Shelter Care:What happens now?
Published by Mark Von Nida on April 18th, 2008
By Mark
I won’t second guess the Board on this vote but this is a blog that is supposed to represent various opinions. I will say that Labor as well as a community organization known as United Congregations Metro East brought considerable pressure on the individual members to vote in favor of building the new home. I know that there were several comments by those groups that Democratic members were acting like Republicans by voting no.
The repercussions of these groups disappointment will depend on Chairman Dunstan’s ability to live up to his pledge before the vote. In an unusal move he stated his position against the resolution but strongly insisted that the residents and employees will be treated well. I suspect that some who would accept nothing less than the current model of treatment will be disappointed but if appropriate placements are made for the current residents and jobs can be found for the employees, tension should ease over time.
I think it is a fundemental Democratic value that we believe that people are not expendable. That humans that are employed should not be discarded without regard and dignity. Along with the responsibility which was assumed when we took these residents into our care, there is a responsibility for the people we paid to do that job of caring for them. No one would want to see someone who has dedicated decades of service to be dismissed without regard to their pension and benefits.
I’m not talking about paying someone to do nothing or to create some make work positions. There is plenty that needs to be done.
One of the little known facts about Madison County is that we have one of the best Emplyment and Training Programs in the State. The Chairman should convene a meeting of Department Heads and immediately start seeking options for finding meaningful productive jobs for all the displaced workers who want them. It is not necessarily true that Democrats have to approve every expenditure and support every program but it is important that they show they have heart.
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April 18th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
And its not just a Democrat responsibility to have “heart”, there’s room for that with Republicans, as well.
GW might have somewhat jumbled the idea of “compassionate conservatism,” but I would be hard-pressed to think that any of the 22 Democrats OR Republicans that voted against the new facility want to see the residents kicked out on the street.
Just the opposite, in fact, and it sounds as if many of those members are working hard behind the scenes to close the wounds from this divisive vote and work on preparing the county, staff, and residents for the transition.
One thing we can ALL agree on is working to find the best care for the most affordable cost to the taxpayer.
Effectiveness and efficiency don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
April 19th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
The shelter care issue raises a question about what services governmental bodies should offer. Providing services already offered by the private sector should be carefully examined by government. The consequences are what we just seen during the long debate over the shelter care.
If there was no shelter care facility in Madison county, there is little doubt there would have been little or no debate about building a facility at all. Since there was a facility, the discussion focused on the needs of those using the facility and those employees provide the services. They are two seperate and distinct issue, but became one during this debate.
I am sure the current shelter care employees will be able to find careers in the health care industry. It is one of the service industries with high job growth and good pay and benefits. Hospitals and other providers are offering bonuses for qualified and experienced people.
The other issue will be what happens during the transition phase. As the people working at the facility find new jobs, how will the existing patients be taken care of? How will the facility be staffed, as people leave? Who will want to work there knowing the job is temporary? There is going to have to be some very carefull planning to make sure care is kept at a quality level, until the facility is closed. There may be some bumps in the road in the interim.
In the long run, the decision made by the Madison county board and Chairman Dunstan should mean better care for the patients, better jobs for the current employees and less taxes for the county residents.
April 24th, 2008 at 10:51 am
[...] members of the board and will also bring the compassion (that Mark talked earlier about in this post) to the process. Published by Al Adomite on April 24th, 2008 | Filed under County [...]
April 30th, 2008 at 2:08 am
Tom Says:
April,30,2008
Partisanship rules the day. It will all work out. If it is not your loved one. It really don’t concern you, or does it. It’s someonelse’s responsibility anyway isn’t it. A large majority of the homeless today are mental disorder. The wealthiest nation in the world ought to do better. Ever since Reagen closed all the mental institutions we have turned our backs on them. We care about every thing ,but people. Especially those who have no voice. Who will speak for them. The Shelter Home has always been a place of quality care serving the specific needs of our residents, and their families. A new (transitional) home could only improve an already excellent facility. Mr. Chairman the battle isn’t over yet. Don’t buy that lie about an old model. This home is very special. It is a home. Ask the residents. I challenge everyone to visit this home. Especially the Board Members of this County. Many I don’t believe have.Don’t be fooled into believing that there will be cost savings in this closure. I honestly expect the cost will increase, but the biggest loss will be this wonderful facility. We are all familiar with short term fixs, and the consequences. This Board was elected to act in our behalf.I encourage you to get involved, call, write, blog,let your voice be heard.
April 30th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Why don’t we privitize and deregulate everything. Let the free market system work it out. It worked for Healthcare right.
If it works don’t fix it. There is always a dozen reasons not to do something if you don’t want to. Let’s do what is right. By now those who switched their votes can either see or doubt that they made the right decision. It’s not too late to turn this around.