Watsonville Community Defends County Health Services
About 200 people in Watsonville filled the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors budget hearing Tuesday, June 16, and urged the board to save health services from the chopping block.
Scores of health service workers, clients and community members lined up to address the board and asked supervisors to continue to fund these services, instead of losing programs amid proposed budget cuts.
If programs for the adult mentally ill are cut, the result will be increased psychiatric hospitalization, which is an expense to the county,
said Adult Mental Health Supervisor Alan Lamb.
For the sake of our clients, their families and our community, please maintain the funding for outpatient adult mental health services.
The county is now facing $19 million less in the budget than last year, with health and human services facing the biggest hits. The Health Services Agency may lose $8 million, with 117 positions eliminated, and the Human Services Department may lose more than $5 million this year, with 71 job cuts.
This would create drastic cuts to health services.
Maria Heredia of Children's Mental Health Services was among the speakers who addressed the board about the need to save services.
The proposal cuts will result in a reduction of 30% of the current staffing at Children's Mental Health,
Heredia said.
This means less children being provided counseling services.
Senior Social Worker Sandy Neveras also addressed the board.
The reduction in social worker staff will lead to this population being at greater risk, likely increasing the number of families requiring intervention
she said.
I urge you to please consider the overwhelming struggles of the at-risk families we serve in this community as you make your decisions about the upcoming budget.
Santa Cruz Co. Members Oppose Cuts to Services
More than 300 health care workers, patients and community members converged at the Santa Cruz County office building June 10 to protest drastic cuts to health services.
» Read more and watch videos
What’s next: Please come and support our services at the following budget workshops/hearings.
Watsonville Civic Center (City Hall), Monday, June 16, 7:30 p.m.
Santa Cruz Government Center (701 Ocean St.) Tuesday, June 17, 7 p.m.
Santa Cruz Government Center (701 Ocean St.) Friday, June 20, 9 a.m.