You might be interested in a policy that was in place in Alaska not too
many years ago (20-30). Essentially anyone who "walked funny, talked
funny or looked funny" was arrested (!) and then sent out of state.
Children (yes) were often sent to Baby Louise Haven in Oregon, and youth,
and adults were sent to Morningside Institution. There was a law suit put
forth by a father of one boy who had been sent and subsequently, after
many years, the policy was rescinded and everyone was being sent back to
Alaska....well, not everyone...and the law suit provided a huge chunk
of money plus the profits from the sale of valuable land was to be used
to support the returnees (primarily mental health). Naturally the money
was squandered and the land developed. Since then there was another law
suit and the finale is that what is left of the land plus other designated
areas was put into a trust and the money earmarked for people being served
by several state agencies: the mental health board, aging and dementia,
developmental disabilities and special ed, alcohol and drug abuse. There
is a trust board to govern the money and its allocations. So the "ugly"
laws in Alaska has resulted in a windfall of steady funding from a land
trust..... fascinating, eh.
By the way, if there is anyone on this list (or elsewhere) who knows
anything about the two institutions in Oregon that I mentioned, I would
love any information I can get. Thanks.
ciao, Phyl
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