Cuts coming to county programs
Mental health, substance abuse treatment, disability programs could be affected
by Kali Schumitz, Staff Writer
http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/article/20120717/NEWS/707179955/1117/cuts-coming-to-county-programs&template=fairfaxTimes

While making it clear they are unhappy with the situation, the Fairfax County Human Services Council likely will recommend the county reduce mental health and substance abuse treatment, as well as programs for people with disabilities.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors charged the council with working with the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board to address the CSB’s budget shortfall. The joint working group spent more than a month collecting input on potential cuts from service recipients and other stakeholders.

CSB, which provides addiction treatment services, mental health services and programs for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, is facing a $9.4 million budget shortfall, primarily because of receiving less state funding and other revenues than the organization anticipated.

During county budget deliberations earlier this year, Supervisors set aside about $4.2 million to offset reductions in state and federal funding. The remaining $5.2 million shortfall will need to come from cuts in services.

“We are now addressing something with Band-Aids, rather than a full [budget] process,” said Kevin Bell, chairman of the Human Services Council, expressing his group’s frustration that the issue did not arise during the regular county budget process.

If the issue had come up sooner, there might have been other alternatives, he added.

The proposed cuts would limit services to children and adults with intellectual disabilities, threaten a local nonprofit that operates a regional suicide hotline, and reduce the availability of addiction treatment.

“The council is very distressed that some of our most threatened citizens ... will not receive services they need,” reads the draft memo from the council to the Supervisors. The group was working to put the finishing touches on the memo on Monday. “However, the reality is that our local resources cannot be stretched further.”

Cutting the CSB’s contract with CrisisLink, the nonprofit that runs the suicide hotline, might force the organization out of business, said Jane Woods, interim co-chair of the CSB. Other jurisdictions also have reduced their support for CrisisLink.

“But the services will still be provided and there will still be a place for volunteers to volunteer,” Woods said. Under the proposal, CSB would retain some funding to support a facility staffed by volunteers.

When the Human Services Council formally presents its recommendations to Supervisors later this month, its representatives also will suggest the county reassess its relationship with CSB and re-evaluate how the organization fits into the overall delivery system for human services in the county.

The local CSB is part of a statewide system, although it receives significant local funding to facilitate a wider reach for its services.

“It was clear in what I heard that the CSB board was not functioning up to its expectations,” said Stephanie Mensh, the Mason District representative to the Human Services Council.

In addition, the council is suggesting the board lobby state officials to encourage the state to fulfill its funding obligation for early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities.

“This is one of the most important services provided in the commonwealth, to identify these kids early,” Bell said.

Proposed service cuts:
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The Human Services Council is recommending the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board make the following program cuts to save $5.2 million:
Leave 20 to 25 positions open at a time, rather than immediately filling vacancies. Projected savings, $1.1 million.
Eliminate scheduled rate increases for contracted services. Projected savings, $1.1 million.
Delay start of early intervention services for children newly referred to the Infant and Toddler Connection program. Projected savings, $1 million; projected waiting list, 150 families.
Limit new funds for employment and day services for adults with intellectual disabilities who have graduated from Fairfax County Public Schools. This could be achieved by reducing the rate paid to contractors, or by reducing the amount of services each client receives. Projected savings, $725,000.
Cancel a planned expansion of intensive services for homeless people who have a combination of substance abuse, mental illness and medical issues. Projected savings, $619,797; projected service reduction, 50 to 60 individuals per year.
Limit prevention services to those funded by a state and federal grant for preventing youth substance abuse and providing mental health first aid. Projected savings, $376,395.
Reduce staffing for youth inpatient treatment for mental health issues and substance abuse, resulting in increased wait time for services. Projected savings, $185,226; estimated 50 to 60 youth and families affected.
Cancel a planned expansion of emergency mental health services at Northwest Center. The alternative approaches now being used will continue instead. Projected savings, $97,090.
Eliminate funding for CSB contract with CrisisLink suicide prevention and crisis hotline. Projected savings, $60,000.

tl/dr translation: more homeless, more 2cons, and more ppl jumping onto 66 and blasting themselves in the Target in yr future.

BUt just think about how much money we're saving every day under the GOP agenda.
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Gordon Blvd Wrote:
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> tl/dr translation: more homeless, more 2cons, and
> more ppl jumping onto 66 and blasting themselves
> in the Target in yr future.

I actually agree 100% with you. Mark this on a calendar!!!

Translation = less freeloaders faking mental or physical health issues to get a free ride on the taxpayers with this SSI crap, biggest scam going over the past twenty years.

more correct Wrote:
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> Translation = less freeloaders faking mental or
> physical health issues to get a free ride on the
> taxpayers with this SSI crap, biggest scam going
> over the past twenty years.

But we'll see more of those people at intersections begging for cash.

The GOP solution - YouthInAsia.
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If people know they can get over by faking some mental or physical injury they will do it. Why do you think tv is flooded with all those ads about the disability specialists?

Fairfax Human Services Could See Millions Cut from Budget
Community Services Board budget trouble could be solved with service reductions, officials say
By William Callahan
July 24, 2012
http://fairfaxstation.patch.com/articles/fairfax-human-services-could-see-millions-cut-from-budget

Cuts could be on the horizon for human services in Fairfax County.

When the county’s Human Services Council presents its analysis of the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board’s (CSB) budget woes to the Board of Supervisors Human Services Committee Tuesday, the council, which has been collecting public input from concerned and potentially affected citizens for the last month, will include recommendations for board action, and that could include cutting or eliminating services.

The CSB, which provides substance abuse treatment, mental health services and care for adults and children with intellectual disabilities, is facing an $8 million hole in its $150 million budget for 2012 and an additional $9.5 million shortfall for 2013.

The board created a $4.2 million reserve for the struggling CSB during budget deliberations earlier this year, after many stakeholders lobbied for more funding.

But $4.2 million won’t be enough to fill a hole that formed in large part due to a decrease in state funding and a drop in anticipated revenues for the agency.

Programs in danger include a number of treatment facilities and the county’s partnership with CrisisLink, the only suicide prevention hotline in the county.

In the last month and a half, residents have appeared before the Human Services Council with frequently emotional testimony, pleading for them to maintain program funding.

The council will present its findings and recommendations at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Conference Rooms 9 and 10 of Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Fairfax County Government Center Parkway in Fairfax.

The heartless and the gutless turn their backs on the poor, elderly, infirm, and downtrodden. What would Jesus do?
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