Letter: Cuts would kill program for sick children

Monday, Oct. 28, 2002 | 9:05 a.m.

I want it to be known that in the governor's budget cuts, he really isn't spending less of the state's money by closing down the Acute Children's Unit at Desert Willow Treatment Center. This program is the only state program of its kind that takes those children that have no insurance.

This program is for severely emotionally disturbed children who need mental hospitalization. An example would be a 10-year-old boy who kills the neighbor's dog because he is angry.

Once this unit is closed down on April 1, these children will be hospitalized at UMC pediatric emergency room taking up much-needed space and taxpayers' money. These children would not be getting the psychological help they need lying in a bed at UMC. Mostly they would be given drugs to help sedate them until they seem calm enough to be let back out to their homes, schools and streets.

Keeping the Acute Children's unit open would not only save the taxpayers money, but also help heal these children. A much better idea then just masking the problem with medication. UMC is running in the red already: Why give it an extra financial burden by saying it saves money by cutting a state program for very sick children? We can help these children today, or jail them later on.

BEVERLY BOTTORFF