Intergovernmental Ordinance Passed by Commissioners
County commissioners approved both the intergovernmental ordinance and the grant application for future improvements to the Belmont Complex in East Franklin Township earlier this month.
by Jonathan Weaver
Armstrong County Commissioners unanimously passed an ordinance at their regular meeting to continue a crucial health agreement.
Behavioral and Developmental Health Program (BDHP) Administrator Tammy Calderone explained the ordinance.
“The ordinance authorizes the county to enter into an amended intergovernmental agreement for the purpose of continuing a collaborative existing between the counties of Armstrong, Butler, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington and Westmoreland that delegates to Southwest Behavioral Health Management to enter into a single health basis agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.”
The Armstrong-Indiana Behavioral and Developmental Health Program (formerly MH/MR),has offices in Kittanning and Indiana, provides administrative oversight of the Mental Health, Intellectual Disabilities and Early Intervention systems for Armstrong and Indiana Counties.
For 46 years, BDHP has provided support to individuals and their families via specialized services offered through contracted providers, as well as the staff’s personal knowledge and experiences. The program was developed in 1969 to comply with the Mental Health/Mental Retardation Act of that year and the Mental Health Procedures Act of 1976.
BDHP maintains a 24 hour, 7 days a week coverage for emergency commitments.
In the 2013-14 fiscal year, BDHP received 39 requests for long-term care, and 302 involuntary commitments between the two counties – 100 of which in Armstrong.
In that year, the program had a $7.2 million budget.
Calderone was officially appointed the new administrator to the Armstrong-Indiana Behavioral and Developmental Health Program in May 2012 by the Armstrong County Commissioners, replacing Jim Kuemmerle who voluntarily resigned February 6. Calderone was the interim director for three months prior to her appointment.
May was designated ‘Mental Health Awareness Month.’
“One in five individuals will be diagnosed with a mental disorder, so it’s important to point out this is a common occurrence,” Calderone said during a previous designation. “There are a lot of resources in Armstrong County that anyone with a mental health diagnosis can access.”
Yesterday morning, County officials held a public meeting on the Consolidated County Human Service Plan at the Armstrong County Community Action Agency headquarters in East Franklin Township -to provide residents with the opportunity for input into the plan prior to submission to the PA Department of Human Services.
The human services involved were: Mental Health Community Based Funded Services, Behavioral Health Services Initiative, Intellectual Disabilities Community Based Funded Services, Child Welfare Special Grants, Act 152 Funding Homeless Assistance Program Funding, and Human Services Development Fund.
Last week, commissioners also authorized for a grant application to be submitted by today.
Greenways, Trails and Recreation grant applications to the Commonwealth Financing Authority through the Department of Community and Economic Development are due today, and like East Franklin Township supervisors last week, the County also is interested in applying for a local project.
For at least the third time, County Planning and Development Assistant Director Carmen Johnson said the County will submit an application for Phase IV improvements to the Belmont Complex in East Franklin.
Johnson received approval in April to apply for the upgrades – which include a new multipurpose room, a women’s locker room, a corridor to the pool access and an outdoor plaza.
“The total cost of the project is a little over $278,000 – the grant will cover 85 percent of that, which is $236,948,” Johnson said.
An application was also submitted last year at this time, but the project cost was estimated at $250,000.
East Franklin Township supervisors authorized Community Development Division Director Jennifer Bellas last week to submit a similar application, but in order to help build a new community playground in the village of Tarrtown.
Local News | jweaver June 30, 2015
