MAHONING COUNTY New mental health board president sets goals, plans merger

Hudson said the merger of the two mental health agencies will reduce costs and expand services.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR HEALTH WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The successful merger of Parkview Counseling and Eastern Behavioral Health centers is among the top goals of Rufus G. Hudson, new president of the Mahoning County Mental Health Board.
Hudson, the city's 2nd Ward councilman and a business analyst at Youngstown State University's Cushwa Center, was elected Tuesday to a one-year term as president.
Other board officers include: Andrew Hamady, first vice president; James Tripp, second vice president; the Rev. Nicholas Shori, treasurer; and Gloria Gross, secretary.
Hudson said the merger of the two mental health services agencies into one with multiple locations will eliminate duplicate positions, thereby reducing cost, while expanding the capacity to provide services to the community.
The bottom line, he said, is that delivering mental health services with one organization makes better sense for the clients and the taxpayer, he said.
Hudson said the director of Parkview, Thomas Racich, is retiring, effective Dec. 31, and he expects Joseph Sylvester, director of Eastern Behavioral Services, will be named director of the new combined agency.
On list of goals
Other goals listed by Hudson are to develop a link with YSU to provide a stream of high-quality people to replace those who retire from or leave area mental health agencies; and to make sure the proposed mental health court becomes a reality.
"Mentally ill people don't need to be criminalized for something they can't help," he said.
Hudson, who replaces John Burgan as president, served seven years on the Parkview board before becoming appointed to the county mental health board in 1997.
In other action, the board approved fiscal year 2003 contracts or grants for:
UForensic Psychiatric Center, $31,860 for forensic monitoring costs of clients in the hospital and those returned to the community under conditional release by the court.
UAtty. Samuel Amendolara, $45 per hour with a guaranteed minimum of nine hours per week, as a retainer to represent the board at civil commitment hearings and other legal issues.
UFamilies In Touch, $6,500, support group for families of the mentally ill.
UAll Children Learn Differently School and Learning Center, $29,500, for individual and group counseling.
alcorn@vindy.com