Government, Local News
State looks to close one of four mental health institutions in Iowa
Posted on Sep 28, 2009 by orlanlove.
A group takes a tour of one of two closed wings at the Cromwell Children’s Unit at Independence Mental Health Institute as part of the MHI Task Force meeting in Independence, September 28, 2009. The wing which housed 12 patients was closed several years ago due to budget cuts. The Cromwell Children’s Unit currently serves 15 patients, both male and female, and offers psychiatric and medical care along with schooling for 7 to 15 year olds. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)
Dozens of speakers at a forum here Monday were not buying the premise that the state must close one of its four mental health institutes as a cost-cutting measure.
“I hope you would urge the Legislature not to close any of them. These institutions are the backbone of Iowa’s mental health system,” Oelwein Mayor Larry Murphy told a task force appointed by Gov. Chet Culver to study the state’s mental health institutes and report its findings by Dec. 15.
Tom Eachus, executive director of the Black Hawk Grundy Mental Health Center, got a standing ovation from the 400 people overflowing the auditorium at the Mental Health Institute when he suggested that the state expand the number of mental health beds it provides.
That position was restated by a succession of mental health professionals who recounted difficulties they have had finding appropriate mental health services for their clients.
The bill authorizing the task force study has a related provision making the Department of Human Services responsible for developing a proposal for “closing one state mental health institute” and consolidating services at the other three while “maintaining the existing levels of beds and services.”
The Independence facility, with 95 beds, is the largest of the four state institutions, followed by Mount Pleasant with 79 beds, Cherokee with 58 beds and Clarinda with 55 beds.
The Independence Mental Health Institute is one of four state run facilities offering treatment to adults and children in need of acute psychiatric care in Iowa. The facility can care for around 95 patients at a time and generally has a wait list for its facilities. Shot in Independence, September 28, 2009. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)
“We are the provider of the last resort and the safety net for people with the most serious mental disorders,” Dr. Bhasker Dave, superintendent of the Independence facility, told the 10 task force members.
Greg Halvorson, director of the Buchanan County Economic Development Commission, said closure of the Independence facility, with its 270 full-time jobs, would drain $14 million in wages and $5 million in benefits from Buchanan and surrounding counties.
The loss of those jobs would exacerbate the steady enrollment declines suffered by Independence schools during the past 12 years, Superintendent Devin Embray said.
Ro Foege of Mount Vernon, a former state legislator heading the task force, said it’s possible that the group would recommend expanding state mental health services.
The task force met in Cherokee on Sept. 15 and has meetings scheduled for Oct. 12 in Clarinda and Oct. 26 at Mount Pleasant.
Marionite
29. Sep, 2009
I know budgets are real tight, but these facilities are very needed. The mere fact that there is a wait list to go there should say something. Closing one is not the solution.
Jesus33
29. Sep, 2009
The picure on the Gazette Police Blotter is David Arthur Melsha being arrested on July, 23, 2007 at 2016 Linn Blvd. SE.
They have cropped his head,but everyone who knows Dave and now others know too.
Refer to Gazetter Archives for this party goer arrest for running over his friend.
http://www.iowacourts.state.ia.us/ESAWebApp/Defau... for David's arrest record that will prove this. Refer to case 06571 NTCR797466 (LINN)
I am being censored off the blotter for providing this information.
bamoxiclean
29. Sep, 2009
And with the state of the world today, that list is going to keep growing.
FreeCountry
29. Sep, 2009
I'm all for re-evalutating programs etc, and maximum efficiency, but even thinking about closing one of these types of facilities is insanity in itself. There are a multitude of places our beloved state governor and legislature could cut costs from, if they chose, that do not impact people's and society's mental health and safety.
It beyond angers me that mental health is always the first place many people look to cut, and then a few weeks/months later scream "why did XYZ act of violence" take place (homicide, suicide, whatever). Mental health is no less important than physical health and we see the evidence every day of that, in society.
Iowa is in a critical shortage of mental health providers, especially in the rural areas. What our goofus government SHOULD be doing is looking how to ramp up recruitment into the field, retain providers already trained, etc.
I am so glad that so many people turned out to express their views on this. Bless them.
Jesus33
29. Sep, 2009
The picure on the Gazette Police Blotter is David Arthur Melsha being arrested on July, 23, 2007 at 2016 Linn Blvd. SE.
They have cropped his head,but everyone who knows Dave and now others know too.
Refer to Gazetter Archives for this party goer arrest for running over his friend.
http://www.iowacourts.state.ia.us/ESAWebApp/Defau... for David's arrest record that will prove this. Refer to case 06571 NTCR797466 (LINN)
I am being censored off the blotter for providing this information.
JohnNone
30. Sep, 2009
Thank you, Jesus, for that cameo appearance.
ctiger
30. Sep, 2009
Don't you feel blessed?
laurenD
29. Sep, 2009
This is really concerning. After the Reagan administration cut funding for mental institutions we have seen a huge rise in violent crimes and sex crimes. Closing more of these facilities is not the answer.
solby
29. Sep, 2009
LET'S LOOK AT THE FACILITY IT SELF. THESE ARE HUGE ENERGY WASTING BUILDINGS THAT ARE COSTING TAX PAYERS MEGA MONEY. I AGREE THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS ALWAYS PUSHED TO THE BACK BURNER. IF THEY REORGANIZED AND MOVED TO A MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT FACILITY THEY MAY BE ABLE TO HANDLE MORE PATIENTS. tHE DAY OF 1200 PATIENTS IS LONG GONE FOR THE MHI. THAT IS WHAT IT WAS BUILT FOR LONG AGO.
95 PATIENTS IN THAT SIZE OF BUILDING IS CRAZY. THAT IS A DROP IN THE BUCKET COMPARED EVEN TO JUST 20 YEARS AGO. THE CITY OF INDEPENDENCE BETTER STEP UP AND COME UP WITH A SOLUTION OR YOU WILL LOSE THESE JOBS.
Kerbchek
06. Oct, 2009
The Kirbride is a huge building… probably not necessary for less than 100 patients! Sell the Kirkbride to a casino developer (imagine the grand building all fixed up to is original glory), move the MHI to a smaller facility, and triple the available jobs in the area!! Whatever happens, shrinking the number of mental health hospital beds in Iowa will be a mistake. Cutting services should absolutely NOT be an option, however abandoning a huge buildging will cost the state millions in the long run to dispose of, so a reuse plan for those structures is a must, whatever it would be, if closing becomes and option (which I really hope doesn't happen right now)