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institutionalization program began. The number of patients in beds at state hospitals has dropped from 16,000 to 5,000; “9,000 people have been sent out, back to the communities. They’re no longer in those beds, but the hospitals are continuing to receive 84 percent.”
The majority of those released from the state hospitals are chronically ill with schizophrenic or personality disorders and require daily medication. “They’re difficult to manage,” Ms. Gorman told the supervisors, adding that in emergencies, under-staffed local agencies charged with providing support services must rely on rescue squads and sheriffs departments. “We need funds for more staff (and for) some level of adequate care in the community,” she said.
Unlike teachers in public schools and other employees of local and state government who ’have' beetf given pay raises as high as 10 percent, mental health workers have received only a three percent cost of living raise in the past two years and just two percent this year, Ms. Gorman said, adding that problems in providing services have been compounded by high staff turnover as a result.
Supervisor Newbill Miller remembered Baliles’ announcement earlier this year of a proposed $42 million increase in funding for mental health and mental retardation programs: “Was your coming here to seek our support initiated by the Governor?” he asked Ms. Gorman.
“No . . . We made the same pleas
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