A coalition of community groups spearheaded by Southside Together Organizing for Power fear the city will renew efforts to close or privatize its mental health clinics as the state prepares to announce mid-year adjustments to the human services budget.
A coalition of community groups spearheaded by Southside Together Organizing for Power fear the city will renew efforts to close or privatize its mental health clinics as the state prepares to announce mid-year adjustments to the human services budget. Last year the City of Chicago threatened to close four of the city’s 12 mental health centers under the Chicago Department of Public Health due to a lack of state funding. Federal funding came through, allowing the clinics to keep the doors open. The centers provide counseling services and psychiatric care and medicine. Based on a patient’s income and household size, a sliding scale fee is used to determine the cost for services. “These clinics are a lifeline to many of us who can’t afford or can’t get into private clinics. They are already in a state of crisis because the city and state haven’t listened to our concerns around understaffing. We need to see leadership and commitment before it is too late,” said N’Dana Carter, a STOP member and recipient of services at Greater Grand/Mid-South Mental Health Clinic that was subject to closure last year. The group plans to voice its concerns to the department’s new commissioner, Bechara Choucair, who could not be reached by the Defender for comment. The City Council passed a resolution in 2006 that called for a moratorium on closing the city’s mental health centers. Copyright 2010 Chicago Defender
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