These individuals pose a threat to themselves or others and must be housed in a secure facility with around the clock medical care. As the public receiving facility for the 4 county area of District 15, overcrowding in our adult crisis unit results in back-ups throughout the mental health system. This also negatively impacts the quality of care offered when clients exceed out bed capacity. Also it is anticipated that G.P. Wood State Hospital will stop admitting clients soon, and the hospital will completely close down in July, 2002. The closure of the State Hospital will surely increase our already over-crowded census.
Additional funding is needed immediately for the above reasons.