Mental Health aims to keep core programs

By William k. Alcorn

The failing economy is creating a greater need for mental health services.

YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning County Mental Health officials are scrambling to find ways to maintain core programs after anticipated state subsidy cuts are enacted in January.

“We are looking at ways to absorb the state cuts without damaging our core programs, which served 10,000 county residents last year,” said Toni Notaro, agency administrative director.

Core programs, which operate independently but receive funding from the county mental health board, include: Burdman Group, Catholic Charities Regional Agency, D&E Counseling Center, Family Service Agency, Help Hotline Crisis Center, Meridian Services, Mahoning County Community Support Network and Turning Point Counseling Services.

At the same time as the second cut in its state subsidy is expected this fiscal year, the failing economy is creating even more need for services provided by mental health agencies, officials said.

Last October, the agency received a $131,775 reduction. Because the agency’s fiscal year runs from July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2009, the budget for the year was already in place. That means the local agency had to adjust for cuts they were not expecting when they put the budget together, said William Carbonell, director of clinical programs and evaluation.

The state has said it plans to cut the Ohio Department of Mental Health’s budget by 5.75 percent early next month, which equates to about $30 million-$31 million in direct cuts to community mental health services over the next six months, according to National Alliance on Mental Illness, Ohio.

The 5.7 percent cut is across-the-board to all state agencies. But, at this time it is not known what the reduction will mean in dollars to county mental health agencies because the ODMH will dole out reductions based on a formula as yet undetermined, said Karen S. Schwarz, Mahoning mental health fiscal director.

Nonetheless, the agency staff is meeting to develop options to bring to its board of directors when the actual subsidy reduction is known.

“We’re being proactive and not waiting until the last minute to plan how we can make budget adjustments without damaging our core programs,” Notaro said.

For instance, one thing that might be put on hold is a capital project to provide 20-25 permanent housing units for the mentally ill. With the cuts, the agency will not have money for the local match needed to pursue a $500,000 grant for the project, Carbonell said.

While the staff will not recommend to the board that core service agencies be cut off, the fear is that clients may encounter a longer waiting period to access services, Notaro said.

What has saved the agency programs so far are the two levies passed by county residents. A 0.85-mill property tax was renewed in November 2008. The other is a five-year, 0.5-mill tax. The two generate a combined estimated $4 million a year, local officials said.

Other major funding sources for the 2007-08 fiscal year were $6.8 million through the state Department of Mental Health and $5.4 million in federal Medicaid money.

State mental health officials, in communications sent to local mental health leaders, said a Federal stimulus package, if it happens, could ease the effects of the state funding cut. However, they said there is no certainty that there will be a stimulus package or how much it will be. Based on an increase in federal financial participation in Medicaid, the medical services plan for welfare recipients and other low-income people, there may be $12 million-$14 million in additional federal funds, state officials said.

“I just hope we’re not in the same place again in six months, having discussions on how to absorb even more cuts,” Notaro said.

alcorn@vindy.com