This time from Glendale, here is a story of how the crisis affects the mental care in the LA county: Struggling under the weight of deep state funding cuts, the city's primary mental health clinic, VMHCare, has been forced to lay off 16 people, or more than 10% of its staff, administrators said.
If the funding cuts continue, administrators said the agency may even be forced to close its doors.
The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, the source of 94% of the VMHCare's income, has reduced its funding by more than 20% since the state budget crisis began, forcing the drastic measures, said Jeff Smith, chief executive of the agency formerly known as Verdugo Mental Health.
Some of the layoffs have already taken effect for the staff of about 70, while hours for six other employees have had to be reduced, he added.
"The people laid off are clinical people," Smith said. "They provide direct services. The biggest impact is on our services program....Read more at the Glendale News Press' site: http://www.glendalenewspress.com/articles/2009/08/19/news/gnp-budget081909.txt