A special needs trust offers families a way to provide for some of the needs of their mentally ill member after the family caregiver is gone. Our April 10th meeting features two experts in this area.

Linda S. Durston is an attorney in private practice in Berkeley. Her major practice areas are estate planning, with an emphasis in special needs trust planning and administration, and conservatorships and guardianships. Ms. Durston formerly practiced Social Security disability law at a not-for-profit agency in Richmond.

Alan J. Statman is a private professional fiduciary. He has 25 years of business, financial management and fiduciary experience. He serves as special needs trustee and as conservator of several individuals in the East Bay.

UC Davis has developed an internet-based virtual reality project that simulates the hallucinations that can be common with schizophrenia. They hope the project will enhance healthy people's understanding of mental illness. To access the website go to www.ucdmc. ucdavis.edu/ais/virtualhallucinations

Many family members are frustrated when a loved one is hospitalized and refuses to give consent so that the family may speak to the staff regarding their mental illness. Although mental health providers are constrained in their ability to communicate with families, family members may communicate with treatment teams with or without an authorization from the consumer. AB 1424 was enacted to provide families with a way to communicate with mental health providers.

* that the historical course of a person's mental illness be considered when it has a direct bearing on the determination of whether the person is a danger to self/others or gravely disabled;

* that relevant evidence in available medical records or presented by family members, treatment providers, or anyone designated by the patient be considered by the court in determining the historical course;

* that facilities make every reasonable effort to make information provided by the family available to the court; and

* that the person (a law enforcement officer or designated mental health professional) authorized to place a person in emergency custody (a 5150) consider information provided by the family or a treating professional regarding historical course when deciding whether there is probable cause for hospitalization.

When a person is held on a 5150 (involuntary psychiatric hold), families and others may complete an AB 1424 form and give the hospital staff relevant information about their loved one. AB 1424 permits relevant information about the historical course of a person's mental disorder from any source to be considered at all stages of the involuntary hospitalization process.

In order to assist families and others to summerize the most relevant information about the course of a person's mental illness, Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services has designed a form to be used for this purpose. The form is enclosed in this issue of the Families Advocate.

MHAAC Family/Caregiver Advocate helps families use AB 1424 form -- "I have helped a lot of family members complete AB 1424 forms at John George Psychiatric Pavilion over the past year" reports Beverly Bergman. "The form is placed in the medical chart and treatment staff and court officials review it. I believe that the information provided has made a difference in the length of treatment. It also has helped family members be included in the treatment of their loved one. I urge everyone to complete this very useful form and submit it when appropriate."

If you have any questions or need assistance please call Beverly Bergman, Family/Caregiver Advocate, at 510-835-0188.