Halford updates supervisors on Region 11 mental health issues

The Franklin County Board of Supervisors received an update regarding the ongoing Southwest Mississippi Mental Health Complex Region 11 situation from board attorney Bill Halford on Tuesday, Sept. 6.

This past March, State Coordinator for Mental Health Accessibility Bill Rosamond informed supervisors from the nine counties serviced by Region 11 — including Franklin — that the operation was not providing adequate mental health services along with being in a financial crisis.

Rosamond also gave supervisors a 30-days deadline to address the concerns and come up with a plan to provide adequate mental health services in their respective counties.

Since that time, leaders from Franklin, Adams, Amite, Claiborne, Jefferson, Lawrence, Pike and Wilkinson counties have met several times to discuss the lingering situation and ultimately develop an action plan.

In May, the counties hired Chuck Lambert — formerly employed with the state’s Audit Department — to conduct an independent financial review of the books at Region 11 with the nine counties splitting the cost for undertaking that service.

The counties serviced by Region 11 have stayed in contact with Rosamond throughout the process and, according to Halford, have “pretty much dropped it back in Bill Rosamond’s lap” in terms of moving the matter forward.

Since the time of the first meeting between the local governmental entities, Adams County has expressed a desire to remove itself from Region 11 altogether and form its own region, and Claiborne, Jefferson and Wilkinson Counties are also leaning in that direction.

Halford said the plan Lambert put together for Region 11 includes all nine counties, and does not take into account Adams, Claiborne, Jefferson and Wilkinson not being a part of the region.

“As I understand it, Adams County is wanting out and wanting a new region formed,” he said.

“We got an email from the board attorney from Jefferson County that said they want to go with Adams. Claiborne is wanting to go that same route, and Wilkinson is on the fence, but they’re leaning that way, too.

“The plan Chuck has done considers all nine counties being together, so we’ve pretty much told Bill Rosamond, ‘We’ve done what we can do. We’ve got to know now what y’all are going to let those other four counties do, because if they do something different, then that throws everything we’ve done out.’

“It’s in their court now. They’ve got some decisions to make (in Jackson) before we know what we can do, otherwise we’re simply spinning our wheels.”

Halford said he personally does not see how the state would be able to allow Adams, Claiborne, Jefferson and Wilkinson to form their own region, as it would cost a large amount of money to set it up and the other regions would then want more funding as well.

He also said there has been dramatic improvement in the region’s presence in the counties.

“Region 11, right now, is doing a better job in the various counties, as I understand,” he said.

“I think the office here is open constantly now. Every time I go by and check it, it’s open.”

Another thing the panel considered — along with the other counties in the region — was who to appoint as members of the Region 11 oversight board.

“If we’re going to be financially responsible, then we need to have a bigger say in who’s paying the bills,” District 4 Supervisor Pat Larkin said.

“One of the things (the various county representatives) talked about was actually one of us, or the chancery clerk or even the sheriff being on that board ... somebody that has something invested in it,” Board President and District 5 Supervisor Jimmie “Bodi” Bass said.

Halford agreed, saying Amite County board attorney Reggie Jones had previously suggested appointing the chancery clerks of each county to the Region 11 board, if they were open to the idea and willing to serve in that capacity.