April 7, 2008 – Community activists held a protest and sit-in at City Hall Monday in an 11th hour attempt to stop the closure of four Southside mental health clinics.
The Chicago Department of Public Health is closing the Back of the Yards’, Beverly/Morgan Park, Greater Grand/Mid-South and Woodlawn clinics because of a $1.2 million loss in state funds.
“We’re talking about a trivial amount of money,” said Fred Friedman, co-founder of Next Steps, a community for mental health and homeless patients. “Less money that was spent on refurbishing the [Buckingham] fountain. Less money that was spent on Barack Obama’s [rally] clean up.”
The four clinics will be consolidated with the city’s remaining eight clinics.
Judy King, a member of Community Mental Health Board, an advisory group, said a fiscal 2008 city-hiring freeze was part of several problems, which led to the state cuts.
“So, if you don’t hire people to fill these positions that are essential, to people’s well-being and health, [and] we view mental health as an essential service, then they [the state] can’t see the numbers,” said King.
King said a change in how mental health providers submitted billing had an effect on state funds. She said if providers were not able to show they had generated revenue, already determined by the state, then the providers would stand to lose future income from the state.
Protesters chanted “The say cutback, we say fightback,” in front of the mayor’s office before being moved to the fourth floor as Darryl Gumm, chairman of the Community Mental Health Board, Friedman and S.T.O.P co-founder Matt Ginberg-Jaeckle met with Daley’s chief of staff, Paul Volpe for an half-hour.
After the meeting, Gumm said Volpe seemed concerned and that there was a lot of “misinformation” that arose in the meeting. The board has attempted to hold meetings with the city since January.
“They haven’t talked to us before,” said Gumm. “They haven’t been able to hear what it is on the other side. They are only looking at it from the economic side. And from the side of maybe this is something that is going to go away.”
The mayor’s office and the Department of Health did not return calls seeking comment by press time.
Gumm warned with the centers closing, the city could see a rise in violence, arrests, and intakes in Cook County Hospital. He said 2,000 people were being directly impacted by the Southside closings.
Gumm said a second meeting with Volpe, including Chicago Department of Public Health commissioner, Dr. Terry Mason, would be held at 6 p.m. April 7th at City Hall.
“We’re not going to give up,” said Friedman. “We’re not going to say ‘we’re not important’ until the city, the alderman and the state and who ever is responsible gives us the care we need so that we can lead full and productive lives.”
Be First to Comment