July 17, 2020 Daily
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COVID-19 on the rise.. in Cuyahoga County Masks are mandatory in Cleveland Kid’s Corner Toys For Tots event to be held SPORTS Mayor Frank Jackson signed an order requir- Hours before a public address in which Gov. MENU TIPS Ricky Williams, two years ing all Clevelanders to wear masks in public as of 6:00 Mike DeWine discussed the coronavirus surge in Ohio, old, is the son of Shequila and Dan Indians Think About For More Marvelous p.m. today. Earlier this week, the City of Cleveland re- the Department of Health repored new confirmed and ported record-high numbers of coronavirus cases, with Williams. He attended kindergarten probable cases have gone up 1,316 from the day before. Name Change Mashed Potatoes the largest increase among people between 20 and 29 school. He has a hearty appetite and This is higher than a week ago, when there were 1,277 years old. City council is scheduled to vote on proposed consequences for not following the rules on July 15. The his favorite food is pizza. Being an new cases. The 21-day rolling average for new cases is legislation would be primarily be enforced by Cleveland active kid, Ricky likes to ride his bike 1,075, according to the Department of Health In all, there See Page 4 See Page 5 are 69,311 confirmed and probable cases in Ohio Police and the Cleveland Health Department. Williams which is his favorite toy. VOL. 41 No.25No.26 Tuesday, July 14, 2020- Friday, July 17, 2020 Daily FREEEASTSIDE NEWSFREE ISSUED FRIDAY READ ON - WRITE ON SERVING: LARCHMERE - WOODLAND, SHAKER SQUARE, BUCKEYE, WOODLAND, MT. PLEASANT, READ ON - WRITE ON LEE & AVALON, HARVARD - LEE, MILES - UNION, UNIVERSITY CIRCLE AREA, WARRENSVILLE HEIGHTS, VILLAGES OF NORTH RANDALL, HIGHLAND HILLS AND CITY OF EAST CLEVELAND “COVERING THE NEWS TODAY FOR A BETTER TOMORROW” Rev. KZ Smith seeks freedom and compassion for Deasia Watkins By PAT WHITE sources to monitor a mother and ing blank stares, with little discern- worked to improve herself at every a neglected child 24-seven.” ible reaction to her surroundings. chance. Pastor KZ Smith serves Deters charged Wat- Watkins’ attorney argued that she Watkins should be al- as the Senior Pastor of the Corin- kins with murder despite court has no idea what’s going on around lowed to be home with her family. thian Baptist Church of Cincinnati, records clearly showing that her. She was on a cocktail of psy- She had an illness. She was never 1920 Tennessee Avenue. both the criminal justice system chiatric medications throughout a criminal. Under his leadership, and the mental health facilities the trial and denied visitation by Legislation has recently the church has grown from being had failed her. her family. passed to address the issues that voted by the Cincinnati Herald Authorise knew from According to Watkins’ Watkins faced in 2015. Newspaper as the “best place to Don’t Forget To Turn Your Clock Forwardthe start that Watkins was suf- lawyer Norman Aubin, “Forensics The Preventing Maternal worship” (Best of Black Cincinna- fering from a form of mental ill- (indicates) Watkins does not un- Deaths Act of 2018 (MOMMA ti 2003 edition) to being a beacon ness. derstand the nature of the charges Act), would further strengthen for social justice in the communi- According to a Ham- against her and cannot yet aid in states’ abilities to address the so- ty. Smith lives by the inspirational ilton County Juvenile Court her own defense because of a se- cial determinants of health and words of the late Rev. Dr. Martin complaint, police were called vere mental illness. If she is re- reduce maternal mortality. By Luther King, Jr. in that “Now is the to Watkins’ apartment about stored to competency, then we can empowering local organizations time to make justice a reality for three months before her daugh- go forward with a not guilty by rea- with resources, the MOMMA Act all.” Watkins Smith ter’s death after complaints of son of insanity (plea).” addresses maternal mortality are: In the midst of the COV- lack access to culturally competent 72-hour psychiatric hold at Deacon- screaming. Watkins signed a plea first, expanding Medicaid access ID-19 crisis, Rev. Smith is assist- care. ess Hospital, she was diagnosed with When officers arrived, they deal without understanding it and to cover a partum period of one ing the Watkins family in seeking Only one-in-three African post-partum psychosis, the condition said Watkins was “speaking in has been serving time since March full year (as opposed to the current clemency from Governor Mike Americans who need mental health characterized by the onset of psy- tongues,” according to a police 8, 2017 at the Ohio Reformatory DeWine for Deasia Watkins so that care receives it. chotic behavior following childbirth. 