Submitted by mental health worker (not verified) on Mon, 06/30/2008 - 7:56am.
She is correct, that there are major problems with SEMHC... They are completely out of money, but while she's at it why doesn't she ask about the ISPERS Funding that’s gone... for those of you who don't know what that is, that is a state fund used to provide services to individuals with severe mental illness, normally to qualify for this funding you have to be dually diagnosed... Were not talking about your people with depression, which granted they need services too, but we're talking about your most profoundly severe people, downs syndrome, severe Mental Retardation, Autism, etc, that have been going to day programs called ADVP.... the institutions and group homes that help house these individuals are also being shut down, the housing allowance they assisted these people with, are being taken away, so those that were trying to maintain independence and live on their own, will no longer be able to do so.... Forget Senator Boseman and all of her shortfalls, and take a look at the bigger picture, this state's mental health system in a mess, and let me just tell you, the worse the economy is, the more mental health services is needed.... I feel so sorry for these families, that have loved ones w/ these profound mental disabilities that are no longer going to have any services, and a big part of that problem is state issues, and the other part is SEMHC, I think both need to be completely revamped, starting at the top and working down.... Hate to say it but I don't think an audit is going to make things any better... but then again I guess SEMHC, and the state thought their Million dollar land, and their million dollar building would....
both are at fault...