Association Statement on Governor Brownback’s Mental Health Initiative
The Governor's announcement today
stabilizes
funding
for
our
Community
Mental
Health
Centers
and redirects focus of some of our resources on what can be done effectively and efficiently for those who are uninsured and underinsured and who are at greatest risk for psychiatric inpatient admission, incarceration,
contact with the criminal justice
system, out of home placement, homelessness, etc.
The Community Mental Health Centers
and the entire public mental health system
are excited to have this focus placed
on the mental health system
and the needs of those who rely on it for their
care. We must do what we can to make
community
based mental
health services affordable and accessible
to all Kansans
through the State's
publicly funded mental
health safety net system -
our Community Mental
Health Centers.
If we as
a
State
fail
to do so, the impact
of
mental
illness will be devastating on the individual,
our communities, and will cost our State more money in the long run.
We must act because it is the right thing to do. Investing in community-based mental health treatment can
and will save our State resources, particularly at a time when we are evaluating the best return on our tax dollars. We know that
good
mental
health
enhances
the
workplace; children - learn better in a school environment where early
intervention
of
mental
health
services
is
available,· effective
community-based mental health treatment ·and supports promote
economic
stability
by
permitting
persons
with
a
serious mental illness to old meaningful jobs and maintain
productive lives in their own communities; and families stay healthier and grow stronger when affordable access to mental
health services are readily available.
We express our gratitude and appreciation to the Governor, the Lt. Governor
and Secretary Sullivan
for this opportunity not only to protect
key resources, but to also work together
to prioritize how these resources
can be best utilized for adults, children
and families who are most at-risk.
We look forward to working closely
with
the
Governor 's Mental Health Services Planning Council to examine
our public mental health system
and make recommendations
for improvements and additional investments for the future.
Having this initiative included in the Governor’s Budget Recommendations for FY 2014, it is our hope that the 2013 Legislature will support this proposal, once again, because it is the right thing to do.
Micheal J. Hammond
Executive Director
Association of Community Mental Health Center of Kansas
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