Agency’s savings on mental health costs are costly
The Daily ReflectorFeb 11, 2017
The way things appear to
Three years ago, the state agency that manages
Trillium’s board of directors decided to reinvest the savings in projects to benefit the communities it serves. It now has an extensive portfolio of projects, including 30 all-inclusive accessible playgrounds like the one it built in 2016 at the Town Common in Greenville and a
It also funds crisis intervention training for law enforcement agencies who serve people with mental illness, substance use and developmental and intellectual disabilities; an early childhood home visiting service; a transitional sober living center for recovery from drug and alcohol addiction; mobile crisis management services; and more.
“Through grant partnership with our local communities and giving back to them while recognizing the special population groups we serve, we’re always trying to increase support for people to live more inclusively in their communities without a paid service,” Trillium CEO
Cut and run
Multi-million dollar cutbacks in state funding along with a mandate by the state that Trillium maintain spending levels on core services, however, are now forcing the agency to spend down the remainder of its savings, about
Two years ago, the
“They saw how much we had earned, looked at the expenses they had in other areas and forced us to spend our savings money on the things they reduced spending for,” Ehlers said. “The General Assembly is ‘helping us’ spend our
Trillium does not provide direct care, but manages care providers who serve people who receive
Its core treatment services in 2016-17 are supported by a
The Legislature’s directive prohibits Trillium from determining the best uses of its money, according to Wainwright and Clinical Director
Gain without pain
Why would the Legislature do that?
“They get the money with no noise,” Ehlers said. “If providers and consumers don’t see a difference, either in improvements or declines, nobody will come to them complaining of funding cuts.”
In actuality, if the state funding ends, not only will the beneficial reinvestment projects end, it could lead to a massive reduction in community-based services, the Trillium executives said.
“People living in group homes will lose funding for that. Children that receive developmental therapy or adults who have significant disabilities all will lose those Trillium-managed services if the budget reductions are not addressed in this legislative session,” Ehlers said.
The Legislature’s decision also is tied to federal block grant funding for substance abuse prevention treatment and community mental health. It loses a dollar in federal funding for every dollar it drops from state funding. So it forced Trillium and the other six regional managed care organizations to continue those expenditures.
Wainwright and Ehlers are trying to educate their providers and consumers — and communities — about the problem, hoping the
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PLAYGROUND ACCOLADES
Uptown Greenville, the city of Greenville's downtown development organization, recognized Trillium Health Resources’ contributions to the
“The Public Project of the Year award is designed to recognize a significant project in the
Trillium awarded 30 grants across its 24-county region as part of its Play Together Grants for Accessible Playgrounds. Each park includes specialized equipment, and most include a
“We are honored to receive this award and are so grateful to the local communities who have partnered with us to create these playgrounds,” said