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September 1, 2010

Anonymous CNHI The Kokomo Tribune Wed Sep 01, 2010, 12:30 AM EDT

THE ISSUE:Last week’s forum on the future of Logansport State Hospital.

OUR VIEW:Area leaders should hold state to promises made at meeting.

What nearly everyone gathered for a public forum last week wanted to hear was that the state had changed its mind, that it had decided not to scale back operations at Logansport State Hospital after all.

Sadly, that didn’t happen, and though area leaders have pledged to fight the decision, representatives of the Family and Social Services Administration offered little hope it would help.

The representatives did promise that displaced workers would be given priority consideration for any other state positions, and they pledged to put the affected workers in touch with WorkOne and other resources to help them land on their feet.

Asked whether they would be offering buyouts or early retirement packages, FSSA representatives said no. Asked whether the estimate of 355 layoffs was firm, they were non-committal.

Patients’ relatives also left disappointed. Though an advocate insisted his organization had many success stories to share, family members were skeptical that their cases would have such happy endings.

The agency did go on record in saying it would not simply release patients and let them fend for themselves. It pledged two years’ worth of follow-up to make sure that discharged patients were doing well in their new settings.

Those hoping to keep the facilities open had a glimmer of hope when an official suggested that the agency wanted to see the abandoned buildings continue to operate, but that hope dimmed when the same official pointed out federal restrictions that would seem to prohibit the state from transforming the facility into a privately operated hospital.

Officials did pledge to work with area leaders to find uses for buildings to be left vacant by the plan, but leaders say those efforts so far have been less than impressive.

Agency officials also held out the hope that at least part of the facility might be taken over by another state agency, and they acknowledged that the Indiana Department of Correction had expressed interest.

Area leaders should keep pushing for answers from state officials, and they should keep reminding them of the promises they made at last week’s forum.

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