Colorado has been an "alexandria" for disability & Elder Rights 

One of its "Founders" civil rights attorney john Holland understood the importance of "STAFFIng" & where we really need to go

Val's Take
    Several years ago I was working as Colorado's Legal Assistance Developer for the Elderly.

       As part of that position, I provided Technical Assistance to the Colorado Long Term Care Ombudsman.

        What should I discover -- Colorado's Nursing Home Grievance Procedure has a Right of Judicial Review.

           We really need to be doing this I thought.  The LTC Ombudsmen were skeptical.

         The problem is they're just NOT attorneys -- I thought. 

         I'm going to run this by John Holland who is enormously respected by the LTC Ombudsmen -- the Nursing Home Class Action Lawsuit he spearheaded  resulted in no small measure in the Federal Nursing Home Reform Law of 1987 and he and Kathleen Mullen really closed the horrible O'Hara Facility in Denver.

        So I set up a meeting with John and explained how I saw how this Grievance Procedure could really transform Nursing Home Care.

        He listened very politely and told me about his Class Action lawsuit, how it lasted for years, and there were still problems.

          He wasn't interested in the Nursing Home Grievance Procedure route as much as I tried to convince him it wouldn't be as bad as a Class Action Lawsuit. 
      
            [Parenthetically, Kathleen Mullien's Class Action against the Colorado Mental Health Institute @ Pueblo -- the "Neiberger Case"--  was finally dismissed --- only to have Staffing Problems re-emerge @ CMHIP and CMS find the facility in IMMEDIATE JEOPARDY.]

            On the other hand, John was interested in Legislation  on  Nursing Home Staffing.

            Thanks for nothing -- I thought.  That's impossible or next to it.

           Well, over the course of many years, I've finally come to realize not only that there was a lot to John's advice but it applies to multiple systems affecting children & adults with disabilities.

         A Broad-Based Coalition to address the Need for:

• An Independent Agency to Set Independent Specific Staffing Standards that correlate with the Broad Standards typically in law and regulation.
• Consideration of Proposed Staffing Alternatives for Approval & to share with others.
• Routine Staffing Audits​

--has the potential to bring long-lasting change to under-staffed systems serving children, adults & elders with disabilities.

Valerie Schlecht: Attorney & Mental Health Advocate with CCDC

Pat Tunnell, former Colorado Long Term Care Ombudsman--one of the kindest & most caring people most of us have ever met.

Tim Fox

Amy Robertson

^^^Tim Fox & Amy Robertson are attorneys & Co-Executive Directors of the Civil Rights Education & Enforcement Center [CREEC]

Jayla Sanchez Warren, former Lead LTC Ombudsman for the Denver Regional Council of Governments, now head of the DRCOG Area Agency on Aging

Amy Smith: Always on the State, National & International Leading Edge of Mental Health Advocacy

BTW:  We Haven't Pictured Even 1% of the People who make Colorado a Disability & Elder Rights Advocacy "Alexandria"

Legal Legend Attorney John Holland

Legal Director for the CO Cross Disability Coalition

Latonya Reeves, ADAPT -- passionate about Civil Rights for people with Physical & Mental Disabilities

Randy Chapman: one of the Founders of Disability Law Colorado, formerly the Legal Center for People with Disabilities & Older People. He literally wrote the nationally recognized "Special Education Handbook."

The Gal -'- Colorado's Dorothea Dix -- Kathleen Mullen

Julie Reiskin, Executive Director of the Colorado Cross Disability Coalition [CCDC].

Dr. Lacey Berumen, former Executive Director of NAMI Colorado, now a National Board member for NAMI

Kelli Fritts: Legislative Liaison for AARP

Dawn Russell with ADAPT-- during one of her many acts of Civil Disobedience. Photo Credit: Denver Post

Josh Winkler -- ADAPT

Moe Keller: Head of Policy for Mental Health Colorado, former member of Colorado's Legislative Joint Budget Committee

Aubrey Boggs, Colorado Mental Wellness Network [CMWN]

The Jail Wait Case: Iris Eytan, the Colorado Lawyers Committee & Disability Law Colorado