Monday, February 09, 2004

Lawmakers decry mental health cutback (Vermont)
Brattleboro Reformer story - "Windham County lawmakers blasted a proposed 1 percent increase in the governor's proposed budget for community mental health care on Friday, saying that more funding is needed for facilities like Health Care and Rehabilitation Services in Bellows Falls. ... Earlier this week, officials from HCRS said that they had hoped to be able to offer a 3 percent salary increase to employees next year, but that the governor's 1 percent budget increase would not allow it. Wage increases at HCRS have averaged about 1.5 percent over the past decade, and HCRS officials said they wanted to stave off the high staff turnover, which came to about 20 percent in 2002.  
  

Bill enhances rural mental health options (nebraska)
Story in The Nebraskan - "Study after study has shown the rural communities of Nebraska are lacking mental health professionals. But Sen. Doug Cunningham of Wausa says he has a proposal to help this problem without costing taxpayers a thing. An existing law provides medical and dental students with student loans if they promise to practice in a rural community after graduation. Cunningham wants to amend this law with a bill that would extend the loans to mental health students..."