Finance committee OKs mental health positions
NORWICH – Barring any unusual action taken at next month’s board meeting, the Chenango County Mental Hygiene Department will have more resources next year to treat mentally ill teens.
Members of the Finance Committee approved Wednesday - with opposition from only one town supervisor - the hiring of four employees to create the $250,000 state-funded Child and Family Clinic-Plus program. Dennis Brown, D-Pharsalia, voted against the measure.
With the added staff, there are 42 full and part-time employees listed on the department’s 2007 budget. Officials have said the clinic treats 1,200 individuals, including between 200 and 300 youths.
Brown has spoken out often against adding staff and the fringe benefit costs that compile as a result. He questioned the possibility of duplicating the efforts of the public schools and other youth service agencies in the county.
Over the last two months, other supervisors expressed concern about whether the county’s share of Medicaid costs would increase and questioned the “real” cost of adding staff. Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Richard B. Decker asked that the measure be tabled last month in order to hold discussions with Chenango County Catholic Charities.
Yesterday, Brown initially stated that he was opposed to the 9.6 percent increase in the entire 2007 mental health budget, and would vote against it. The department’s budget, which is funded annually by more than $2 million in Medicaid revenues, cost local taxpayers about $167,000 last year.
At the meeting, however, Spryn proceeded to make last-minute corrections in state aid allotments that resulted in no local share increase on the levy. To further support her case, she pointed to the types of teens currently seen and the need for additional staff. “As an example, we have a 16-year-old who is accompanied by the police when she comes ... who needs to be hospitalized ... she wants to die and cuts herself. These are the types of individuals we see, and we need to do a better job of seeing them,” she said.
Department of Social Services Commissioner Bette Osborne told members of the Personnel Committee recently that Child and Family-Clinic Plus program would be entirely funded by Medicaid. She also said DSS currently monitors and pays subsidies for 45 adoption cases in the county. “There is a significant need to assess for mental health issues with these youth and their adoptive parents so as to avoid a disruption,” she said. Early intervention could also help the taxpayers avoid costly residential/detention placements. Residential placements run anywhere from $85,000 for $150,000 per year, with most of the cost at local expense. “On top of that is the human cost to that child and their family,” Osborne said.
Wayne C. Outwater, R-Lincklaen, moved the budget, seconded by Richard Schlag, D-German.
Members of the Finance Committee approved Wednesday - with opposition from only one town supervisor - the hiring of four employees to create the $250,000 state-funded Child and Family Clinic-Plus program. Dennis Brown, D-Pharsalia, voted against the measure.
With the added staff, there are 42 full and part-time employees listed on the department’s 2007 budget. Officials have said the clinic treats 1,200 individuals, including between 200 and 300 youths.
Brown has spoken out often against adding staff and the fringe benefit costs that compile as a result. He questioned the possibility of duplicating the efforts of the public schools and other youth service agencies in the county.
Over the last two months, other supervisors expressed concern about whether the county’s share of Medicaid costs would increase and questioned the “real” cost of adding staff. Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Richard B. Decker asked that the measure be tabled last month in order to hold discussions with Chenango County Catholic Charities.
Yesterday, Brown initially stated that he was opposed to the 9.6 percent increase in the entire 2007 mental health budget, and would vote against it. The department’s budget, which is funded annually by more than $2 million in Medicaid revenues, cost local taxpayers about $167,000 last year.
At the meeting, however, Spryn proceeded to make last-minute corrections in state aid allotments that resulted in no local share increase on the levy. To further support her case, she pointed to the types of teens currently seen and the need for additional staff. “As an example, we have a 16-year-old who is accompanied by the police when she comes ... who needs to be hospitalized ... she wants to die and cuts herself. These are the types of individuals we see, and we need to do a better job of seeing them,” she said.
Department of Social Services Commissioner Bette Osborne told members of the Personnel Committee recently that Child and Family-Clinic Plus program would be entirely funded by Medicaid. She also said DSS currently monitors and pays subsidies for 45 adoption cases in the county. “There is a significant need to assess for mental health issues with these youth and their adoptive parents so as to avoid a disruption,” she said. Early intervention could also help the taxpayers avoid costly residential/detention placements. Residential placements run anywhere from $85,000 for $150,000 per year, with most of the cost at local expense. “On top of that is the human cost to that child and their family,” Osborne said.
Wayne C. Outwater, R-Lincklaen, moved the budget, seconded by Richard Schlag, D-German.
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