GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Several elected officials have called for stronger mental health programs in the wake of Wednesday’s school shooting in Florida, but local agencies have dealt with nothing but cuts in recent years.
“We have approximately a $12 million budget deficit this year,” Scott Gilman, CEO of Network 180, told 24 Hour News 8 Friday. “We continue to struggle with getting the resources that are appropriated down through the red tape to the individuals that need the care.”
Most recently, Network 180 has made $2 million in cuts to their staff in addition to other service cuts.
They aren’t the only ones struggling. Ottawa County’s Community Mental Health has lost millions in revenue since 2014. In 2016, Ottawa County passed a millage to offset those losses and it generates about $3.2 million a year.
A community-based approach to funding is something Gilman is considering in Kent County.