Will the legacy of Hurricane Katrina become a mandate for involuntary outpatient commitment? According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune:
"Mandating treatment -- and checking on patients to ensure they are complying with court orders -- would require a massive expansion of the outpatient services available in the New Orleans area, which have been significantly lacking since Hurricane Katrina"
An infusion of $26 million was announced last month, and one official said the creation of new services might be able to support court orders. In addition to considering outpatient commitment, Gov. Bobby Jindal announced the creation of crisis centers, a form of emergency diversion, and greater oversight for independent mental health agencies.
