The tragic consequecnces of the Governor's State budget was felt deeply by our community yesterday. The Mental Health and Recovery Board at it's meeting yesterday took action to end programming at Changing Seasons peer support center as of December 31. The lease for the space will continue until June 30 and a grant for an outreach worker was put into place. The Board was placed in the difficult position of having to choose between funding 1000's of hours of psychiatric services and case management or supportive services for clients.
Family members who belong to NAMI voiced their concern but also vowed to work with Lutheran Social Serivces and the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board to keep the spirit of Changing Seasons alive through collaborative efforts, volunteers, and students from local universities and businesses that might be willing to partner.
Over 40 people a day attend Changing Seasons.
Tammie Colon, Vice President of Behavioral Health at Lutheran said that staff were crying when she delivered the news last week.
The Mental Health System is still in a state of shock that state lawmakers and the Governor would deliver cuts to a system that cares for persons with brain disorders while other systems remained unscathed. The Governor's promise to protect the most vulnerable Ohioans falls on deaf ears when those with a biologically based brain disorder are singled out for reduced care.
Over the next weeks and months our system will need the help of the whole community to stand shoulder to shoulder in providing care for these people who deserve our help. Volunteers will be needed to work with an outreach staff in order to keep Changing Seasons open for a few hours each day. Businesses will be sought out who might be looking to co-locate downtown. Colleges and Universities will be contacted and students asked to volunteer their time so that during the coldest months of the year these vulnerable Ohioans will have a place.
We need your help.
Mike Schoenhofer
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment