WILLMAR –– A top state official with the Department of Human Services will be in Willmar on Tuesday to discuss the proposed closing of a children’s psychiatric hospital in Willmar and the downsizing of an adult treatment facility here.
Anne Barry, deputy commissioner of the Department of Human Services, will be at the regular business meeting of the Kandiyohi County Board of Commissioners at the Health and Human Services Building.
Barry is scheduled to be there at 10 a.m.
The commissioners had invited Barry to the meeting to respond to concerns about how the program changes would affect mental health services in west central Minnesota.
The Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Services program, which provides residential mental health treatment for a small number of children with severe needs, is the only facility of its kind in the state.
Gov. Mark Dayton is proposing to close the facility and also to downsize the Community Addiction Recovery Enterprise program in Willmar.
Both programs are currently housed on the Minnwest Technology campus in Willmar.
Chairman of the Kandiyohi County Board, Jim Butterfield, said he’s grateful Barry has agreed to meet with the board to discuss the proposed changes.
Butterfield said he wants Barry to know that “Willmar is ready to work with her and DHS” in a “partnership” to deliver mental health services.
“I’m very thankful that she’s willing to come out,” Butterfield said.
Local lawmakers Sen. Lyle Koenen, DFL-Clara City, and Rep. Dave Baker, R-Willmar, have met with Barry and DHS officials to explore options for keeping the programs at full strength here.
The legislators “made a little bit of noise in St. Paul and I’m glad St. Paul is kind of listening and coming out to have a dialogue with us,” Butterfield said. “That’s huge.”
Closing the children’s mental health hospital could affect about 40 local jobs.
The commissioners have expressed concern about how and where those children would receive treatment if the Willmar facility closed.
“What are they going to do to replace that?” Butterfield asked.
The proposed changes are not “etched in stone” and Butterfield said he’s hoping that having a chance for a face-to-face dialogue may “sway her mind” and the ultimately the governor’s proposal.
“The first step in getting something done is the dialogue,” Butterfield said.
The County Board meeting will be on the second floor of the Health and Human Services Building, 2200 23rd Street N.E.
