goes without,we went to the ssi admin and changed payee but guess what mhmr isnt letting go of it for shhhhet....i have so much more to tell but not much time....im still wondering wheres my money she swendled?and patel your the one who should freely walk out giving co-worker pills?money?for what?wow arlington,n midcitied mhmr is messed up soap operas.mhmr really needs to do some cleaning if shiet.look around chk f.b omg i do what quacks n druggies n nutz under one name...urgggg i despise the name n let me find someone to sponsor my shelter plus im going to find the strongest justice to give back my life and trust yall stoll among other things you will be stopped justice is coming.oh n guess what the clinic i moved next to so i could walk if no gas money they shoved me out to midcities thirty min. away i live right behind mhmr off sanford in arlington....and they call my probation officer n tell them im off my meds. and im avoiding services.yeah jackazzzzz no chk equals no gas equals no seeing a doc....oh yeah and missed probation visits thanks mhmr
i have just had a.p.s investagation involving my t.c case manager with holding my checks from me until i met with her she scared me, with holding my checks from me until i met with her she scared me at times gave threats,took money from me by ordering gas checks and i didnt have a car at the time,she stalked me,frightened my teens,came over late when i avoided her,text me until 3am ,took money out of my chase card , loaned out my almost new steam cleaner to another client,in wich i had to pay half because her other client broke it{so he said...other client most likely pawned it.and would force me to get out of the house at times...took me to her home guilt-ed me into helping her organize ppw of her clients personal ppw that the case manager insisted on keeping.little did i know all of this was not right,or in her job description, guilting me into {when i had a car} giving several other of her clients rides with my own gas money and ware and tear on my car to run them around to jobs,appointments,helping agency's,battered women foundation,stores.talk to me about guys she had seen,worked with or wanted...nasty thoughts she had about my probation officer and other male and female clients of hers,talking badly about her clients,awful things that happened to them, that im sure if they had known sorry this is the begenning of the three
Anonymous mhmr client, it sounds like you should talk to someone with Paradise Center, Inc. about what happened to you, which I must admit I would not have believed if I hadn't seen the story about Bobby and Marie.
Something smells real bad about tarrant county mhmr under jim mcdermott and susan garnett.
The laziness, incompetence, and exploitation of disabled people are apparently perpetrated by those at the top of the taxpayer-funded agency all the way down to direct care staff like clinic staff and case managers. They even allow so called peer leaders like Lawrence, Anthony, and Lynne to do the same. May God have mercy on them all.
Tony parente, the "peer manager" (he supposed to be our boss in place of mcdermott and his gals) is dead. Lyn currant never got to be no manager or executive director of nonprofit like Ms. Teresa. Just another "peer leader" like Kevin and George and lawrencett. She "retired". So young?? Maybe mhnr bosses like Ellen goodman and Sinhalese gained got her evaluate and on ssi check like rest of us little mental patients.
Our clients now have a new filtering option at no extra cost. Anderson (Petoskey, MI USA) Another important thing is that they must possess checking accounts. I've had no problems for the past 3 months, and it's been a pleasure to use.
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