Mental health services to expand

By Samantha Pidde
Herald Staff Writer

June 30, 2009 10:33 am

— CLINTON — For those on a waiting list for help for mental health services, the wait will soon be over.
Clinton County Mental Health Coordinator Becky Eskildsen presented a report to the Clinton County Board of Supervisors during its Monday morning meeting. Eskildsen said that for the past couple years, the Mental Health department has had a mental health waiting list for those seeking help from the department’s various programs. This list was allowed as long as the program’s funds were completely encumbered. Currently 86 individuals are on this list.
Eskildsen said this will change with additional funding entering the programs from stimulus packages. She said most of the 86 individuals were asking for vocational services. Eskildsen said the office will be able to provide services for everyone on the list. This would take all of the program’s funds and a new waiting list would be enacted.
Chairman Dennis Starling voiced concerns of what would happen when the money dries up. Eskildsen said this stimulus money is expected to run out near the end of 2010. However, Eskildsen and Patti Robinson, Case Management Director, agreed that these programs are ones that people often go in and out of.
“Chances are, I'm thinking this is vocational, really truly if 86 people take a vocational slot, if you will, in a year and a half, maybe 20 people will still be in the services,” said Eskildsen.
Eskildsen said, however, in the case that funding is scarce and they had a difficult time supporting all of the programs, there are options. She said some counties have looked into cutting the amount of days a program is held. Eskildsen said she believes they could find cuts to make if necessary.
“A year from now, isn't it kind of cruel though to put some of these people in that program and then take the funding away and kick them back out,” said Starling.
“The bottom line is we could not have a waiting list right now unless we take those people off,” said Eskildsen.
Eskildsen said she could see Starling’s point that this could be a quick patch instead of a permanent solution.
“But the good news is that the folks who have been on our waiting list for the last couple of years will now have an opportunity to access those services,” said Eskildsen.