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CLEAR Temp: 27 °F Wind: S at 4 mph Monday, February 10, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend January 30, 2003 Mental health speciaoist Kathy Lewis is one of 22 county mental health workers who will lose their jobs come Feb. 28. About 2,000 clients will see their services reduced or eliminated because of the statewide cuts. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell The state of the state ECONOMY in CRISIS County mental health workers lose their jobs; their patients lose health care By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune On Tuesday, Kathy Lewis talked to 50 anxious people, screened half of them for mental illness and counseled seven who were considering suicide. On Wednesday, the Jackson County mental health specialist learned she’s losing her job — and many of her vulnerable clients are losing their services. Lewis, a 49-year-old single mother of two teenagers, is among 22 county mental health workers who received layoff notices effective Feb. 28. "I’m still considering what I’m going to do," said Lewis, who may have the option of "bumping" into a lower-scale job at less pay. "I don’t know if there will even be a job to bump into." Lewis is part of a second wave of cuts totaling nearly 40 percent of the county mental health staff. They come as Jackson County officials struggle to meet state mandates to pare at least $1.2 million — $103,000 a month — from this year’s mental health budget. Passage of Tuesday’s defeated Measure 28 income tax proposal would have had no impact on these cuts, which were triggered by reductions in Oregon Health Plan benefits and state general funds. But front-line workers and administrators agree that the cuts will gut all but minimal mental health services in the county. "It won’t be a community health program any more. It will be something less than that," said Hank Collins, director of county health and human services. "I’m presiding over the dismantling of a system that has done good work." Starting March 1, services will be eliminated or reduced for about 2,000 clients seen each month. Some 600 community clients will be turned away, Collins said. That includes people in crisis as well as those in ongoing therapy. "If you don’t qualify for OHP, there’s almost nothing we can do for you," Collins said. Of the 21,000 OHP clients in the county, one in four will lose their services as part of the statewide reductions, Collins said. Even those who are eligible will receive less care as strapped staff members struggle with fewer resources. The prospect worries Ilene Goldman, a mental health specialist with 18 years’ experience. "We’re going to see more suicides," she said flatly. "You’re going to see suicides like you’ve never seen before." Other mentally ill people will show up on police logs and in hospital emergency rooms, said Monte Walters, a mental health specialist. "There’s going to be more crazy people in jail," he said. Unlike past layoffs, these cuts haven’t triggered much animosity between program administrators and front-line workers, said Walters, who is the shop steward for the Jackson County Employees Association. Instead, Walters reserves his wrath for a state system that places the burden of taxation largely on individuals instead of corporations. And he faults state leaders who, he said, allowed the situation to occur. "This time it’s obvious we’re being screwed by the Legislature," he said. The state Legislature could change or forestall cuts to mental health services and elsewhere, added Collins. "I keep thinking, ‘Look at how deep these cuts are; there must be a reprieve,’" he said. "But I don’t know that there will be." Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S