Hi. I'm writing for my friend whose adult sister has schizophrenia and has  
been in county or state-run care facilities for many years.  My friend has serious  
health problems of her own and limited finances, so it's been really hard for her  
to help her sister, but she tries. And she's really frustrated. I'm trying to help by   
seeing if any of you have ideas about how my friend can help her sister get better care.

They are in southern California.   Sister is currently being evaluated again in a   
hospital in Orange County.  My friend also lives in Orange County, and would like  
to see the sister stay somewhere in the area after this evaluation, so she could  
get to her more often.  Sister was previously in Los Angeles County, and it wasn't  
a good situation in many ways.  Not sure if they'll send her back there, but the quality of  
care wasn't good.  The people in charge weren't very cooperative with my friend when  
when she'd try to get things improved, either. My friend has tried to talk with an Ombudsman,  
and with patient advocates.  She also tried NAMI.  She just wants better care for her sister.

Can any of you suggest some other people or places that my friend can contact, to try to  
get some real help in advocating for her sister?  I also have crummy health and not much  
money, or I'd do something myself to really help.  All I can do right now is try to ask  
people like you, if you can think of anyone or any place my friend can get in touch with,  
as her sister really needs better care--and she deserves it.  Thanks.   SD-starr7