Joan Buffington is the host and producer. She emphasizes the importance of equal access and equal opportunity in both the content and the composition of the program, creating discussions based on personal experiences.

On "Who Cares?", health care providers and consumers discuss access to health care, including proposed policy changes for MediCal, MediCare, Social Security and private health insurance. Who has health care? Who does not?

"Who Cares?" began broadcast in 1998 with the financial support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation through a national organization, Sound Partners for Community Health, which supports collaboration between community radio stations and commmunity organizations. During three rounds of funding, "Who Cares? partnered with the Nevada County Department of Public Health, FREED, AARP, and SPIRIT Mental Health Peer Empowerment Center.

"Who Cares?" has succeeded in bring to the airwaves many people who had never before shared their personal health stories in public. It has helped empower a number of consumers. "Who Cares?" has been an instrumental part of the success of the new SPIRIT Center.

Buffington's coverage of mental health issues on "Who Cares?" and on KVMR News in 2001 brought KVMR from the National Federation of Community Broadcasters its distinguished Community Impact Award.

The them song for "Who Cares?" is Anne Feeney's "We Want National Health Care Now."

For comments and suggestions, you can contact Joan Buffington by email at; whocares@kvmr.org.

A TIME FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE A SAY ABOUT NEW MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

For more information, call Joan Buffington, 530-274-1778, or 530-913-6446 or visit the Nevada county Behavioral Health Department on the web at: http://new.mynevadacounty.com/bh/index.cfm.

GRASS VALLEY, CA. An upcoming Town Hall Meeting Friday, May 20 is one of many ways that people in Nevada County can influence the decision on how to best spend new money for mental health. Local organizers see the meeting as part of an old fashioned, grass roots process, where people have a voice.

All the suggestions from the meeting will become part of the public input for planning how to use the income from the Mental Health Services Act, or Proposition 63. Passed in November, 2004, the Act puts a 1% tax on income over one million dollars. That money must, by law, be used for new, innovative, and consumer/family driven services.

The money can not be used for exisiting services from the Nevada County Department of Behavioral Health. It must be used for services that reflect the will of the people.

The Town Hall is part of a plan for community input that includes a questionnaire, public meetings in June and July, and oureach to any and all neighborhood and service and work groups. Anyone or any group that wants to know more about MHSA can call MHSA Community Coordinator, Joan Buffington, at 274-1778, or visit the Nevada county Behavioral Health Department on the web at: http://new.mynevadacounty.com/bh/index.cfm.

"This is not just new money for mental health; it also is an opportunity for people to have a direct influence on how that money will be used. For too many years, politicians outside Nevada County have chopped mental health funds to the bone. Now people here can begin to change that process," says Buffington.

"The Mental Health Services Act itself calls for 'system transformation' and 'client/family driven services." We here in Nevada County take those words very seriously. This is an opportunity to begin to see decisions made from the bottom up, in a real grass roots process."

The Town Hall Meeting will be broadcast live on KVMR-FM Community Radio, rebroadcast on NCTV Community Television, and rebroadcast in part on KNCO radio. Listeners can call in to 530-265-9555. The Town Hall is Friday, May 20, 12 noon to 2 PM at the Conference Room of the Helling Library.

For more information, please call Joan Buffington, 530-274-1778, or 530-913-6446.