Funding loss closes shelter in Bethel

ALASKA NEWSPAPERS STAFF
editor@alaskanewspapers.com

May 30, 2008 at 1:18PM AKST

Officials at the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp. said today that the Kuskokwim Emergency Youth Services (KEYS) facility in Bethel, which houses two separate emergency shelter programs, will close as a result of funding loss.

 

Discussions are ongoing with the state to accommodate the transition and determine an exact date of closure, officials said.

 

KEYS is a 12-bed facility managing the Residential Diagnostic Treatment Center (RDT) and Receiving Home programs. The RDT serves children and teens who require short-term residential treatment, while the Receiving Home provides shelter and care for children who are placed in the custody of the Office of Children’s Services.

 

The programs are funded by the State Division of Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery Grant. The health corporation received notice in early May of a decrease in the grant award for the upcoming fiscal year. A re-evaluation of services offered under the grant was initiated.

 

The grant also includes funding for the Phillips Ayagnirvik Treatment Center and the Crisis Respite Center, the health corporation’s adult treatment and emergency support service programs.

 

“We are faced with a decline in funding for this program and increasing costs of operation have continued to rise over the years,” said Jack Robert Crow, vice president of health services at the hospital. “Under these circumstances, YKHC is unfortunately unable to maintain these services."

 

The RDT program constitutes four of the twelve beds at the KEYS building with the remaining dedicated to the Receiving Home. Integrated in 2004, nearly 1.2 million dollars was spent in direct operational and facility costs for both programs in 2007. Considerations to eliminate the RDT program were weighed based on the financial sustainability of the program as well as the availability of services for children and adults in the region.

 

“A plan is being developed for the care of affected receiving home clients and clinical teams are discussing the best options for care of the RDT clients,” added Crow.

 

Childrens Services is seeking another vendor.

Visit www.ykhc.org/ for more information.