State increases aid to help keep county’s mentally ill in their homes
NORWICH – Catholic Charities of Chenango County will receive an influx of about $47,000 to keep those suffering from mental illness in their homes and out of psychiatric centers in New York.
The state aid will flow to Catholic Charities through a long-standing contract with Chenango County Community Mental Hygiene Services to provide supported housing. The funds are available to qualified individuals for rent and security deposits, furniture, household basics and minor repairs, such as ramps.
A resolution adopted by the Board of Supervisors this month stated that the amount equated to a total of six additional beds. Mental Hygiene already contracts with the not-for-profit for 22 beds.
Catholic Charities Director Jane Coddington said later, however, that the amount of beds doesn’t actually correlate to individuals.
“It’s just terminology,” she said, explaining that in 2008, Catholic Charities had 44 beds funded directly by the New York State Office of Mental Health (some of which were operated by the agency) and that number translated into serving 1,183 people.
MHS Administration Services Office Tom Crounse said the amount is for a slot that could be occupied by any number of individuals. “One year in a slot could see more than 12 people, or an endless number,” he said.
During a discussion of accepting the revenue, Supervisor Peter C. Flanagan, D-Preston, asked whether Chenango County applied for the funds or were offered them.
Health and Human Services Committee Chairman Jeffrey Blanchard, R-Pitcher, said the state automatically increased local revenues for the existing contract because the state’s psychiatric centers would be closing.
With the recently signed New York State budget, the Office of Mental Health is expected to eliminate an estimated 450 beds from its inpatient psychiatric system, or 11 percent, and move those patients to more appropriate settings.
“The whole idea is to help people with serious and persistent mental illness manage their illness at home,” said Coddington.
At its peak in 1955, New York state’s psychiatric hospital system had more than 90,000 beds. The Healthcare Association reported 5,000 last year.
The state aid will flow to Catholic Charities through a long-standing contract with Chenango County Community Mental Hygiene Services to provide supported housing. The funds are available to qualified individuals for rent and security deposits, furniture, household basics and minor repairs, such as ramps.
A resolution adopted by the Board of Supervisors this month stated that the amount equated to a total of six additional beds. Mental Hygiene already contracts with the not-for-profit for 22 beds.
Catholic Charities Director Jane Coddington said later, however, that the amount of beds doesn’t actually correlate to individuals.
“It’s just terminology,” she said, explaining that in 2008, Catholic Charities had 44 beds funded directly by the New York State Office of Mental Health (some of which were operated by the agency) and that number translated into serving 1,183 people.
MHS Administration Services Office Tom Crounse said the amount is for a slot that could be occupied by any number of individuals. “One year in a slot could see more than 12 people, or an endless number,” he said.
During a discussion of accepting the revenue, Supervisor Peter C. Flanagan, D-Preston, asked whether Chenango County applied for the funds or were offered them.
Health and Human Services Committee Chairman Jeffrey Blanchard, R-Pitcher, said the state automatically increased local revenues for the existing contract because the state’s psychiatric centers would be closing.
With the recently signed New York State budget, the Office of Mental Health is expected to eliminate an estimated 450 beds from its inpatient psychiatric system, or 11 percent, and move those patients to more appropriate settings.
“The whole idea is to help people with serious and persistent mental illness manage their illness at home,” said Coddington.
At its peak in 1955, New York state’s psychiatric hospital system had more than 90,000 beds. The Healthcare Association reported 5,000 last year.
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