NEWS
MONTGOMERY COUNTY OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
COURT HOUSE, NORRISTOWN, PA., BOX 311, 19404-0311
PHONE (610) 278-3061 FAX 278-5943
COMMISSIONERS:
JAMES R. MATTHEWS, Chairman, JOSEPH M. HOEFFEL, Vice Chairman, BRUCE L. CASTOR, JR, Commissioner
RELEASE: IMMEDIATELY 11/26/08 PR#08-38
MH/MR/D&A Department Changes Its Name
NORRISTOWN — The Montgomery County Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities is pleased to announce its new name, a change undertaken to address the sensibilities of our clients and their families and to reflect the integration of services the department provides.
Formerly known as the Mental Health/Mental Retardation/Drug & Alcohol department, the previous name was drawn from terminology used in the 1960’s when the department was created to oversee the services it provides.
“Many of our clients, and their families and advocates, find the term ‘mental retardation’ unacceptable,” said Eric Goldstein, the department’s director for the past 8 years.
“There is an ongoing effort nationally to eliminate its use,” he said. “In many instances, it has become a slang term that is derogatory and demeaning.”
The name also reflects the fact that the treatment of mental health issues and drug and alcohol related issues are becoming more integrated and use of the term ‘behavioral health’ is being used increasingly to refer to the two collectively.
This name change does not in any way reflect a change in the department’s mission or in the level of services we offer to our residents or their families,” Goldstein said.
