| Press
Release
| Patriot
Cover Article
| Public
Meeting Announcement
DEPT. OF PUBLIC WELFARE TO CLOSE HARRISBURG
STATE HOSPITAL AND ALTOONA CENTER AS PART OF ONGOING EFFORT TO IMPROVE
COMMUNITY-BASED CARE
HARRISBURG: In keeping with the Rendell Administration’s
commitment that people with mental illnesses and disabilities have
the opportunity to live and thrive in open, integrated community
settings, Secretary Estelle B. Richman toddy announced that the
Department of Public Welfare (DPW) plans to close Harrisburg State
Hospital in Dauphin County and the Altoona Center in Blair County.
“Over the past 150 years, there have been significant changes
in our knowledge about and treatment and care of people with mental
Illnesses and developmental disabilities,” Secretary Richman
said. “Today, we are focused on building community partnerships
and providing a unified approach to funding community services and
support systems that promote recovery for people with mental illnesses.
Partnerships and funding also reduce our reliance on institutions
for people with mental illness and developmental disabilities. This
decision is in keeping with that philosophy.
“Our intent is to return the millions of dollars used to run
more restrictive, costly services at the facilities to the community
to develop and sustain support programs and continue to improve
the mental health and disability service delivery system in the
Commonwealth,” Secretary Richman said.
Harrisburg State Hospital currently serves 258 patients at its 200-acre
campus, with a staff of approximately 540 people. The Altoona Center
is a three-story building in downtown Altoona that serves 90 individuals
with a staff of about 188.
“We will make every effort to work with our dedicated staff
to help them find employment opportunities at our other state facilities
and with new or existing community programs,” Secretary Richman
said.
Harrisburg State Hospital serves seven counties -- Adams, Cumberland,
Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Perry and York. The people living at
the Altoona Center are from 24 counties.
Public hearings will be held by DPW to accept comments about the
closing of both facilities. For HSH, there will be two sessions,
bath on Jan. 27, at the Zembo Mosque, 2801 North Third St., Harrisburg.
The first session will be from 2 — 4 p.m. and the second from
6 to 9 p.m. Persons wanting to speak are asked to register by calling
Lisa Brommer at (717) 772-7584.
For the Altoona Center, the hearing will be held Jan. 25 at 6 p.m.
at the Ramada Inn, 1 Sheraton Drive, Altoona. People who would like
to speak are asked to register by calling Patricia McCool at (717)
772-6507.
For Harrisburg State Hospital, DPW will convene a community advisory
team including residents, county representatives in the service
area and other stakeholders to monitor and assist with implementation
of the year-long closure process. Representatives at the Altoona
Center will work closely with individuals, families, counties and
providers to plan for and develop community living supports that
meet the needs of each individual.
The department estimates that about 135 HSH residents will be moved
into community settings, and the remainder of the individuals will
be transferred to Danville State Hospital in Montour County and
Wernersville State Hospital in Berks County. For the Altoona Center,
DPW estimates about 45 residents will be placed in community settings
in 2005, and 45 initially will be transferred to the Ebensburg Center
in Cambria County.
Placing individuals in the community will be done through an array
of living options, including group homes, public housing and living
with family.
Since fiscal year 1994-95, the patient census at Pennsylvania’s
nine state hospitals decreased from 4,934 to 2,356 as of June 2004.
Since the 1960s, the resident census at Pennsylvania’s state
centers has decreased from 13,000 to 1,488 people today.
HSH was established by the legislature in 1845. Its first patient
was admitted in 1851. The Altoona Center opened In November 1975
to support people with long term care needs.
Being an active part of the community with the possibility of having
a job and living more independently is important to quality of life,”
Secretary Richman said. “That’s why we are committed
to community-based care whenever possible.”
|
