Urgent SC Mental Health Budget Vote

Urgent: Action Required for Mental Health Funding

Update: Your emails and letters must have made a difference, Ellen stated that she had decided to vote for the 2% add back. And Jeff told Paul O'Brien that he would vote for it. I think that gives a majority.

Please Write a letter to either Jeff Almquist or Ellen Pirie.

E-mail them by going to www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us.bds

Click on their names and at end of biography is their e-mail which you click on to send your message.

What I heard at a contractor's meeting is this:

HSA Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol services were cut 11.2% or $549,493.

Probably they will vote for the 1% add back on Friday morning which is equal to $49,000. Not much across 19 contracts.

However, one vote is lacking to get a 2% addback or $98,200.

This is the best we can go for according to Karen Delaney of Human Care Alliance who mostly, in my opinion, represents HRA instead of HSA combined with HRA services. She says that is our fault. Another story.

Anyway, if you have time, send a short note asking for them to vote on the $100,000 addback (how they refer to it) to Mental Health and Alcohol programs.

If you know any other supervisor personally, may as well send him/her the same note.

Ellen is on Mental Health Board. They should point blank ask for her vote I think. Ellen is also on Area Council on Aging.

Best case is for someone to write who lives in Ellen or Jeff's district.

- Bonnie Schell

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