By KHI News Service , August 02, 2011
TOPEKA — The head of the state welfare agency has countermanded controversial comments made last week by a top deputy to a group of mental health advocates.
Pedro Moreno, deputy secretary at the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, met last week with members of the Mental Health Coalition of Kansas.
Moreno, who heads disability and behavioral services at the agency, told those at the meeting that he planned to ask the state's judges to take into consideration SRS' budget situation and the capacities of the state hospitals before committing persons to the facilities. Admission to the hospitals is restricted to those considered a danger to themselves or others.
“We want to go to judges and plead with them and tell them that when you make (commitment) decisions, please consider capacity issues," Moreno told the coalition members.
But SRS officials have subsequently characterized Moreno's remarks as brainstorming and not representative of the agency's intentions.
And SRS Secretary Rob Siedlecki released an audio recording to members of the media saying that the agency remains focused on treating those with serious mental illness.
"The state is facing tough budget decisions," Siedlecki said, "but as mandated by federal law, SRS will continue to treat people with severe and persistent mental illness who are a danger to themselves and others. The priority of SRS is to make certain that every individual who needs help receives it, which will ensure the ongoing helath and safety of all Kansans."
For at least the past two years, the state's three hospitals for the mentally ill have regularly been filled beyond their licensed capacities.
In the budget approved by the Legislature earlier this year, SRS was instructed to trim about $21.5 million in state spending.