SEIU Local 2000

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ACTION RESULTS IN LESS LAYOFFS FOR MENTAL HEALTH IN THE NORTHWEST REGION

Recently, the Department of Mental Health released their final list of employees who will be laid off this year, and thanks to decisive action taken by the members and staff of SEIU Local 2000, that list is greatly reduced, particularly for mental health staff in the Northwest region of the state. Originally, the Northwest region, primarily comprised of Western Missouri Mental Health Center and Northwest Missouri Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center, was slated to receive the bulk of the layoffs, with approximately 130 jobs planned for elimination and the closure of a number of group homes in the Kansas City area, including Tracy Group Home.

Our members immediately responded, and in partnership with the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, SEIU held two rallies in January and February to express concern regarding how these layoffs would affect the quality of mental health care in this region. SEIU members also went to Jefferson City on March 9 for a lobby day to ask their legislators for support. As a result of this lobby day, SEIU was able to arrange a labor management meeting with the Department of Mental Health, AFSCME and Governor Holden's office.

Thanks to those actions, Tracy Group Home will remain open for another year. In addition, the number of Recreational Therapist, Academic Teachers and Psychiatrists being laid off were reduced at least by half. Eight social work positions at Western Missouri Mental Health Center originally planned to be eliminated, either are remaining, or the staff in those positions are being retained. Substance Abuse Counselors at WMMHC and Music Therapists at Northwest Missouri Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center are not being laid off at all.

Our thanks to Randy Mosier of Tracy Group Home for his assistance, as well as the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, the office of Governor Holden, Jerry Armstrong with Ark of Friends, Diane McFarland, with the Department of Mental Health and numerous other community activists and consumers for their assistance in the ongoing struggle to maintain quality mental health care for all of Missouri's citizens.

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