State mental health agency laying off 100 case managers

What a shame. DMH does great work we have good relations with their case managers who help my clients.

My guess: These were hack jobs and 1/2 of the caseworkers probably worked, at best, 20 hour weeks like the rest of the hacks in the state and City of Boston. The caseworkers probably aren't as corrupt as many others in higher positions, so it's a shame in that regard.

Wouldn't it make more sense to eliminate the toll takers and use those savings to pay for the mental health professionals? Apparentley not in Massachusetts.

Brimerdune, these people work very hard with a very demanding clientele. They are NOT hacks. I say that because I'm a therapist in a private agency, and I see the work they do. They not only "aren't as corrupt" - they AREN'T corrupt. You know, the State does actually do some things right once in a while - and DMH caseworkers are a good example. Don't judge until you've walked a mile in their shoes...

Brimerdune,

I'm sure your place of employment have a bunch of "hacks" as well. How about those people that work for the state to help your sorry behind. Perhaps it will be the day your in a hospital and recieve substandard care from a doctor or nurse and do what the other losers do in this and every state and file suit to have that person's ability to practice medicine or nursing...what "hack" do you think is going to help your sorry behind.
I agree the state has some people that take advantage and they are no doubt elected or appointed to those positions. There are still hard working people that work in the public service sector that are severly underpaid, underappreciated, and have to deal with ignorant people like you everyday.

Leave the state if you don't like it or the people that work for it.

beaker

together we can.....especially to human sevice workers who serve those less likely to vote... one term and out-together we can.....

Unless you have been involved with the Deparmtent of Mental Health and our state hospitals you have no idea of the challenges these people face. There are hack jobs for sure in our state government but I can guarentee that these case workers are not among them.

Brimerdum, being a DMH employee but not a case worker I can assure you that Case Managers are both overworked and grossly underpaid for their work. But I am glad I work in this environment with these people and clients than with pin heads such as yourself. Stick with topics you know about, which I would guess are few if any.

Brimerdune, you're an idiot who clearly knows nothing about the mental health system. These caseworkers are severely underpaid as it is. If you had a loved one with a disability, you would be upset with this drastic cut in services to this community when you have toll collectors making $25 an hour and bus drivers making $65000/year.

Same old B.S. when cuts are proposed. "We want to protect the most vulnerable
in our society." This society seems to be running upside down. It's
heartbreaking to hear this news.

Hey as we collide into the Greator Depression and many more folks will be stressed by hard times, what is crazier than laying off mental health workers, What irony here, Speaking of a bunch of crazies thank goodness the legislature is getting a pay raise,

Case managers provide a valuable direct service to the most vulnerable folks in the state. Of course, they have no political power or leverage and are the first to be laid off.. Those who provide indirect service vis a vis administrative work (bureaucrats) are more directly connected to the state hierarchy, get paid more, and are less likely to cut their own positions.
And so it goes.......

The worst part about this is the cuts were made based on seniority not on job performance. Today Massachusetts lost many passionate and dedicated case managers who support and advocate for an increasingly marginalized population. They will be sorely misssed.

Why is it always the direct service workers that go and not the managers? I worked for the state for 15 years in two different departments and I believe we do not need all the micro-managing that goes on. We DO need the people on the ground - those closest to the clients.

Why is DMH not laying off any managers or administrators? We can least afford to cut the people who provide direct care services, yet that is what is getting cut. Shame on the higher ups in DMH for your selfishness. You're protecting your own butts at the expense of those who can least afford it. What say you commissioner Leadholm?

Why cares about the poor and the voiceless? As long as the ultra-wealthy who recieved all the tax cuts and give-aways under W are happy, that's all that matters. As long as the wealtjy elites who control Haliburton and Exxon-Mobil have their Learjets and caviar- to Hell with the Poor.

Eight years of the Bush-Cheney War on the Poor and Middle Class in America is only now starting to really manifest itself. You ain't see nothing yet.

This is very upsetting, DMH case managers are important and effective for people who suffer from Mental Illness. A real shame.

I will be the first to first to remain critical of the State. We spend an excess of amount of money on crap!

However, DMH, DMR, DPH, and DOC are not crap! They are taking the brunt of the cuts while other departments are working as normal. If we are going to cut spending, then cut the damn Hill Budget. Congressmen shouldn't be getting compenstated for going to do the people's work everyday! That would save 10 jobs right there.

Thankfully Gov Devall Patrick has spent 120k plus benefits on his real estate person at DCAM. Makes me feel so much better - NOT - that we kick to the curb of life those who battle with mental illness.

Yet another incredibly short sighted move by the Commonwealth. Case management is the backbone of community mental health services and keeps people with severe mental health conditions from deteriorating thus needing even more expensive inpatient services in longer term care facilities. Or, conversely, living rough, as in more homelessness. But, hey, who cares? They are only your sisters and brothers.

It looks like DMH did a terribly ineffective job of advocating for its clients when the budget cuts were being thrashed out. The loss of 100 case workers will actually cost the taxpayers more in the long run, as clients wind up in our medical and correctional institutions. The effect on many of these vulnerable people will be catastrophic.

Again, I am rechecking the party affiliation of our governor. Massachusetts was once a forerunner in the quality of care given to our most fragile and vulnerable citizens. Continue like this, and we'll be filling up the house on the hill as we did in the 50's.

Deval Patrick and his organization thinks he's saving the State money by cutting DMH case managers, but in the long run it's going to cost more money to clean up the mess that will result from these cuts. I foresee there being many tragedies occurring from these cuts, and this makes me so sad. This whole thing makes me sad. It's like I am watching a car accident happening right in my face and not being able to do anything about it. I voted for Deval Patrick. He's not getting my vote again.

I'm very disappointed. It seems that once again mental health takes a back seat to physical health. Don't people realize that mental health care is just as important? This helps perpetuate the stigma of mental health. Until it is recognized as another breakdown of the body, a treatable ailment, mental health patients will continue to get the short end of the stick. As Rodney Dangerfield used to say about himself, mental health "gets no respect".

I'm very disappointed. It seems that once again mental health takes a back seat to physical health. Don't people realize that mental health care is just as important? This helps perpetuate the stigma of mental health. Until it is recognized as another breakdown of the body, a treatable ailment, mental health patients will continue to get the short end of the stick. As Rodney Dangerfield used to say about himself, mental health "gets no respect".

I'm very disappointed. It seems that once again mental health takes a back seat to physical health. Don't people realize that mental health care is just as important? This helps perpetuate the stigma of mental health. Until it is recognized as another breakdown of the body, a treatable ailment, mental health patients will continue to get the short end of the stick. As Rodney Dangerfield used to say about himself, mental health "gets no respect".

I can't believe these important services are cut when the lawmakers just received a 5.5% pay increase.