California overhauls mental health department
I've mixed feelings about this. While I strongly support expanding much needed mental health services in state hospitals and prisons this will also shift the costs for much needed outpatient services to CA counties. Both the State and the Counties are in severe budget crunches, so a tough trade off all around. ~ pinto
California overhauls mental health department
By JUDY LIN, Associated Press
Monday, December 12, 2011
California is overhauling its mental health services program to concentrate care on the most serious patients residing in state mental hospitals and prisons.
But the cost-cutting move is raising concerns about patient care from state workers, because it would eliminate 620 positions to save $193 million next year.
The state will hand off more responsibility for public mental health programs to counties as part of Gov. Jerry Brown's ongoing push to move services to California's local governments.
The administration says the move will allow the state to form a new Department of State Hospitals that focuses exclusively on 6,300 patients in state hospitals and prisons.
This week the Department of Mental Health will start with a pilot program at Atascadero State Hospital to treat its most aggressive patients.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/12/12/state/n115220S68.DTL#ixzz1gM7WMqHK
Copyright Associated Press. All rights reserved.
© 2011 Hearst Communications Inc.
= new reply since forum marked as read
