As a result of the lack of a state budget, starting July 1st, DeWitt County Human Resource Center will not longer offer mental services to its 500 patients.
Executive Director Lynn Scoville says the DeWitt County Human Resource Center board had to make the decision to shut mental health services after June 30.
The Pantagraph reports the center is looking for other health providers that can take over its programs, which includes outpatient therapy, counseling and crisis intervention, psychiatric emergencies, psychiatric services, attention to people with substance abuse as well as the programs for people with developmental disabilities.
However, Sharon Mills DeWitt County mental health board administrator says that there are not agencies in the area that can provide the same services DeWitt County Human Resource Center offers.
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Federal funding is not enough
65 percent of the center’s funding comes from the state and federal government, 20 percent comes from local property tax money and 15 percent from thrift shop operations and other income. Since last July, Illinois have not had a budget. The state owes the center $150,000, but because state grants have not been paid, Scoville says the Center does not have money.
According to Director Lynn Scoville, this mental center had to start reducing staff last August. Now there are not many personnel working in the center. He considers that this whole situation is cruel.
“We had to tell our clients in our developmental disabilities program last week that we couldn’t keep our doors open anymore,” said Scoville.
And to see the raw emotions on their face, the fear, and feeling discarded it’s heartbreaking.”
With tearing eyes, Scoville said that the center’s current goal was to make sure patients could be assisted in Illinois community.
Kleemann thrift shop will remain open until they sell all the merchandise because HUD-funded is now funded. The closing of this mental health center has already started to upset clients who are being currently affected by Illinois budget issue.
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An HRC client and Encore employee Maria Sinclair said she was not happy at all with HCR shutting because she has a child that she needs to think about. For her, all this situation is very frustrating because she does not know where to go now and that makes it scary.
For her, all this situation is very frustrating because she does not know where to go now and that makes it scary.
Source: Herald Review