Editorial: State role is needed

Monday, April 26, 2004 | 8:50 a.m.

Once again the state of Nevada has refused to help a program run by WestCare, a nonprofit organization in Southern Nevada. Under the program, mentally ill people who would otherwise land in a jail cell or an emergency room are given shelter and treatment. Local governments and hospitals in Southern Nevada contribute money to the program because WestCare can deliver more appropriate service, and at a cost that is far lower than at government-run jails and hospital emergency rooms.

WestCare's program is badly needed -- at full capacity it serves more than 6,000 people a year. The reason it's badly needed is because the state over the years has sorely neglected its responsibility to adequately fund mental health services. Yet the state refuses to pitch in and help this program. The 2003 Legislature refused. Last November the Legislative Interim Finance Committee refused. And last week a state task force distributing $8 million from the Nevada's tobacco settlement refused a WestCare request for money.

With the state refusing to become a partner, WestCare has had to cut back its staff and services for this program by a third. The state recently committed to building a new psychiatric hospital in Las Vegas. But that's not scheduled to open for another two years. WestCare, and all of the Las Vegas Valley, has a need now. The state should become a full partner in WestCare's program.