Tulsa World: Mental health agency buffeted by cuts

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Mental health agency buffeted by cuts
Mental health agency buffeted by budget cuts

By JULIE DELCOUR Associate Editor
Published: 11/22/2009 2:25 AM
Last Modified: 11/22/2009 4:39 AM

No day is a good time to slice $7.3 million more from an agency whose budget bones already are starting to protrude. But on a Friday the 13th, the grim task fell to the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services' board.

The cuts, as well as $9 million in other cuts exacted since the fiscal year began July 1, are occurring in a state with the highest rate of severe mental illness in the nation.

Given what probably lies ahead for state revenues, Oklahoma is in no danger of changing that grim reality. Nor will it be able to reduce high rates of substance abuse among its residents.

The revenue picture is bleak.

As matters stand, Oklahoma agencies face at least a 5 percent monthly cut through the balance of the fiscal year.

Every agency suffering these cuts has a constituency with needs, or that agency wouldn't exist.

Despite claims to the contrary, Oklahoma does not have a lot of frill bureaucracy.

Independent audits of some agencies — such as the Department of Corrections — don't find much waste, fraud or duplication.

This is what the latest round of cuts means to just one agency: About 100 employees will be subject to layoffs. There will be a net loss of about 36 adult substance abuse beds as well as the loss of all 40 children's mental health beds in the state when the Norman Alcohol and Drug Treatment Center, a 60-resident substance abuse facility, and the Children's Recovery Center, also in Norman, are merged. Cuts will require closing a men's treatment center in Tahlequah — the loss of 20 beds.

At Griffin Memorial Hospital's children's recovery center in Norman, $1 million will be saved by cutting staff and closing a building. Also being reduced are advocacy contracts, affecting the department's outreach and education programs, and recovery contracts.

Terri White, the state's mental health commissioner, said that on any given day the state has a waiting list of up to 900 Oklahomans trying to get a residential center substance abuse treatment bed. "About 90 percent of kids in Oklahoma who need substance abuse treatment don't get it," she said.

The mental health department employs about 2,200 people. About $200 million of the budget is state money, and $100 million is federal money.

Chronicling drastic cuts in government, hand-wringing and clucking are easy. What's harder is producing solutions. Unfortunately, there aren't many out there. Would "rainy day" fund or stimulus money stop the bleeding at hard-hit agencies? The answer is: some. But both of those sources are limited. Even if the dollars were parceled out, they would be exhausted by the end of fiscal year 2011. And, stimulus money often has strings attached.

Would rolling back income tax cuts, phased in during the past few years, help? Sure. But public support for those tax cuts was strong when times were good. Imagine the outcry if they were rolled back during these hard times. Legislative leadership will not even consider taking that action, especially with 2010 elections looming.

So the agency cuts will go on — 5 percent each month until further notice.

Even if the revenue trend were to reverse itself, it would take years for agencies to restore services and jobs. On Nov. 13, White called the latest cuts "devastating" and said they would result in increased costs to the state for incarceration, foster care, emergency room visits and public safety.

In one way or another, these cuts will affect all Oklahomans.

And what looms on the horizon if things worsen? With 7.5 percent cuts, more layoffs would occur at the mental health department and more services would be cut.

With 10 percent cuts, Oklahoma might never reduce its rates of severe mental illness and substance abuse.

Programs such as the Tulsa Homeless Shelter would be gutted.

Specialty services — successful drugs courts, for instance — could vanish. Instead of paying $5,000 to treat an individual in drug court, that person might be sent to prison at a cost of $19,000 annually.

"We are hoping and keeping our fingers crossed that this is it," White said. "It could get worse, that's what scares me. This agency cannot take any more cuts without even more dire consequences."

Mental Health is but one agency facing critical, life-altering issues. The scenario is repeated at other agencies. As Oklahoma's ship of state continues to take on water, it's clear there are not enough lifeboats for all agencies and programs to survive. For some, the cuts represent the undoing of years of struggle to improve the lives of one of this state's most vulnerable populations. All that incremental progress — gone.

Julie DelCour, 581-8379
julie.delcour@tulsaworld.com By JULIE DELCOUR Associate Editor

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	Report Comment drugeducator, tulsa (11/22/2009 7:37:34 AM) WHERE IS THE RAINY DAY FUND MONEY GOING.. IS THERE A HIGHER PRIORITY THAN MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE.... FOR YOUTH AND FOR ADULTS?
	Report Comment The Patriot, (11/24/2009 7:35:57 PM) Man this problem is enough to make you drink and drive you nuts. Maybe we should just report the good news. Everyone will feel better and maybe there wont be such a drastic need.
	Report Comment The Patriot, (11/24/2009 7:38:16 PM) Good news. We still have the lottery.

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