June 15, 2008
The KEYS facility houses the Residential Diagnostic Treatment and Receiving Home programs.
Funding challenges force closure of Kuskokwim Emergency Youth Services
The Kuskokwim Emergency Youth Services (KEYS) facility, which houses two separate emergency shelter programs, will close as a result of funding loss. YKHC is currently working with the State of Alaska Department of Health & Social Services to accomodate the transition and has agreed to continue operations for an additional quarter, ending September 30.
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 (OCS).
YKHC received notice of a decrease in the grant award for the upcoming year, prompting a review of services offered under the State Division of Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery Grant, which funds the RDT. The grant also includes funding for the Phillips Ayagnirvik Treatment Center (PATC) and the Crisis Respite Center (CRC), YKHC's adult treatment and emergency support service programs.
"We are faced with a decline in funding for this program and increasing costs of operation that have continued to rise over the years," said Jack Robert Crow, Vice President for Health Services at YKHC. "Under these circumstances, YKHC is unfortunately unable to maintain these services."
The RDT program constitutes four of the 12 beds at the KEYS building with the remaining dedicated to the Receiving Home. The two programs were integrated in 2002. 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.
"We are developing a plan for the care of affected receiving home clients and clinical teams are discussing the best options for care of the RDT clients," said Crow.
Presently, the OCS is seeking another vendor to operate services. Future plans for the building have not yet been determined.
