If you read through this blog and the comments made by a lot of people, there is a lot of questioning as to why it is that NAMI-TC has not rallied behind the Paradise Center.
There has been speculation that due to the large amount of money donated to the Tarrant County Chapter of NAMI by MHMR-TC and Bravo Health that the local chapter has been effectively bought off. This is just one more aspect of the Paradise Center Scandal.
Below is a typical comment of the sort I am referencing....
It looks like the tarrant county NAMI is joining mhmr and its ceo in pleading the 5th because their statements could incriminate them.
Only wrongdoers would choose to do this.
I didn't realize that when NAMI lost their VOICE of advocacy, they really lost ALL of their voice.
Unless they choose to speak up, let's examine who the other conspirators or enablers are. Like the county judge, county executive, and commissioners who we heard are the bosses of MHMR-TC but had been very chummy with McDermott's 501/c/3 MHMR Visions--financially, socially, and politically.
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So, we asked Melissa Gibbons of NAMI-TC the following...
Dear Ms. Gibbons,
A group of my acquaintances have created a blog called The Paradise Center Scandal in an attempt to shine a light on what we feel has been some shady operating by MHMR-TC, due to its too cozy relationship with BRAVO Health.
We have been told the reason the local chapter of NAMI has been silent regarding the Paradise Center issue, is due to the fact that the local chapter of NAMI's biggest money donors are MHMR and BRAVO, which is why NAMI had been so strongly pushing BRAVO as the preferred HMO.
So, could you tell me how much money MHMR and BRAVO donated to the local chapter of NAMI in the past couple years?
We have been told the figure last year was $30,000.
We have also been told that in your latest monthly NAMI-TC newsletter you have scheduled reps from both BRAVO and AMERIGROUP to give presentations, in a big contrast from previous months where BRAVO Health has been pushed hard as the service provider. What's changed that is causing other options to be presented?
Thank you in advance for your clarifications.
Durango Jones
To which Melissa Gibbons had two replies...
We accept donations from all entities that offer to sponsor us. We are not swayed by the donations. The reason we have scheduled both groups in April is because folks will have to chose in May. We want them to have the information to make a sound choice.
Sincerely,
Melissa Gibbons
There was never a bias for any company. We have scheduled both groups because they are the service representatives for folks who will need to make a decision regarding there service provider. I do not know who you are. I am Melissa Gibbons a NAMI tarrant county member. Last year Bravo did make a donation. We did not do anything for them. We now are asking both groups to come and represent themselves before our membership.
Melissa Gibbons
Make note that Ms. Gibbons did not reveal how much money MHMR and Bravo Health donated to the local NAMI chapter.
