|
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, November 10, 2004
| Contact: |
Mark
Freedman, Thurston/Mason Regional Support Network Manager, 360-786-5585 |
|
Mark Bolton, Associate Corrections Administrator,
360-754-2931 |
Thurston
County
Officials
Urge
State
to Replace Mental Health Funds
OLYMPIA
– Thurston County Commissioners, along with officials in Public Health and
Social Services and the Law and Justice system, are urging state lawmakers to
find a way to replace some significant mental health program funding.
The loss of funding comes after the Federal Government informed the
state that it can no longer use certain Medicaid funds to pay for some
community-based mental health programs. The
change means a loss of about $40,000,000 statewide and a reduction of
$1.6-Million in Thurston and
Mason
Counties
. Mark Freedman of Thurston County
Public Health and Social Services says about 30-percent of the currently
qualified folks in the county will lose support.
“As many as 1,500 people who now receive treatment will no longer be
able to obtain counseling and medications if this gap is not filled.
That’s a whole segment of our population, from the elderly to
children and a lot of folks in between, who will not be receiving the
assistance they need.”
Some of those affected by the loss of program
funds will wind up taxing the criminal justice system, emergency rooms and
homeless shelters according to Associate Corrections Administrator Mark
Bolton. “Some folks will find
themselves in crisis because of this situation and that means they may act out
in an inappropriate way. That
could mean a trip to the emergency room, it could also mean they will come to
the attention of law enforcement and wind up in jail and it may mean they will
seek assistance from homeless shelter programs.
In a larger sense, it also means challenges for the entire criminal
justice system as some of these individuals move in and out of the jail and
the courts.”
Thurston County Commissioner Cathy Wolfe says the
timing of the cutback could not be worse.
“We have really made strides the past few years in our efforts to
help people in the community who have mental health challenges.
We have an Evaluation and Treatment Facility and
Triage
Center
about to open, we have expanded mental health diversion programs in the jail
and we are working on new programs like a mental health court.
Now, to lose valuable funding is just like a train wreck that affects
everyone.”
Wolfe says she hopes the legislature will find a
way to help solve the funding problem. “It’s
imperative that state lawmakers provide some assistance in this regard, not
only for the hundreds of affected people in our county but for the thousands
statewide. We will be talking with
our local lawmakers and we hope
Thurston
County
residents will also contact their legislators and let them know about their
concerns regarding this issue.”
Those who wish more information on the mental
health funding issue, can view the newest edition of “Thurston County
Connection” on Thurston Community Television.
The program will begin its month-long run on Friday, November 19th
on cable channel 3 in most of
Thurston
County
. It will run Friday’s at 7 PM,
Saturday’s at Noon and Sundays at 8 PM.
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