| By Big Radio News Staff |
It’ll be months before the state biennial budget is galvanized, but Rock County Human Services officials say Gov. Tony Evers’ draft budget shows Rock County could see a boost in mental health funding.
Human Services Director Kate Luster points out Evers wants money laid aside to expand mental health initiatives and provide a bigger share of funding to offset county costs on mental health services.
She says the state now reimburses 20 percent of costs. She says Evers’ proposal through his new budget would boost reimbursements closer to a 50/50 cost share between the state and counties.
Another mental health plan in Evers’ budget: It’s his second pitch to the legislature to set up regional, state-run mental health crisis care and observation centers — a move which could shorten wait times and make it easier for police to transport people for inpatient mental health care and emergency holds.
Luster says Evers’ budget spells out plans to block counties from charging parents child support when the county has to pay to place children in an alternate setting.
Rock County’s made such charge backs for years, but Luster says mounting evidence statewide shows that counties charging parents child support ultimately leads to poorer outcomes for children and their families.
Luster says county Human Services agencies hope to see alternative plans for the state to offset counties costs to manage emergency foster care placements and other child guardianship arrangements.
Luster tells the county the Republican-controlled state legislature has promised drastic changes to the Governor’s budget before state lawmakers would vote on it later this year — so it’s too early to tell how much funding for Human Services initiatives will ultimately stay in place.
Big Radio News Anchor Neil Johnson gathered information for this report.
