|
I'famagu'on-ta could be closing its doors
|
by Mindy Aguon, KUAM News
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
|
KUAM Video requires Flash 8.
download it Here.
|
|
During a month when the island is supposed to be raising awareness of children's mental health issues, parents and others in the community are concerned that a program solely designed to assist kids with behavioral issues is on the verge of shutting down. "On a day that were trying to proclaim the month or week as Children's Mental Health Awareness Week is a day or time when we're trying to get rid of a children's mental health program that seems to be effective," said clinical psychologist Dr. Juan Rapadas.
The physician and G.I.F.T.S. president Richard Brown believe any take over by the Guam Department of Mental Health to provide children and adolescent services, currently provided through a federal grant known as I'famagu'on-ta, is simply a bad idea. "I feel that they're incapable of taking over this and maintaining this system of care of the kids," said Brown. He added, "Why get rid of something if it's not broken, then why get rid of it? It's working."
Dr. Rapadas added, "$750,000 is a drop in the bucket for these children, and I mean really vulnerable children. It's like why are we picking on these children and these families? It's working."
Mental Health acting director Dr. Andrea Leitheiser maintains the I'famagu'on-ta five-year grant will run out of funds for personnel in July, forcing the department to issue termination notices to the 15 employees of the project. Despite a $750,000 appropriation from lawmakers specifically for the project, Leitheiser contends that money cannot be used to keep the unclassified employees on board. "The money is local money," she maintained, "So if you look at the local laws you cannot use local funds to fund unclassified positions, so we can't use that money for that however we can utilize some of that money to go toward some of those classified positions."
11 classified positions have been created so Mental Health can provide the services itself. The acting director says those facing termination can also apply for positions that must be filled to comply with the permanent injunction for adult services. Said Dr. Leitheiser, "Now the adult services piece will also see the family members because they are adults so the parents of the children, so we're encouraging them to apply for those as well. So I'm confident that if they qualify for the classified positions, that we're going to be continuing this systems of care piece."
"So the name I' Famagu'on ta may be going away but the children's services and our mandates still continue," she said.
Healthcare Committee chair Senator Frank Blas, Jr. however has concerns with Mental Health's plan and intends to get to the bottom of the concerns raised by parents during budget discussions next week. He told KUAM News, "If the concern is that the federal funding would run out if you move some individuals into the classified position, put them in the already locally funded positions, which have funds, that would free up more of the federal funds that would permit the program to continue until the end of the fiscal year."
|