Mental Health programs gutted during budget talks - KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

Mental Health programs gutted during budget talks

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By Kristen Johnson, Multimedia Journalist/ Weekend Anchor - bio | email

Woodbury County's Social Services Coordinator calls it the "biggest step backward in her 23 years" running the mental health program.

The regionalization of the state's program has meant the loss of more than half-a-million dollars in state funds.

The cuts will force the elimination of two positions along with several vital programs.  Friendship House and the Mental Health Court were gutted.

"This is not good.  We have a waiting list, we'll have a waiting list.  This is not a positive thing for community based services. It's not positive for the people that we serve," said Patty Erickson-Puttmann.

The county is working with Siouxland Mental Health to find other funding to preserve some of the programming.

The cuts are schedule to go into affect July 1st, unless the state legislature votes to return those funds.  However, Erickson-Puttman says that's not included in Governor Terry Branstad's budget.

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