Mental Health, Adelup work on service transition

by Mindy Aguon

Guam - The federal management team has been in weekly discussions with the Calvo Administration on the transition of authority back to Mental Health. Dr. James Kiffer says the biggest concerns are the budget and personnel.

The transition will require Mental Health to pick up people from the federal management team. Kiffer says there are also a number of contracts and personnel actions that are sitting at the bureau of budget and management research that need to be signed. He explained, "Those positions are needed here. Part of the problem has been at mental health is not having a full compliment of professionals in all disciplines one of the disciplines being clinical psychology. There have not been enough people.  In a mental health facility you need clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, lots of disciplines."

Kiffer warns that if the contracts are not signed, it could cause the receivership to extend beyond the December 3 timeframe that has been set by the judge.