Jimmie et al., v. Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare

June 11, 2009 Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania, an advocacy group for people with disabilities, filed a federal class-action lawsuit against the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW) challenging the departments practice of housing adults with co-morbid mental retardation and psychiatric illness at state psychiatric hospitals. The plaintiffs seek to require DPW to develop policies and programs focused on moving individuals with co-morbid mental retardation and psychiatric illness into community-based programs. They also seek to require DPW to ensure that mental health services tailored for individuals with mental retardation are provided to individuals not able to . . .