Governor Peter Shumlin (D-Vermont) recently reaffirmed his solid commitment to building a new, although much smaller version of the same old thing (read: institutional compliance or forced treatment model) as part of his three (3) to five (5) year transition plan when it comes to replacing the Vermont State Hospital (VSH).

Besides planning to build a new, although now smaller version of a state hospital, the administration's transition plan also includes providing an additional 14 permanent VSH-type beds and confinement at the Brattleboro Retreat as well, all to the tune of millions and millions of taxpayer dollars in remaining dependent on the outdated VSH-type institutional model that will follow no matter where it is relocated.

This is much like had been done in New Hampshire and, as a result, they have been under the gun by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Such monies, as Governor Shumlin is recommending be put aside to replace the state hospital, could be better put to use as bridge money that could be used to leverage additional funding toward building up the more robust holistic and healing community-based system needed in order to continue to ensure the full and complete clossure of VSH (e.g., including creating more Safe Haven's, affordable housing, additional peer-run drop-in centers, peer-run respite beds and other services and supports needed across the state, etc.) and, not to replace it, save for a small forensic facility to be located somewhere within the state.

If we could close and not replace Brandon Training School with a new version of the same old thing, building the community system people formerly locked away there now enjoy instead, we can indeed not replace VSH in the fashion as is being planned in terms of those elements that remain highly dependent on the old institutional medical treatment model and, although there might be differences in the system that is needed to be put in place, do much of the same for our fellow citizens currently forced to languish at the state hospital, in prison, in homeless shelters or on the street..

Now is the time to let Governor Shumlin hear from concerned citizens regarding these matters directly.

Urge Governor Shumlin to support the building of a more robust community-based mental health services system, including a major increase in peer run alternative services and supports as well as more affordable housing opportunities, in order to foster a holistic and healing, cross-disabilities, independent living, recovery-based and trauma-informed model, rather than building a new Vermont State Hospital (VSH).

Please sign onto this petition, which reads as follows:

We the undersigned petition Governor Peter Shumlin of the State of Vermont to support the building of a more robust community-based mental health services system, including a major increase in peer run alternative services and supports as well as more affordable housing opportunities, in order to foster a holistic and healing, cross-disabilities, independent living, recovery-based and trauma-informed model, rather than building a new Vermont State Hospital (VSH).