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Another hostage goes down

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Illinois

* Centerstone describes itself as “one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit providers of community-based behavioral health care, offering a full range of mental health services, substance abuse treatment and intellectual and developmental disabilities services in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee.”

From Centerstone CEO John Markley…

For the last 11 months, Centerstone has, in good faith, offered services we were contracted to provide by the state of Illinois, but because our state officials have not passed a budget, we have not been paid for these services. Today, our state owes Centerstone more than $6 million.

We, along with other organizations, have warned public officials for months that we could not sustain the losses the state of Illinois was imposing on us, but our concerns have been ignored.

With no end to this state contract crisis in sight, the viability of our entire organization is being threatened. So, after careful review of the situation, we are enacting difficult measures to protect Centerstone, our 600 employees across the state and the 16,000 people of all ages who depend on us.

In the coming fiscal year, we will eliminate several state contracts because of the risk involved. These contracts represent vital services in our communities, but we cannot sustain them in such uncertain times. This means, as of June 30, 2016, the following services will close:

· Comprehensive Community Based Youth services (CCBYS) in Franklin, Jackson, Perry and Williamson Counties;
· Crisis Stabilization services at the Centerstone Crisis Center in Williamson County, a service which has saved our state more than $4 million in healthcare costs;
· DMH Juvenile Justice services in Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson and Williamson Counties;
· Homeless Youth services in Franklin, Jackson, Perry and Williamson Counties;
· Psychiatric Medication funds used in Calhoun, Franklin, Jackson, Jersey, Madison, and Williamson Counties;
· Supported Residential services (one group home) in Alton; and
· Teen Pregnancy Prevention services in Franklin County.

Additionally, Halfway House beds in Marion will be reduced.

A total of 700 clients and 39 staff members will be affected by these changes. The loss of our colleagues and services is painful, but our state has offered us little choice.

It is our sincere hope that our Governor and legislature finally do the right thing and act in the best interests of all of their constituents by ending this state budget crisis.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:48 am

Comments

This is what happens when a ‘collectivist economy’ gets dismantled. Still think we should do that, Rauner supporters?

Comment by Thoughts Matter Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:53 am
Under Randian philosophy …social Darwinism the weak die the strong survive and we are free from the evils of the collective.

Comment by illinois manufacturer Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:55 am
Your doin a heckuva job Brownie….er Rauner

Comment by Saluki Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:56 am
Remember when…

“We’re everywhere, southern Illinois, eastern Illinois, so all over,” said Rauner. “We don’t want to lead just for a portion of the state. We don’t want to be a governor for some families, but for everybody. And we’re working for Democrats and Republicans, not everybody voted for us. We won by a good margin, but we’re going to run the state for the good of everybody, and we’re going to do it on a bipartisan basis to solve our problems.”

http://www.tristatehomepage.com/news/news-carousel/bruce-rauner-visits-southern-illinois-before-inauguration

Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 11:00 am
Really putting the squeeze on Cook County, aren’t you Team Rauner?

Comment by Juvenal Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 11:02 am
let the budget go into law w/out your signature and then manage the budget–do your job, Governor

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 11:05 am
Time for a tax hike. And the longer we wait, the higher the tax hike will need to be. We need these programs. And they cost money. Where does the money come from? Us.

Comment by Fusion Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 11:06 am
If I am not mistaken, Terrie Bryant, represents most of the programs and counties impacted.

I would be curious to hear her response other than “because…Madigan”

Comment by illini Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 11:13 am
This is no longer the small local human service providers going under, the “big guys” in the human service world are now starting to go down.

Anyone with an understanding of how human services are delivered understands the severity of what Centerstone just announced. Those are not only services that won’t be provided, those are well paying jobs that are gone.

So GOP members who in the 80s and early 90s pushed for doing away with the large state operated hospitals and centers and moving to a local level system of care should be really proud of what is happening right now as the situation is undoing the public policy they pushed for.

Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 11:17 am
You will be waiting a while.Bryant won’t say a word.

Comment by btowntruth from forgotonnia Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 11:19 am
A ten second scan of the county sheriff report from any S. IL newspaper on any random day would tell you what a disaster this is. The impact on the state will be felt for years. Redefines the meaning of “turn around”. Next governor is going to be doing a lot of “I feel your pain” visits.

