Mental health, addiction services depend on levy

8:23 PM Saturday, October 31, 2009

It has been said that the measure of a community is the manner in which it cares for its most vulnerable citizens. By that measure, Clark County is a caring community.

Because Clark County has generously supported mental health and substance abuse services, we have a strong, comprehensive system of care that makes our communities better places to live, work and raise families.

We need your continued support to sustain programs and services the county relies on. Your “yes” vote on Issue 4 is critical.

Issue 4 is a renewal of an existing 1-mill levy which was last approved by the voters in 1998. It will not raise your taxes. We are asking that you only continue to do what you have been doing.

The cost of Issue 4 is $26.88 per year or just over $2 per month for a $100,000 home. This is a small cost for a big return.

Dollars generated by this levy support Mental Health Services, McKinley Hall, Elderly United, Strengthening Families, Marvin’s New Day House, Youth Challenges and many other programs which help kids, adults, and seniors.

If the levy fails, the money it provides will stop and drastic reductions to programs will occur. All the money generated by Issue 4 is used to support Clark County residents.

Each year about 8,500 Clark County kids, adults and seniors receive effective mental health and substance abuse treatment services; services that are supported by the levy.

The number of people getting help has increased by 85 percent since 2000.

In addition, many children and families benefit from programs that help families function more effectively, solve problems productively, and reduce the harmful effects of drug and alcohol abuse.

Clark County has long been a leader in community-based mental health and substance abuse treatment, but due to current economic problems ,we face very difficult challenges.

Because of cuts from the state, our local budget has been cut by about $1.5 million. The Mental Health & Recovery Board took its fair share of the cuts, but agencies also experienced significant funding reductions. Positions have been eliminated and wait lists are growing.

The levy will not make up for these state cuts, but if Issue 4 fails an additional $2 million in cuts will be necessary.

It would be very difficult for hardworking families that don’t have insurance or a medical card to get the help they deserve.

I do not believe this is what Clark County wants or has come to expect, because we are a caring community.

Please vote “yes” on Issue 4. Your “yes” vote will allow us to continue to support the excellent mental health and substance abuse safety net Clark County is known for and rightly proud of.

If you have questions, visit our web site at MHRB.org, click on Levy Central and look for the Clark County Button, or call 322-0648.

Dr. Kent Youngman is the CEO of Clark County Mental Health & Recovery Board.

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Congrats! Now, try to improve what you offer to the benefit of clients--instead of just worrying about your own jobs.

Espy
7:16 AM, 11/4/2009

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I wouldn't object to support IF the quality of services to those encountering mental/emotional problems were improved. MHS tugs our heart strings for funding and then provides second-rate service and disempowers depressed people (and others) with lack of frequent medication monitoring, no offered alternative treatments, and too many questionable diagnoses. They need to IMPROVE with the funds they already have to maintain continued support within the community.

Arius
9:45 AM, 11/2/2009

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There is too much waste within at Mental Health. When you pay doctors to see someone confined at your facility that doctor would provide more of a service to the patient if he ACTUALLY SAW THE PERSON instead of merely reading a few notes and billing the person's insurance for a full visit. He might find the person having side effects from the wrong medication or some more serious physical health condition that he/she could possibly help with--if that is what they mean by 'service'!

Neglected"Service"
4:54 PM, 11/1/2009

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"QUESTIONABLE" care pre-dates budgets cuts!

ExploitedByBigRxCo
11:54 AM, 11/1/2009

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There are people being treated for addiction or with known addictions who experience no continuity of care when they are prescribed addictive substances within the same system that professes to be 'treating' them. Until the system can helpfully address the needs of all they suggest to serve, we will no longer support any MH levy. What may seem 'effective' to you, is a potential menace to some.

QuestionableCare
11:36 AM, 11/1/2009

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