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1 Sep, 1988 Advocacy Center (PAIMI) submits report on SFSH. Includes shared toothbrushes, nudity, blacked-out windows, no therapy, no discharge planning, overcrowding/gridlock, no freedom of movement.
1 Nov, 1988 Management Review by defendants agrees with results of report.
1 Apr, 1988 Suit filed by attorneys Alice Nelson (Southern Legal Counsel) & Deborah Whisnant (Advocacy Center).
1 Mar, 1990 Conditions at SFSH again reviewed. Meetings between defendants and plaintiffs are unproductive.
Spring 1991 Talks start in earnest (after 3-1/2 years). Gov. Lawton Chiles states he will allow no consent decree.
June, 1991 Stipulation by U.S. District Court-abatement of litigation for one year. Operations started under stipulation agreement. Team of Experts formed, with Marti Knisley (Systems) and Carol Pratt (Psych Rehab). Amicable joint meetings conducted monthly with HRS, county providers, and SFSH administration.
1 Dec, 1991 Sally Clay joins team as Consumer Expert. Partnership Dialogue is held at SFSH by local consumers; consumer groups are consulted about lawsuit.
1 Feb, 1992 Consumer Advisory Board to Sanbourne (CAB) is formed, meets monthly; members receive stipends.
1 Jun, 1992 Stipulation runs out, joint legislative strategy pursued by all parties. Parties agree on negotiated agreement, but legislature refuses money. Monthly joint meetings cease, plaintiffs prepare for litigation.
1 Nov, 1992 SvC attorneys begin deposition of case managers. CAB discusses strategies for contacting class members; sends letters to class members.
Winter 1992 Talks with HRS continue, but there is still no signed agreement.
Feb 1993 Stephen Watts is hired as Consumer Advisory Board Coordinator ; CAB members conduct interviews with class members. Deborah resigns.
April 1993 Court orders mediation, with arbitrator.
May 1993 HRS recommends to Legislature that SFSH be closed. Broward delegation recommends against this.
7 Sep, 1993 Final agreement filed in Court.
12 Jan, 1994 Court approves a settlement that involves ongoing monitoring of conditions at South Florida State Hospital, particularly discharge planning for residents and services received in first 30 days after discharge to the community. This court order was reached over objections from some community advocates, who testified that the settlement is not strong enough.
Spring 1994-Fall 1996 An office for the Advocacy Center was established in Broward County, and a monitor hired to follow the discharge process for SFSH residents. The core expert team members are: Sally Clay, consumer/survivor issues; Martha Hodge, psycho-social rehabilitation; Marti Knisley, systems and Medicaid/managed care; and Patty Cooper, monitor. All are nationally recognized in their fields, and other experts are used as necessary.
There has been active monitoring of conditions at SFSH and in the community, and many efforts have been made to resolve these individual and systems problems.