Mental-health officials hoping stimulus funds restore programs

When stimulus money arrives, the board will restore cuts to the extent it can.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — Local mental- health officials are still waiting to learn how much federal stimulus package money it will receive, and if it will be enough to offset budget cuts and restore the resulting program cuts.

Mahoning County Mental Board of Health members have said they want to restore, to the degree possible, cuts made earlier in the year using stimulus money.

However, the amount of stimulus money that will come here through the Ohio Department of Mental Health is undetermined, said Ronald Marian, board executive director.

Budget reductions for fiscal 2009 (July 1, 2008-June 30, 2009), totaling $448,755, were made necessary by two state department of mental health subsidy cuts during fiscal year 2009 totaling $687,021.

Agencies sustaining the larger cuts are: Burdman Group, $35,278; D&E Counseling, $67,750; Turning Point Counseling, $172,030; Mahoning County Juvenile Court, $9,000, and local hospital inpatient contracts for psychiatric unit beds, $100,000.

When the stimulus money arrives, the board will restore cuts to the extent it can, Marian said.

During the board meeting Thursday, Duane Piccirilli, director of Help Hotline Crisis Center, said Help Hotline and Mahoning Valley Dispute Resolution plan to submit a grant application to Youngstown for stimulus funds for homeless prevention.

Also, Piccirilli said he is working with U.S. Reps. Timothy Ryan of Niles, D-17th, and John Boccieri of New Middletown, D-16th, regarding financing for public-service announcements that will target military veteran’s mental health.

He said the Youngstown Foundation awarded a grant to Help Hotline to buy time for the PSAs. In addition, the board appropriated $1,000 Thursday to pay for PSAs about veteran mental health during May, Mental Health Month.

alcorn@vindy.com