Dutchess Gets Funding For Mental Health Programs
By Craig Wolf Poughkeepsie Journal听 January 17, 2012
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The state has granted an annual $1.5 million to Dutchess County to help it cope with the impacts of the planned closing of Hudson River Psychiatric Center in Poughkeepsie.
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County Executive Marc Molinaro announced Monday that the county would accept the funding to 鈥渟upport programs focused on decreasing and diverting inpatient admissions, facilitating discharges and strengthening the continuum of services for people impacted by the closure of Hudson River Psychiatric Center.鈥
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鈥淭hese services will have far-reaching impacts across multiple health, human services and public safety systems in our county to help improve the quality of life for our residents and reduce the future fiscal burden on Dutchess County taxpayers,鈥 he said.
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His decision to accept the funds reverses a position taken by his predecessor, William Steinhaus, who wrote to the state鈥檚 mental health commissioner, Michael Hogan, in October that the state was 鈥渁bandoning鈥 its responsibilities. He said Dutchess would not 鈥渢ake on this new obligation from the state with all the domino compounding impacts from the state鈥檚 ill-advised decision to close the Hudson River Psychiatric Center and say 鈥榯hank you鈥 for the funding.鈥
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Molinaro said state Sen. Steve Saland, R-Poughkeepsie, was 鈥渋nstrumental鈥 in getting the funds.
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Molinaro said he will send a resolution to the county Legislature asking approval.
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