DOJ and South Carolina reach settlement on mental health care compliance
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South Carolina reach settlement on mental health care compliance COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCIV) —A federal lawsuit against South Carolina, filed in the final months of the Biden administration, was settled Thursday, according to Department of Justice officials. The lawsuit alleged that South Carolina violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by unnecessarily segregating adults with mental illness in adult care homes.
When the lawsuit was first announced, federal officials referenced a July 6, 2023, investigation into South Carolina’s use of adult care homes, which they claim failed to provide sufficient community-based services to prevent unnecessary institutionalization. “The Department and South Carolina are working together to ensure that people with serious mental illnesses can be served in the community when they want to be,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This is a great day for the people of South Carolina and demonstrates the substantial work that can happen when the federal government and states work together.” READ MORE |“SC pressured to fix mental illness group homes that leave little chance of autonomy.” In the settlement, the state agreed to provide community-based mental health services to enable people with serious mental illness to live in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs.
The state is also required to expand capacity in intensive mental health, housing and peer support services. Lastly, officials must ensure mobile crisis response is available in all areas of the state.
On Wednesday, the parties filed a stipulation in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina to dismiss the Department’s complaint while South Carolina implements the settlement agreement.
South Carolina is now recognized for its commitment to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Department of Justice officials said. READ MORE |“U.S.
Justice Department sues South Carolina over alleged AD
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