Letters to the editor: 10/03/02

Changes to mental health system are a mistake

To the Editor:

In my opinion this will prove to be a serious mistake, a mistake that will leave thousands of our most needy citizens without the services they desperately need.

Upon retirement six years ago, I was determined to leave the system I had helped develop for others to manage; however, this action has shaken my conscience and the very core of my social awareness and I feel a need to speak out.

The public mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse services have been more than 30 years in the making. The mental health centers act of 1963 set in motion for these services to be available in every community in the country. North Carolina organized the state into 41 area programs. We became known as having one of the best systems in the country.

The secretary of Health and Human Resources essentially brought a plan from the northeast and has a determination to impose this plan on North Carolina. The department brought a man from Michigan to implement this plan without regard for what is best for North Carolina. He has been quoted as saying, "I was hired to do a job, and I am going to do it whether you like it or not." This is hardly the way to work with established leaders in the development of a future service system.

The area directors have been told in so many words to accept this plan or you will be cut out of the intended 18 or 20 management entities designed to contract for private providers to provide a mere shadow of services available through the current public system of services.

The loss of this system of services will have a ripple effect on all systems of our community. Our schools, our Social Services, our health services, our juvenile justice system, our Smart Start system, our shelters for battered women and children and others. This change has a high likelihood of destabilizing many of our families and even our total community.

I feel our state leadership has abdicated their responsibilities to the secretary of Health and Human Resources, and I feel strongly that this will prove to cause great harm for North Carolina. I have conducted an in-depth study of what is happening and can effectively counter any argument or defense the secretary may offer as to why she is doing this.

We should not let this system of services that so many worked very hard for over 30 years to put together to be dismantled. Thousands will lose their jobs and more importantly tens of thousands of our citizens will not have the services they need to function in schools, in families and throughout daily activities in our community.

I urge every responsible citizen and every employee of our schools and other systems that will be negatively effected by this change to write and call their legislators and ask them to not let the Secretary of Health and Human Resources dismantle our public mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse service system.

Hugh D. Moon

Sylva Editor's Note: Moon was the area director for Smoky Mountain Center for MH/DD/SA Services for many years prior to his retirement in 1996.

A Fine Mountain Heritage

To the Editor:

So many people from Western Carolina University and the surrounding community work together each year to produce Mountain Heritage Day that it would be impossible to recognize each and every one. What is evident each year, however, is that the cooperation between the university and the community creates a spirited celebration of the heritage and traditions that have been the fabric of these mountains since the early settlers arrived here.

This year, that spirit of cooperation was more in evidence than usual. Despite heavy rains for days leading up to the event, our grounds crew and facilities management folks worked long, tiring hours to see that Mountain Heritage Day went on as scheduled. Their commitment to Mountain Heritage Day reflects the university's continuing commitment to this significant event, a commitment that will only grow stronger in the coming years.

Mountain Heritage Day is one of the most important events Western Carolina University engages in each year. It binds our past to the present, and in doing so, helps ensure that mountain music, folk arts, dance, and traditions continue into the future.

As chancellor of Western Carolina University, I am extremely proud of Mountain Heritage Day, and again, I am proud of those whose efforts have made it possible for the past 28 years - and for untold years to come.

John W. Bardo

Cullowhee

Back to Archive: 10/03/02.