Connecticut Budget Focuses on Mentally Ill, as Nursing Home Union Demands Salary Hike

As part of his $12.9 billion state budget proposal, Connecticut Gov. John Rowland (R) is requesting more than $130 million to improve mental health services for adults and children, the AP/New Haven Register reports. The funding would be used to create more prevention programs, "rapid respond" crisis teams, more residential beds to bring mentally ill children being treated out of state back to Connecticut and additional services and programs (AP/New Haven Register, 2/8). Rowland has also proposed creating an new "umbrella agency," the Office of Secretary for Children, which would oversee child protection, prevention, juvenile justice and behavioral health, areas currently handled by the Department of Children and Families (Hiadky, New Haven Register, 2/8). As part of the budget, the governor is seeking $5 million to construct a 500-bed community justice center for nonviolent drug offenders in order to give judges "more discretion in drug cases." The Register reports that the plan is a "major shift" in state policy away from incarceration and toward treatment for nonviolent drug users. Rowland said, "Make no mistake, buying drugs is a crime -- but addiction is a disease. Criminals must be punished, but the addict must be treated" (Hoffman, New Haven Register, 2/8).