Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Calhoun County asks state to designate Kalamazoo agency and transfer P.A.2 funds after severing ties with Mid-South
Loading...
Summary
The board unanimously approved resolutions requesting the Michigan Department of Community Health designate Kalamazoo Community Mental Health as Calhoun Countys coordinating agency for substance-abuse services effective Jan. 1, 2008, and asked the state to transfer prevention, treatment and P.A.2 funds held by Mid-South to Kalamazoo so local providers are made whole.
The Calhoun County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 20 unanimously approved resolutions asking the Michigan Department of Community Healths Office of Drug Control Policy to designate Kalamazoo Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services as the countys coordinating agency for substance-abuse prevention and treatment starting Jan. 1, 2008, and to transfer funds held by the Mid-South Coordinating Agency.
County Administrator/Controller Greg Purcell told commissioners the last available Mid-South audit (Sept. 30, 2006) showed a fund balance of $611,144 and that typical annual P.A.2 expenditures in Calhoun County had been in the $200,000 to $250,000 range, indicating there should be funds available to support 2008 services.
The action followed assurances sought by commissioners that local treatment providers would not lose funding during the re-designation. Chairwoman Segal thanked treatment providers and Kalamazoos Executive Director Jeff Patton for assisting the county and said county officials had been assured the providers would “remain whole.” Commissioners amended the resolution to expressly request immediate transfer of all prevention, treatment and P.A.2 funds held by Mid-South for use in Calhoun County upon designation.
Community Action Agency Director Charles Spence said the former coordinating agency had emphasized local planning and control during training sessions with providers. Commissioners discussed the timing of transfers and asked the state for technical help to ensure treatment organizations recover funds they are owed; Commissioner Moore asked whether state assurances had been put in writing and Chairwoman Segal said she was working on it.
The Board approved two related resolutions, Res. 210-2007 and an amended Res. 210-A-2007, both by unanimous roll call, that memorialize the request for designation and the immediate transfer of funds to Kalamazoo Community Mental Health upon the states action. The resolutions direct state assistance to ensure P.A.2 and related prevention and treatment funds held by Mid-South for Calhoun County are reallocated to Kalamazoo to serve county residents.