2 months of coverage), second, en- report. Officers said they had for Women. suring the sharing and implemen- she can safely return home. Compared with whites, Watkins was prescribed the to forcefully remove the infant Watkins has been an African Americans are: – Less tation of best practices between During a postpartum antipsychotic medication called Ris- from Watkins’ arms because she ideal prisoner. She has worked to psychosis crisis, Watkins fatally likely to receive guideline-consis- perdal as treatment, and sent home to practitioners and hospital systems refused to let go. The infant was deal with her mental illness. She (i.e. expanding the creation of stabbed her 3 month old daughter tent care – Less frequently includ- her family. placed in the custody of Job & has gone to school, participated in perinatal quality collaboratives), in 2015. She was sentenced to 15 ed in research – More likely to use Her family, as with so Family Services. The complaint many programs at the prison, and third, establishing years to life in prison. emergency rooms or primary care many families throughout the coun- was filed in the Hamilton Coun- Watkins had been de- (rather than mental health special- try, were not trained to treat a fam- ty Prosecutor’s Office. Carmela Williams, scribed as a smart, sweet young ists).” ily member during a mental health Job & Family Services shaker city council lady. She was a good student with Compared with the gen- crisis. Hospitals have no financial later placed the child with Wat- a bright future who had a loving eral population, African Americans incentives to hold mental patients kins’ aunt. family. But following the birth of are less likely to be offered either without insurance so the patient is Watkins most likely her daughter, her brain chemistry evidence-based medication thera- sent home with medication which was not on her medication be- short-circuited and she was un- py or psychotherapy. may or may not be effective, may or cause someone in full blown aware that she was in a full blown Compared with whites may not be taken by the patient who psychosis is not able to treat psychosis. Her family took her to with the same symptoms, African is unaware of the crisis their psycho- themselves. the hospital, only to have the hos- Americans are more frequently sis is having on the family, and the Job & Family Services workers pital release her 72 hours later. diagnosed with schizophrenia and medication may have side effects did not explain the severity of This is a common story in less frequently diagnosed with that are life-threatening. the psychosis to her family or do the African American community. mood disorders.” One of The system failed Watkins a wellness check days before the The family reaches out for help, their most important findings of the and her family, and they were fur- infant’s death. In March 2015, but the mentally ill patient/ family American Psychiatric Association ther victimized by Hamilton County Watkins fatally stabbed her member is sent home for the fam- was that “Black people with men- Prosecutor Joe Deters who exploited daughter. When the trial began ily to supervise. tal health conditions, particularly the family’s tragedy by prosecuting April 2015, a judge ordered that According to the Ameri- schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, Watkins as a criminal and by sensa- Sue’s Wigs & Fashions, 11710 Buckeye Rd., is closing after 45 years Watkins undergo treatment and of serving customers in the neighborhood. The sign in the windows thanks cus- can Psychiatric Association, while and other psychoses are more like- tionalizing the crime in the press. He postponed her next court date the rates of mental illnesses in Af- ly to be incarcerated than people of down played the responsibilities of tomers for their patronage over the years. The Wigs & Fashion store was a six months. Med- landmark, and generations of customers all remember shopping at the store to rican Americans are similar with other races.” the medical professionals and staff at ical personnel without expertise get dresses for special occasions from Sunday church to high school gradua- those of the general population, As many mental disorder Job & Family Services. in postpartum psychosis exper- tions. disparities exist in regard to mental manifest themselves in early adult- Deters prosecuted her men- tise found Watkins competent to health care services. hood, Watkins’ family did every- tal illness and portrayed Watkins as stand trial in September 2015. Art event, mask giveaway to be held at Woodhill Estate “African Americans often thing they could to help her. a neglectful mother, “Bottom line,” According to court re- The 3 C’s (Coping, Crea- receive poorer quality of care and While she was placed on a Deters said, “:No one has the re- cords, Watkins was seen exhibit- ting, and Caring) will sponsor an arts and crafts event for kids at the Courtney Gousman Will Replace Danita Harris on News 5 ton University.