x-sender: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com x-receiver: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com Received: from mail pickup service by sc.lmhostediq.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Sat, 30 Jul 2016 13:06:46 -0400 thread-index: AdHqhMDdj+SnpoxHRim5aUNs/UwkWw== Thread-Topic: Sexual Trauma/Violence Prevention Measures needed in Public Schools and SC Dept of Mental Health financial concerns From: To: Subject: Sexual Trauma/Violence Prevention Measures needed in Public Schools and SC Dept of Mental Health financial concerns Date: Sat, 30 Jul 2016 13:06:46 -0400 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Microsoft CDO for Windows 2000 Content-Class: urn:content-classes:message Importance: normal Priority: normal X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.1.7601.17609 X-OriginalArrivalTime: 30 Jul 2016 17:06:46.0435 (UTC) FILETIME=[C0F57730:01D1EA84] CUSTOM Mr. Jared J Carbone Registered Nurse spartanburg Area Department of Mental Health 150 Howell Circle 289 greenville SC 29615 jared.carbone1977@gmail.com 864-979-8367 BOARDS Sexual Trauma/Violence Prevention Measures needed in Public Schools and SC Dept of Mental Health financial concerns 24.241.252.210 Dear Governor Haley, I have some concerns about a few things I hope you can address concerning the COST of mental healthcare provided by the South Carolina Department of Mental Health (SCDMH) as it relates to persons that have experienced severe sexual abuse and traumas as children. Such victims result in mental health diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other diagnoses (eg. Bipolar Disorder), resulting in excessive tax payor costs due to multiple medication treatments, suicide attempts, and continued re-hospitalization within this patient demographic. As a Registered Nurse, I currently work at the Spartanburg Area Department of Mental Health (SADMH) and have noticed that the majority of expense and treatments in this patient demographic exists, although necessary, seems to represent the most significant volume of patients seen at SADMH versus psychotic disorders for example. A failure to re-evaluate the COST of treatment for those patients with a history of severe sexual abuse and failure of SC State government taking preventative measures by passing stricter laws and incarceration sentences against perpetrators of sexual abuse, applicable to immediate, non-immediate family members and others, will continue to drain South Carolina tax-funded dollars needed for their treatment. In addition to passing stricter State laws, early childhood school intervention and sexual abuse education is an absolute necessity that needs to take place as early as Kindergarten or 1st grade for both students and teachers, in order for students and teachers to help identify signs and symptoms of sexual abuse (eg. bedwetting) that may require further evaluation, investigation and necessary referrals. A designated teacher for each public school would help to streamline necessary governmental, police, and mental health interventions needed. I think this is an important issue because most children that are sexually abused include 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men, most of whom are young victims of repetitive sexual trauma over many years even, have know one to turn to, albeit the public school being the only safe place to admit being a victim given the opportunity for education of students at an early age were to exist. Many childhood victims of sexual abuse can even become adult perpetrators, continuing the cycle of violence. Finally, I feel that without stricter SC State Laws and early childhood school interventions that include education of teachers thereby allowing for a public school environment that is willing to accept childhood admissions of sexual violence would, in the long-term, prevent the cycle of violence that continues to financially drain the SCDMH system. Such school-based early intervention programs will, in the long-term, significantly reduce tax-funded costs provided to mental health care services within the State of South Carolina. I am confident that further cost analysis of SCDMH patients with such diagnoses that have a known history of sexual abuse, will show the need for different approaches to treatment only and instead, implementation of preventive measures for sexual abuse or violence. Preventative measures taken by the State of SC will otherwise save tax payor dollars and reduce budgeting costs for the SCDMH in the long term. Again, cost analysis within SCDMH is needed to be conducted by SC State financial experts that will validate my concerns and inspire SC Representatives to begin to make necessary laws and actions needed for such cost-saving measures. Sincerely, Jared Carbone RN 864-979-8367 150 Howell Circle #289 Greenville, SC 29615