From the intro to a story by
Medill Reports:
Mayor Richard M. Daley intervened in a surprise move April 7 to save four South Side mental health clinics serving 2,000 people from closing their doors.
Daley revealed plans to halt the closings at a press conference at a point where leases for the facilities have already been cancelled.
“The mayor is right to halt the closure of the city mental health centers. These
closures pose real danger to the city’s public health safety net and put the well-being of many vulnerable individuals at risk,” said Henry Bayer, executive director of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees.
The closings had "been in motion for weeks,” said Tim Hadac, spokesman for the Chicago Department of Public Health. “Boxes [are] packed, furniture moved, leases cancelled, computer lines removed, staff reassigned, and most important, patients notified and counseled.”
But he confirmed the decision to delay the closings. “If the Mayor said it, you can believe it,” Hadac said.
A $2 billion hole in the State budget was given as the reason for state funding reductions for the mental health clinics, according to an August 2008 letter to the city from the Illinois Department of Health and Human Services.
The Chicago Department of Public Health lost $1.2 million in state funding.
The mental health clinics that were ready to close their doors are in Cottage Grove, Woodlawn, Beverly-Morgan Park, and Back of the Yards. Staff from these facilities expected to transfer to the remaining sites. The consolidation was not expected to result in any job losses or interruption of services to clients, said the department.
“Tax revenues, always a reflection of economic health, are not only flat but declining
steadily,” Hadac said. “We do not take any future funding for granted—nor should anyone.”
The four community mental health clinics were expected to close by April 8, leaving only eight facilities for patients to seek treatment. Currently, there is only enough funding for approximately seven or eight mental health teams out of 12, according to Hadac.
“Previously at each of the 12 clinics, there was simply not enough professional staff and support staff to serve patients effectively,” he said. “And frankly, that’s a disservice to the people who need service.”
Patients at the four clinics have been notified of the consolidation and made aware of other treatment options. Possibilities included choosing another community mental health clinic or private provider.
From the intro to a story by Medill Reports:
