(Feb. 4, 2016) The grandmother of 3-year-old Ji’Aire Lee – who was found dead on a playground swing after his mother had pushed his lifeless body for nearly two days – visited the Maryland House of Delegates early this week to talk to state lawmakers about mental-health reform legislation named after her deceased grandson (“Her grandson died on a playground swing. Now she’s fighting for reform,” the Washington Post, Feb. 1).
Vontasha Simms said her daughter had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and depression before her grandson’s death, and had been hospitalized twice after mental breakdowns.
But, despite pleading with authorities to help her daughter, help never came and tragedy ensued.
“It’s too late for him,” said Vontasha of her grandson. “Maybe I can save someone else.”
Since Ji’Aire’s death, his grandmother has become an advocate for increasing mental-health services in Maryland in an effort to save other families from the tragedy that has befallen her own.
Vontasha testified before the Charles County Board of Commissioners, urging it to push through a state law that would make it easier for parents or close relatives to take supervisory control over adults suffering from mental illness, and take charge of their minor children.The board put the legislation, called “Ji’Aire’s law,” at the top of its priorities for the 2016 legislative session.
The bill is meant to identify cracks in the mental health system that allowed Ji’Aire to die. It calls for a work group named after Ji’Aire to study Maryland’s system and identify changes necessary to help adults with serious mental illness and their children.
Vontasha Simms said she believes an examination of the mental health system could be helpful. “They are taking a step in the right direction,” Vontasha said, adding that she would like to be appointed to the work group, if the legislation is approved.
It's important to note that Maryland is one of only five states that do not authorize involuntary treatment in the community, often called “assisted outpatient treatment (AOT)” or “outpatient commitment.”
Had AOT been available in Maryland, who knows how different the outcome could have been for Ji’Aire and his family?
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