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Montgomery---Commissioner Kathy Sawyer delivered her
recommendations for consolidation and closure of some of the
state’s mental health facilities to the Governor on Tuesday,
July 1, 2003. Along with a copy of her plan, she included
alternate proposals from other interested parties. “I wanted
to give the Governor an unfiltered version of my
recommendations and an unfiltered version of alternate plans
so that he could get a complete picture,” said Sawyer. In
May the Commissioner conducted a series of “Town Meetings”
at every facility affected by the plan. “I promised those in
attendance that I would present their ideas and
recommendations to the Governor and that’s what I have
done,” Sawyer exclaimed. “The Governor will review the
documents and meet with Sawyer when he returns to
Montgomery. No decision will be made until he and the
Commissioner have had the time to meet and discuss both sets
of recommendations,” said John Ziegler, Director of Public
Information for the Department of Mental Health. “The
Commissioner’s plan is a capstone for the overall success
that Alabama has achieved in developing a high quality
network of community-based mental health services,” said
former Commissioner, Glen Ireland (DMH/MR Commissioner
1978-1982). “Even in the early 80’s we knew that the day
would come when we would no longer need so many state
institutions,” said Ireland.
The Arc of Alabama, a national advocacy organization for
persons with mental retardation adamantly supports the
Commissioner’s plan. Recently they wrote, "the consolidation
plan will avail monies to the majority of the population
with mental retardation who are waiting for community
services.” Currently, there are over 2,000 people on the
mental retardation waiting list to receive community
services.
The Alabama mental health system has in many ways served
as a pacesetter for other mental health systems across the
country. This is particularly true with respect to the
movement of individuals from state institutions to quality
community-based care. Thirty years ago Alabama mental health
system facilities were serving large populations in
institutional care on numerous campuses across the state.
With over 95% of our clients now being served in the
community, there is no longer the need for as many expensive
institutional campuses. For example, in the early 70’s Bryce
Hospital in Tuscaloosa had over 5,000 patients. Today there
are fewer than 350 patients at Bryce. Also, in the early
70’s there were over 2,000 individuals with mental
retardation at Partlow Developmental Center in Tuscaloosa.
Today there are less than 150 people served at Partlow.
The Commissioner’s plan proposes consolidation of 7 of
the state’s 14 mental health facilities but leaves an
adequate number of institutions for those individuals who
may require or may desire to be cared for in institutional
settings. A further component of the plan is a comprehensive
process and plan for employment opportunities for those
employees affected by the consolidation plan. Finally, the
plan includes alternative state uses for mental health
facilities that would be closed. This would lessen the
economic impact on communities.
An email copy of the plan and alternate proposals may be
obtained by calling the Public Information Office (334)
242-3417. In the near future, copies may be seen on the DMH/MR
website
www.mh.state.al.us.
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