Offering supportive services to persons with psychiatric disabilities

Guardian ad Litem Services Inc. is a non-profit organization designed to assist individuals who receive services from the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

Mission Statement:
It is the mission of Melissa's Project to monitor, coordinate, and navigate our clients through the mental health system, in order to ensure that they have access to quality
healthcare and appropriate services that are available to them in the community.

Melissa's Project was formed to

• Assist individuals with psychiatric disabilities by advocating for quality health care and services.
• Assist individuals in becoming active participants in treatment planning and navigating the mental health system.
• Provide support to court appointed conservators by monitoring progress and completing monthly reports pertaining to their ward.
• Facilitate open communication between the consumer and the various systems in which they interact.

  Melissa's Project acts as a liaison between the consumer and the various systems in which he/she is involved i.e. court system, mental health service providers, hospitals, family, and community supports.

If you are a court appointed conservator for an individual who is receiving services from the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, you may be eligible for services. Contact us directly. If you are an individual who is conserved and are receiving services from the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, contact your conservator and inform him/her of our special services, as you may
be eligible.

• Completing an initial medical record review.
• Conducting weekly contact with service providers and community supports.
• Conducting monthly visits with the consumer.
• Attending all treatment planning meetings with the consumer.

• The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services on a monthly basis regarding each individual receiving services and agency activity.
• The conservator on a monthly basis in the form of an individualized report.
• The Probate Court Administration on a monthly basis regarding agency activity.

Probate Courts

Probate courts are responsible for appointing a conservator for individuals
who are not able to make informed
decisions regarding their medical care and financial status.

• In 2001, probate courts across Connecticut appointed conservators of person and/or estate for 1,758 individuals (involuntary).
• In 2002 the number of involuntary appointments increased to 2,083. (Connecticut Probate Administration)

Statistics

In 1998 "mental health" was the leading cause for hospitalization in both male and females
between the ages of 5 to 44.

• Mental health was ranked as the 6th cause of hospitalization for individuals in Connecticut between the ages of 45 to 65, 10th cause of individuals 65 +.
• In total mental health related occurrences accounted for 20,900 admissions to Connecticut hospitals. (Connecticut Department of Health, 1998)
• In 2002, SAMHSA estimated that there were 138,121 persons with serious mental illness in the state of Connecticut alone.
• In 2002 there were a total of 1,406 adult commitments to hospitals across Connecticut. (Connecticut Probate Administration)