Community providers that take a Department of Mental Health consumer to a strip club or similar establishment in the future will result in cancellation of the contract with that agency, according to a memorandum issued June 20 by DMH director Keith Schafer.
"Normally, I would resist issuing directives intended to define what is 'good judgment' for local community provider agencies," Schafer wrote in the memorandum.
"The Department of Mental Health strongly believes that taking a DMH consumer to a strip club or similar establishment in the name of treatment, or as a recreational activity, or for any reason, is far beyond the pale of good judgment and appropriateness."
Stories in the April 16 and June 18 issues of The Salem News detailed how Enrichment Services, Inc., located in Salem, took consumers to Big Louie's in St. Robert, The Pleasure Zone in Rolla and Harrah's Casino in St. Louis. ESI is contracted with DMH.
The Salem News received an email from the DMH office of public and legislative affairs June 10 that stated "The investigation was unsubstantiated; therefore, the findings remain a closed record."
Ten days later Schafer issued his two-page memorandum.
Schafer's memo stated the state regional office (in Rolla) notifed the community provider that the visits were an "inappropriate activity" and an investigation from DMH's central office was needed to determine "if specific client abuse could be proven."
The investigation has been concluded, and the staff involved "were acting under the sanction and direction of the community agency," according to Schafer. "No direct harm to the clients involved could be substantiated that could meet the legal standard for abuse or neglect."
Schafer also mentioned "the inappropriateness of the use of public taxpayer dollars" for activities that "should not occur."
For more information see stories elsewhere on thesalemnewsonline.com and the June 25 edition of The Salem News.