Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
MANY IN VIRGINIA-- AND
ACROSS THE NATION-- ARE
CALLING FOR
BEEFED UP MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES RIGHT NOW.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY GAVE
1- POINT-FIVE MILLION
DOLLARS THIS YEAR
TO START CRISIS SERVICES
ACROSS VIRGINIA, BUT
HAMPTON ROADS
DIDN'T GET ANY OF THAT
MONEY. NEITHER DID
NORTHERN VIRGNIA.
TODAY I SPOKE WITH THE
NEW COORDINATOR OF YOUTH
MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES IN
VIRGNIA BEACH-- WHO IS
FIGHTING FOR FUNDING
HERE.
WHILE THE THE TRAGEDY IN
NEWTOWN, CONNECTICUT
BROUGHT THE COUNTRY TO
TEARS, IT ALSO BROUGHT
MANY TO THEIR
FEET.
JIM THORNTON BELIEVES
THERE IS A GAP IN
VIRGINIA'S MENTAL HEALTH
CARE SYSTEM THAT MUST BE
FILLED.
STOPPING THEM HE SAYS
TAKES EARLY INTERVENTION.
LIKE THE PARANOID AND
AGGRESSIVE 16 YEAR OLD HE
WAS ASSIGNED TO NEAR
LYNCHBURG A
DECADE AGO.
THE BOYS' PARENTS NOT
ONLY KNEW ABOUT THE GUNS
THEY HAD GIVEN
MOST OF THEM TO THEIR SON
AS CHRISTMAS AND
BIRTHDAY GIFTS.
THORNTON GOT A COURT
ORDER TO HAVE THEM
REMOVED.
THORNTON EXPLAINED
CHILDREN ON MEDICAID CAN
GET
CRISIS SERVICES, BUT
FAMILIES WITH PRIVATE
INSURANCE HAVE TWO
CHOICES,
HOSPITALIZATION OR OUT
PATIENT CARE, WHICH IS
USUALLY A COUPLE HOURS A
WEEK. HE IS WRITING A
PROPOSAL NOW ASKING THE
STATE FOR ONGOING FUNDS
TO PROVIDE CRISIS
SERVICES
FOR EVERYONE. HE
ESTIMATES THE COST AT
ABOUT 3-
THOUSAND DOLLARS A MONTH
PER CHILD. A COST THAT
COULD NEVER COMPARE TO
LOSS SUCH AS THIS.
LAWMAKERS START BUDGET
TALKS IN JUST A FEW SHORT
WEEKS.
THORNTON'S OFFICE IS
ASKING FOR 745 THOUSAND
DOLLARS.
IT WOULD INCLUDE SOME
OVERNIGHT BEDS FOR MENTAL
HEALTH SERIVCES,
AS WELL AS A MOBILE
CRISIS TEAM SIMILAR TO
THE ONE HE BEGAN IN
LYNCHBURG. IT WOULD BE
BASED IN VIRGINIA BEACH
AND USED AS A MODEL FOR