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Monday, April 25, 2005
Harder to Hide from the Authoritays
Mental-Health Screening
Home School Legal Defense Association
The Federal government has taken small steps that may eventually establish a universal mental-health screening program to diagnose mental disorders in children. The program, as recommended, would be administered through the public school system and primary care facilities. As the law stands now, officials are not required to gain parental consent to proceed with mental health screenings. However, though the program does not target homeschoolers, there is a potential for the erosion of parental rights which is of concern to HSLDA.
The New Freedom Commission on Mental Health was established by President Bush to investigate the nation's mental health service system and provide recommendations to improve the system. In 2003, the Commission's final report was released and it specifically recommended a universal mental-health screening program which would be created within the public school system.
While the White House has assured HSLDA that the President would not support this type of extensive program, Congress appropriated $20 million in 2004 to fund the Commission's recommendations. The money is in the form of "state incentive grants" and is currently available to the states with no guidelines preserving parental rights.
Illinois is positioned to utilize these federal dollars when it enacted the Children's Mental Health Act of 2004. Illinois wishes to "ensure that all children receive periodic social and emotional developmental screens." This Act is the first of its kind; both supporters and opponents cite it as the prototype for mental-health screening programs.
If the states implement the federal program and use the money as it was intended, homeschoolers could be subject to unwanted screenings. Without requiring parental consent, parental rights would be at stake and forced screenings would be possible.
However, Representative Ron Paul (TX-16) is working hard to ensure that this does not occur. He has introduced the Parental Consent Act of 2004 (H.R. 181) which requires that "no Federal funds may be used to establish or implement any universal or mandatory mental health screening program." The bill would also deny the use of Federal funds to any jurisdiction that makes child abuse charges based on a parent's refusal to allow mental-health screening.
Paul's Bill would insure that parental rights would not be violated as the government attempts to monitor the mental health of children. Currently, the bill has twenty-four co-sponsors and has been referred to the House Subcommittee on Education Reform where it is adding co-sponsors and gaining support.
HSLDA will be monitoring this legislation closely.
4/25/2005 08:49:00 AM by Todd Bacon
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Tuesday, April 19, 2005
GWB
4/19/2005 02:45:00 PM by Todd Bacon
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Thursday, April 14, 2005
Update on old news
Anna Ayala (search), 39, was at a Wendy's restaurant in San Jose on March 22 when she claimed she scooped up the 1½-inch-long fingertip. She later filed a claim with the franchise owner, Fresno-based JEM Management Corp., which her attorney had said was the first step before filing a lawsuit.
I find this interesting to note:
Court records show Ayala has a history of making claims against corporations, including a former employer, General Motors and a fast-food restaurant.
Attorney Jeffrey Janoff said Anna Ayala was dropping her claim because of the intense scrutiny.
I think the lady was just looking for a quick million or two and made the whole thing up. Wonder where she got the finger though.
4/14/2005 09:39:00 AM by Todd Bacon
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Wednesday, April 06, 2005
How's it goin'?
4/06/2005 08:28:00 AM by Todd Bacon
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Monday, April 04, 2005
choices
went to best buy yesterday to buy one of these
but decided shouldn't really spend the money
so... ended up buying one of these instead
4/04/2005 09:33:00 AM by Todd Bacon
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Friday, April 01, 2005
This Doesn't Smell Like Money!
SAN DIEGO (AP - The hunt is on for a turd burglar.
Police in San Diego are searching for a gunman who swiped a bag of poop from a woman out walking her dog.
The woman told police that she was out walking her dog, Misty, on Monday night when a man in his 20s ran up behind her and grabbed the bag she was holding.
When the gunman discovered what was in it, he threw it down in disgust, pointed his gun at the 32-year-old woman and demanded money, San Diego police detective Gary Hassen said.
He then aimed his .22-caliber semiautomatic at Misty and pulled the trigger twice but the gun didn't fire, Hassen said.
The robber ran to a waiting small, silver car and fled the scene, police said.
4/01/2005 04:39:00 PM by Todd Bacon
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