Over eighty public mental health workers in Klamath County are getting layoff notices this week…the future of those jobs hinge on completion of a coordinated care organization, or ‘C.C.O.’ contract.
Klamath Behavioral Health and Wellness Director Amanda Bunger began giving verbal notices on Tuesday…
“Layoff notices have been given to the entire department, 81 individuals.”
Bunger explains that without a signed contract from CCO Cascade Comprehensive Care, there’s no guarantees of funding after July first…
“We are right now unsure of the funding situation. And so it was prudent via the union contract to provide everyone layoff notices, so that we have the ability to see how much money we would get, and how many individuals we could keep employed.”
Cascade Comprehensive Director Bill Guest disagrees…
“We think the county has the information to be able to estimate the amount of funding it will have, and therefore the amount of employees it will be able to retain.”
Klamath County signed a memorandum of understanding with Cascade late last month…but the contract is still being negotiated.
Bill Guest: “The start of the CCO is really now going to be determined by how fast the county mental health department will contract for providing mental health services to the CCO.”
Bunger says the priority is till on the 1200 people receiving care…
“We are continuing to operate in the same capacity that we have – we’re continuing to see clients and patients.”
Bunger says she doesn’t know how many employees are likely to be laid off.
Any employee that does not have their layoff rescinded by July 1 will be out of a job.
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