Human Services Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: HB-6637
AN ACT CONCERNING STATE-WIDE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR
Title: DEAF, DEAF-BLIND AND HARD OF HEARING PERSONS.
Vote Date: 4/1/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable Substitute
PH Date: 3/25/2021
File No.:
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
Human Services Committee
REASONS FOR BILL:
This bill establishes a state-wide mental health services program tailored to the specialized
needs of deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing (D/HH/DB) persons. It also establishes a bill of
rights for these identified populations as guiding principles. The bill requires various state
agencies to assign not less than one staff member to implement the provisions of this
program. It also requires various state agencies to establish an advisory committee to
address the mental health service needs of D/HH/DB persons. The bill requests $100,000 be
appropriated to DMHAS for program startup costs. The substitute language removes the
funding request, and the requirement for dedicated staff at each agency. The new advisory
committee is tasked with advising the state Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator. The
coordinator is appointed by the Governor, and the coordinator appoints representatives to the
advisory committee as proscribed in the bill. The JFS language also adds deafblind persons
to the advisory board, creating The Advisory Board for Persons Who are Deaf, Hard of
Hearing or Deafblind. This bill seeks to address the disparity in mental health services for
D/HH/DB individuals throughout the state.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
Deidre Gifford, Commissioner, Department of Social Services supports the intent of the bill.
The Department is committed to ensuring that individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind and heard
of hearing have equal access to high-quality behavioral health services. The Department
does not currently have the required staff necessary to support the activities proposed in this
bill. Specifically, the Department does not have the capacity to assign, at the minimum, one
staff member to participate in a state-wide mental health services program. Commissioner
Gifford emphasized the Departments commitment to work with other state agencies, and
various stakeholders, to examine and work towards the goals highlighted in this bill.
Vannessa Dorantes, Commissioner, Department of Children and Families (DCF), opposes
this bill for two reasons. Commissioner Dorantes notes that the Statewide Deaf and Hard of
Hearing Advisory Council meets monthly to improve supports for DCF staff in servicing deaf
or hard of hearing persons. The Council recently took on a new project focused on creating a
training program for staff on how to best accommodate persons who are deaf. DCF believes
this bill would be duplicative of these efforts and is unnecessary. Commissioner Dorantes
also notes that due to the small population of hearing-impaired individuals who are served by
DCF, it would be fiscally imprudent to dedicate a full-time employee to oversee mental health
services.
Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, Commissioner, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
(DMHAS), notes DMHASs concern regarding the proposed structure for the delivery of
services to D/HH/DB individuals. Specifically, they believe that the centralized structure
would negatively impact the person-centered, localized services that are currently delivered
by agency treatment teams of behavioral health experts in an effective, cost-efficient
manner. Commissioner Delphin-Rittmon comments that DMHAS lacks the funds needed to
implement this structure. She notes that although DMHAS does not currently have the
resources to develop and staff an advisory committee for the state-wide mental health
program, the agency is committed to addressing these issues through other avenues,
including continued participation on the Advisory Board for Persons Who are Deaf or Hard of
Hearing.
Jordan Scheff, Commissioner, Department of Developmental Services (DDS), notes DDSs
concern with hiring a dedicated staff person to implement the provisions of the program
outlined in the bill. Since DDS is not primarily a mental health agency, Commissioner Scheff
believes it would be difficult to find an employee who fulfills all of the qualifications outlined in
the bill. He also explains that if DDS were to hire an additional employee for this purpose,
they would still need to provide accommodations for individuals who are D/HH/DB through
approved contractors. Commissioner Scheff notes the absence of funding in the Governors
budget for this additional position.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Robin Comey, CT State Representative supports this legislation and the critical need for
appropriate statewide mental health services for the underserved population of D/HH/DB
children and adults in CT. Rep. Comey recommends adding the Department of Education to
the task force. This is one step towards ensuring that the state is meeting the needs of
D/HH/DB persons in all environments, including our schools and educational facilities. Rep.
Comey also explains that the lack of accessibility to clinicians in certain regions of the state
must be addressed within this bill.
Jeffrey S. Bravin, Executive Director, American School for the Deaf
Thomas Hinchey, VP of Governmental Affairs, Connecticut Academy of Audiology (CTAA)
Karen Wilson
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They urge the support of this bill. This bill is necessary to help fulfill the unmet mental health
needs of D/HH/DB children and adults. When providers are unfamiliar with the unique needs
of these populations and are ill-equipped to provide culturally and linguistically affirmative
services, it can lead to misdiagnosis and poor outcomes. They note that this bill has various
provisions to ensure that D/HH/DB persons have increased access to appropriate mental
health services.
Dr. Harvey Corson, Member, Chair of Education & Legislative Committee, Connecticut
Association of the Deaf, supports this bill for various reasons. Dr. Corson believes there is a
definite need to have a continuing state mechanism to provide appropriate statewide mental
health services for D/HH/DB citizens. This bill creates a designated place in state government
for this population, as well as parents/family members or the general public, to get
information, assistance or seek resolution for some concerns or issues regarding mental
health services.
Tammy Ennis, American School for the Deaf
Karen Wilson
They support this bill because there is a critical need to provide access to quality mental
health services for deaf youth. They note that deaf individuals experience greater mental
health risk factors than their hearing peers. She explains that deaf children are not receiving
adequate care during their stays in the psychiatric ward. This keeps youth stuck in an
unbreakable circle where they are forced to return to the hospital. They both note that no
agencies in Connecticut offer mental health services for deaf persons under the age of 18. In
the rare case that private practitioners work with deaf youth, they often do not accept
Medicaid, nor do they pay for interpreters.
5 Clinicians that work with Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deafblind Adults, strongly support this
bill. Throughout the past few decades, the number of Deaf staff in clinics across the state has
declined dramatically; the D/HH/DB community has been failed by the state. The clinicians
testify that when Deaf clients reach a clinician who understands their language and culture,
theres an immediate therapeutic connection which validates their experience as a first step
towards their recovery. This bill is necessary in creating a state where Deaf consumers can
confidently seek mental health care.
Kourosh Parham, President, CT Ear, Nose and Throat Society, supports this bill because
hearing health and mental health are interrelated. Overwhelming evidence has shown that
hearing loss is associated with cognitive impairment, depression, anxiety disorders, and
psychoses. Because of the hearing loss-mental health relationship, members of the CT Ear,
Nose and Throat Society believe there is an immediate need to address the accessibility of
mental health services.
Luis Perez, President and CEO, Mental Health Connecticut (MHC)
Kathleen Flaherty, Executive Director, CT Legal Rights Project
They support this bill because the lack of language-appropriate and culturally affirmative
access to mental health services have severely detrimental impacts on individuals. Mr. Perez
notes that telehealth expansion has been, and will be, an important support for D/HH/DB
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individuals. He points out that the $100,000 allocation for startup costs will not result in the
structural needs required to improve access to services. Mr. Perez requests that Peer
Support hiring/training is part of the statewide mental health program, as it is a key
component in the recovery process. He also believes there must be provisions allocated for
D/HH/DB elders who age out of the system.
Melissa Render supports this bill. Ms. Render explains her first-hand experience seeking
mental health services in her community. Since there were no Deaf therapists in her area,
she moved to Hartford to receive the care she desperately needed. Ms. Render believes that
the state needs to increase Deaf services across the state because many individuals simply
cannot access the care they need. She comments on the importance of having access to a
Deaf therapist who understands Deaf culture, rather than relying on an interpreter.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
None expressed
Reported by: Gianna Vollano Date: April 12, 2021
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Statutes affected:
HS Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 509:
File No. 712:
Public Act No. 21-72: