Please read this just took place all this has been going on four over three years, and still people with bi-polar/ etc do not have any idea how to handle this illness. In the meantime if a person has no family, friends etc, they end up homeless, or dead and no one helps.

Mr. Hazzouri how can you not feel guilt when you get paid if you do not keep records of whom you are helping?

imagine0321


Dear Senator Mellow

My son and I were at the Lackawanna County Assistance Office and have never been so appalled at our treatment or lack thereof. On July 9th Received a letter from Governor Rendells office the person was Joan L. Erney Deputy Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Abuse. In the letter I was told to see Richard Kucharski the Director of the Lackawanna Assistance Office, I made calls on Monday July 9 2007 at 9:00 AM as of 1:30 PM the same day I called back and spoke to Kim his secretary who very politely said she will speak to him again and would see that I get a return call.Same day 3:05 PM spoke to Mary and Kim I then was transferred to Mrs. Cimino. I was told in writing they could offer no assistance and told me to go thru Scranton Housing/Lackawanna Housing/Allied.All of which said Section 8 closed no help, today is 7/31/07 and I still have not heard from Mr. Baker.

As to whether Mr. Kucharski really exists I do not know I never met him or spoke to him. Now for my session yesterday you will see the attached letter to refer to. I told my son Tom to go and sit with his caseworker and start proceeding I went to get Virginia, to please sit in on this fiasco.

Virginia called downstairs to speak with Mrs. Cimino whom I might also say never returned Virginia's calls. Mrs. Cimino made some comments which I could hear as I sat there while the call was made and Virginia told Mrs. Cimino I would be right down. It took me all of two minutes to get there and lo and behold Mrs. Cimino was in a meeting she sent out Mrs. Dunstone, now this was after my son was told he had to reapply for benefits by Mr. Moskel, whom was just promoted, how that is justified I will never know since he did not even look on the computer that Tom could be reinstated.

Mrs. Dunstone also said it was up to us to check and get documentation from Unemployment that Tom was no longer collecting. However she was able to call and check on his criminal background and also check on our filing status for SSI.

I kept asking to speak to Mrs. Cimino she would not come out so Mrs. Dunstone said because I did not want to move she would call someone. As she left I called Joan Erney's office and we had a conference call along with Virginia Dikeman. By now it was 12:00 PM and myself, Tom and Virginia were in the hall when the Police came they said nothing to us as both Mrs. Dunstone/Mrs. Cimino/ and Mr. Moskell had egg on their face. I do have the report they were called for both my son and me.

I am not sure what dress code is for State Workers but it should be better than Mrs. Cimino was as she had on Capris no special color and for it being 9;00 am THE OFFICES WERE DEPLORABLE.

Now none of this should have happened had the person(s) employed by the State been a little more courteous. Mr. Mellow if I did not go with my son nothing would have been done the correct way this is what has happened for going now on four years and still no help.

There was not one person there that understood bi-polar., or its effects. They just assumed Tom was belligerent when in fact I asked to see all my letters to Mr. Moskell they were there NO ONE READ THEM.

SO IF YOU CAN PLEASE GIVE ME DIRECTION not to Advocacy Alliance/Step by Step as they are of no help Advocacy Alliance said they don't keep records and dropped the ball I have that in writing also.

I have also written to Mr. Kennedy hoping my story about our Mental Health Care will get out there to reach hearts not pocketbooks.

Regards,

Barbara Cook

>From: "PA Senator Robert Mellow" <mellow@pasenate.com>

>To: <barkley883@msn.com>

>Subject: Rental help

>Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2007 10:56:32 -0400

>Dear Ms. Cook:

>In order to be considered for any cash or rental reimbursement assistance, you must fill out a formal application with the Lackawanna County Assistance Office.To request an application, please contact them at 200 Scranton State Building, 100 Lackawanna Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503 or you can call 1-877-431-1887.If you have trouble getting through on that phone line, try calling 1-877-395-8930.This last number is for the change center; however, they can also assist you with an application request.

>If I can be of assistance in any other way, please feel free to contact me again.

>Sincerely,

>Bob Mellow

>Senator Robert J. Mellow

>mellow@pasenate.com