Comment by Vole Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 11:29 am
This is a tragedy that will hurt the region and its economy, and will take years to recover from. Imagine you rely on this service for your psychiatric medications. Not usually something that is optional for your healthy functioning and ability to be self-sufficient. Imagine that you are the police department and you pick up a runaway youth — now no one is there to pick up that kid and get him in a safe place. Police departments don’t have shelter beds or foster homes. This is a disaster. No more crisis stabilization services, so the state can expect its costs will go up by $4 million (per the press release) because we sure as heck are not doing anything to REDUCE the crisis episodes…. I give up.

Comment by Pawn Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 11:32 am
this will make it tough for BigBrain’s Get Out of Jail Free Program (the Heaton Commission)get goin’. Now that there is a sliver of recognition that occupents of the joint might have some mental health issues — just might. But once BigBrain lets them out thre will be no where to go for treatment. And whoosh they are back in the joint. Now that is a real Loopey-Doopee Strategy.

Comment by annoin' Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 11:39 am
@thoughts matter

Not sure what part of the Conservative playbook you fail to understand, but the economy grows by leaps and bounds the less people that work.

/snark/

Comment by Delbert Grady Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 11:55 am
Bryant is in over her head. She was not ready for prime time since the start. Just another Republican bullied into a corner by Rauner’s money.

Comment by Saluki Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 11:59 am
“Bruce Rauner has no social agenda.”

–Diana Rauner
President, Ounce of Prevention
Plaintiff, Pay Now Illinois v. State of Illinois

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 12:01 pm
Anon at 12:01 was me.

Comment by illini97 Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 12:01 pm
Wouldn’t the $700M legislation passed and sitting on the governor’s desk help with this?

Comment by northsider (the original) Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 12:06 pm
@ Saluki and btowntruth - could not agree more. And she does not even represent me, but she does have a small part of my county.

700 clients losing services that that State contracted for and 39 individuals with families losing the jobs the State agreed to pay for! What a way to run our state,

@ Vole - I see that as well. And it is getting worse!

Comment by illini Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 12:14 pm
“Eh, let them die and decrease the surplus population” - BVR/Bryant/Sandack/Radogno/Durkin

Luckily for BVR & Rep Bryant the people that need those services (and their families) are willing to make this sacrifice to implement the TA.

Comment by BluegrassBoy Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 12:15 pm
Perhaps the governor or Sen. Radogno would like to share with the citizens of Illinois when the “necessary shakeout” will be complete.

And for the record, for more than a month now the governor has refused to sign that emergency $700 million appropriation to partially pay social service providers under the terms of their state contracts.

It passed the GA without a dissenting vote. The governor is the only person preventing these folks from getting paid the money they’re owed under contracts his administration signed.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 12:46 pm
Is the hostage going down or are they fighting back and refusing to be held hostage any longer? Based on the statement, it appears Centerstone has been providing services without payment for a year and is now saying “enough is enough” and making sure they don’t let the State of Illinois take them down. How many businesses would continue to provide services without payment for a year. These providers clearly are passionate about the work they do and are working hard to find ways to continue to survive in this political climate. The reduction of services announced by Centerstone is concerning but losing Centerstone’s services overall in Southern Illinois would be catastrophic. I applaud them for making the hard decisions they are making to ensure they survive this storm.

Comment by DrDavid Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:02 pm
This is just getting depressing when will it end. I just don’t get it. I have fought for mental health all my life. I never thought we would loose.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:57 pm
How many of the people affected by these closures in the not-for-profit sector are members of labor unions? I guess you can make the case Rauner’s winnin’ with these tactics, but he’s fighting the wrong enemy.

Comment by olddog Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:26 pm
So where are the dem posters here going to go for their mh meds now ?

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:56 pm
“So where are the dem posters here going to go for their mh meds now ?”

This comment in uncalled for, is a disservice and is disrespectful to those residents of our State who rely on on the services of these agencies.

And by the way, the best meds for me are a good glass or two of red wine of an evening.

Comment by illini Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:21 pm
I think the only reason Rauner is allowing these social services to die is because they were put in place by the Dems. It is 100% political.

Comment by Mama Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 4:21 pm
A citizen: your comments are shameful. You should be ashamed of your snide attempt to stigmatize a health condition and to make a joke of people losing access to what can be life-saving medical treatment. You never know when someone you love will need psychiatric medication. What a horrible person you must be to make a “joke” like that.

Comment by Pawn Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 4:30 pm
@Pawn - well stated - much better than my feeble attempt. Thank you.

Comment by illini Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 6:40 pm