HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 today 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, both 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."
CONTACT: Christina Novak
(717) 787-4592
Pennsylvania Department of Public WelfareCONTACT: Christina Novak of Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare,+1-717-787-4592
Web site: http://www.state.pa.us/
