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http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2004/August/25/local/stories/02local.htm

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August 25, 2004

Advocates say county’s mental-health services are strapped--and that Proposition 63 could help

By BRIAN SEALS SENTINEL STAFF WRITER

SANTA CRUZ-- A financially strapped mental-health system is at risk of greater decay without an infusion of cash, advocates said Tuesday.

A county budget that garnered preliminary approval in late June is still subject to more cuts, mental health among them.

Supporters of the mentally ill say Proposition 63, on the ballot in November, offers the best hope for shoring up services. Proposition 63 would add a 1 percent tax on taxable personal income of more than $1 million.

There are about 6,500 adults served by the county mental-health system, said Rama Khalsa of the Health Services Agency. Roughly 1,200 people under the age of 18 are served.

A group of advocates from the county’s Mental Health Advisory Board told county supervisors Tuesday they were working to get the proposition passed, lest local programs get deeper reductions.

"These cuts are going to affect real people in our community," said Patricia Morales.

Should it pass, the measure is estimated to generate $275 million for the first six months of 2005 and $800 million by 2006-07.

A string of psychiatric and medical associations are backing it.

One group opposing it--Church of Scientology’s Citizens Commission on Human Rights---has been the most outspoken in opposing it.

That group says for the first two years of the effort the state would be locked into spending the money before it receives it, and that could cause tax increases in other areas.

Advocates say programs would benefit the community by keeping patients out of jails and hospitals.

Lana Schetzer of Santa Cruz said programs like Front Street Inc.’s Opal Cliffs center have helped her stay out of hospitals for the past five years. As well as providing support from others with similar ailments, the residential program there helped with the basics of life, such as managing money and making sure she takes her medicine.

"It whipped me into shape," Schetzer said.

Santa Cruz County would be eligible for $2 million in 2004-05 and subsequently would be eligible for $6 million annually in matching funds, according to Khalsa.

The mental-health budget was cut $1.3 million in June. That budget was written with the hope Proposition 63 would pass.

If not, another round of cuts could come in January 2005:

Front Street Inc.’s Opal Cliffs 16-bed residential treatment program would close. It needs $117,641 to stay afloat.

Santa Cruz Community Counseling Center’s 10-bed transition house would close. It needs $72,415 to be preserved.

The Counseling Center’s day treatment program for people with mental illness and substance-abuse problems would shut. It needs $47,500.

The Volunteer Center’s Community Connections employment program would cut the number of people it serves. It needs $57,500 to remain at its current level.

Mental Health Client Action Network needs $10,000 to continue as is.

Contact Brian Seals at bseals@santacruzsentinel.com

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