Program’s waiting list grows as state budget sinks

By Cy Ryan

Friday, Feb. 27, 2009 | 2 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Cuts in the state’s mental health budget have led to big increases in the waiting lists for those with developmental disabilities to receive services.

The waiting list for residential services at the Desert Regional Center in Las Vegas has grown to 325; 53 are waiting to enter the autism program and 116 for job training.

Jeff Mohlenkamp, an administrator in the state Division of Mental Health and Developmental Services, said some individuals have been waiting for a year to enter one of the state’s programs.

“We had to make some hard choices,” said Harold Cook, administrator of Mental Health and Developmental Services. “We’re trying to serve as many people as we can. We may reduce services that are not essential to the health and welfare of the person.”

Ed Guthrie, executive director of Opportunity Village in Las Vegas, said the waiting lists do not yet included an estimated 600-700 students who will graduate from high school in the next year. “They will want residential services and day job services,” he said.

Cook and Mohlenkamp testified before a Senate-Assembly joint budget subcommittee in a room packed primarily with parents of children who have mental disabilities.

Travis Mills of Reno said without the training he received at the Sierra Regional Center in such things as cooking he would be able to live on his own.

The three state centers that provide services to the developmental disabled are all nationally accredited. But Cook said that accreditation could be threatened as services are reduced.

To save money, the division changed the eligibility requirements. To qualify, a family of four would have to have an income of 300 percent of the poverty level. That was reduced from 500 percent of the poverty level.

A family of four with an income of $66,000 could still qualify for the services for a family member with developmental disabilities, Cook said.

Even with the cutbacks, the budget still provides for some growth, he said.

For instance, Gov. Jim Gibbons’ budget for the Desert Regional Center recommends $93.7 million for next fiscal year compared to the current funding of $81.3 million. This fiscal year, those receiving support totaled 3,183 and that would increase to 3,376 next fiscal years.