Clinical Care Manager Position Proposed for Armstrong-Indiana Behavioral and Developmental Health Program
Commissioners from Armstrong and Indiana Counties discussed a potential new clinical care manager position for the Armstrong-Indiana Behavioral and Developmental Health Program Tuesday afternoon.
By: Sarah Steighner
The Armstrong and Indiana County Commissioners held a joint public meeting Tuesday afternoon to review and sign the Armstrong-Indiana Behavioral and Developmental Health Program’s (AI-BDHP) 2015-2016 fiscal year contracts with service providers.
A new Clinical Care Manager position was also proposed to the Commissioners during the meeting.
The 76 proposed contracts dealt with the AI-BDHP’s projected costs in mental health, early intervention, and intellectual disabilities service areas.
The meeting was led by Tammy Calderone, the administrator of the Armstrong-Indiana Behavioral and Developmental Health Program.
“They (the contracts) are pretty much standard. The same providers that we normally have on the early intervention and intellectual disabilities program are driven by the consumers,” Calderone said.
Calderone then explained why she needed the commissioners approval for the potential new position within the program.
“Since we’re civil service local government employees out of our program, anytime we bring on any new position, the commissioners have to approve that,” Calderone explained.
Calderone described the purpose and uniqueness of the proposed position.
“In our particular program, we’re lacking a little bit in clinical oversight and having that expertise in our office. I think this would really be helpful in filling a gap to help coordinate services, specifically for folks who are seriously mentally ill, and who are coordinating with the hospitals, providers, housing programs, and just putting all the pieces together. We have our service providers, but this person would be working to make sure that they get their authorization for things,” Calderone said.
Calderone elaborated on why this position is needed so much for the Armstrong-Indiana Behavioral and Developmental Health Program.
“Right now we’re sort of doing that (clinical oversight duties), but not doing it well. So I’d really like to have someone to focus specifically on that and then our existing staff would be able to focus on the quality management,”
Calderone projected that this position’s salary would be around $70,000. However, since the proposal stated that the position “could be” 100 percent funded through their Health Choices Administrative dollars, she was questioned as to if there were reserve funds in the budget ready if it could not be funded through Health Choices.
“If it turns out that I can’t fund it, then I won’t do it,” Calderone said.
County Commissioner David Battaglia questioned as to the benefits of what would make this particular position unique to Armstrong County.
“If this is a unique model for our county, what are other areas doing or not doing? I don’t mind this being unique, but what is the upside,” Battaglia asked.
“The counties are experiencing the same issues we are, (I’ve learned) in talking with some of the other counties. Since we operate separately from actual counties it’s even more difficult for them to get new folks on so if they see that this works well with us, then it will help them to get this type of position in their counties,” Calderone said.
The position would be physically working based from the Kittanning office. However, the position would be working in partnership with both Armstrong and Indiana counties for the Armstrong-Indiana Behavioral and Developmental Health Program.
A motion was made to move forward on the proposal upon the contingent based upon funding. The motion carried.
While it will take some time to set up the position, Calderone hopes to fill the position before the end of the year.
Local News | Sarah Steighner July 1, 2015
