While many other cuts are being considered, the largest are in Mental Health services:
The county could realize up to $2.4 million in savings through reductions to mental health services, which would eliminate 91.4 full-time jobs.
Employees of Community Supports and Treatment Services, the public agency in Washtenaw County that provides mental health services to people with developmental disabilities, mental illness, and substance abuse problems, work for Washtenaw County. The County's proposal so far is to eliminate over 90 positions at CSTS. ALL vocational programs, including several day programs, PACE groups, job coaches, and enclaves will either be eliminated or contracted out in this proposal.
The exact impact of this is uncertain. The WCHO gets about 10% of its funds from the county. At a Washtenaw Community Health Organization Board meeting earlier this year, it appeared that county cuts would not have much impact because the WCHO relies mostly on state and federal funds and the agency has been successful in obtaining grants that make more funds available.
The WCHO has sent out a letter to consumers with the following paragraph:
At the request of the County, Donna Sabourin, Executive Director of CSTS, submitted an impact statement to the Washtenaw Board of Commissioners showing the possible impact of cuts in county funding. The proposal listed possible position reductions, and potential outsourcing, cutbacks and/or elimination of various CSTS operated programs. While it is necessary for CSTS to clearly identify reduction options and scenarios for the Board of Commissioners, the WCHO has an obligation - under state law and federal waiver requirements - to make available certain services to particular priority groups and eligible beneficiaries, within the constraints of the funds appropriated by the Legislature for these purposes and populations. To meet these obligations, the WCHO’s contract with CSTS for the budget year that begins October 1st may stipulate provision of programs/services that are different from those currently prioritized by CSTS for retention, reduction or elimination.
No final decisions have been made with regard to program, provider, or service changes.
At this point, questions about the letter to consumers should be directed to Sally Amos O'Neal from WCHO Customer Service: Phone: (734) 544-6807 Email: amoss@ewashtenaw.org
In the meantime, most of the groups that are being affected by the cuts have raised Holy Hell at recent meetings of the County Commissioners. I think it's time to make the concerns of people with developmental disabilities heard, but we need more information. The next Board meeting of the WCHO is on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Learning Resource Center at 4135 Washtenaw, Ann Arbor, MI (enter from Hogback Road, near the Washtenaw Ave. Interstate 23 overpass).
There is time for audience participation at the beginning and end of the meeting.
Other meetings coming up are the County Ways and Means committee on 9/2/09 6:30 to 6:45 followed by the Board of Commissioners from 6:45 - 8:00 pm. Check the calendar here for information on the location of these meetings and contact information.
I am not sure yet which are the most important meetings to attend, but let's begin with the WCHO Board meeting on Tuesday August 18, 2009 so that we can ask some pertinent questions about what is happening. Even if all the services are outsourced, these kinds of cuts will gut the CSTS of experienced employees, which can't help but have a huge impact on our family members.
I will send updates when they are available. If any of you have any information or questions about this, let me know.
This and further information will be posted on my blog at theddnewsblog.blogspot.com
Jill Barker
Friends of the Developmentally Disabled
jillrbarker@sbcglobal.net
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