HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-14-18 Public Comment - D. Seifert - Gallatin Mental HealthFrom:Chris Mehl
To:Agenda
Subject:FW: Gallatin Mental Health
Date:Friday, September 14, 2018 10:37:46 AM
Chris Mehl
Bozeman Deputy Mayor
cmehl@bozeman.net
406.581.4992
________________________________________
From: Seifert, Don [Don.Seifert@gallatin.mt.gov]
Sent: Friday, September 14, 2018 10:28 AM
To: Chris Mehl; Andrea Surratt
Cc: Commissioners (Distribution Lists); Gootkin, Brian; Lambert, Marty; Ette, Steve; Doar, Jim; Blackman, Ed
Subject: FW: Gallatin Mental Health
City Manager Surratt and Deputy Mayor Mehl,
The following is an email I sent to Katheryn Houghton concerning her article in the September 12, 2018 Bozeman
Daily Chronicle.
Regards,
Don
Donald F. Seifert
Gallatin County Commissioner
Rm 306
301 W Main
Bozeman, MT 59715
.
406-582-3000
From: Seifert, Don
Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2018 1:21 PM
To: 'khoughton@dailychronicle.com' <khoughton@dailychronicle.com>
Subject: Gallatin Mental Health
Katheryn,
Thank you for the article of Bozeman’s partial funding of a mental health professional. It is unfortunate that
Commissioner Mehl knowingly misrepresented Gallatin County’s contribution to mental health services in Gallatin
County. A quick review of the county’s budget shows that the county currently provides over $500,000 annually in
direct funding to mental health services. Not only has the county increased funding this year but has shown a deep
commitment to mental health services for over a decade, long before it became fashionable. A few examples of our
funding would be the Hope House, Western Montana Mental Health Services (provider for mental health
professionals in the county), CIT (Crisis Intervention Team), mental health professionals inside the Gallatin
Detention Center, mental health professionals for Alcohol and Drug Treatment Court. While I would agree with
Commissioner Mehl that the State of Montana has dropped the ball in reference to the budget cuts in DPPHS,
Gallatin County has for more than a decade been the acknowledged leader in Montana for mental health services.
If you would like to discuss mental health issues in Gallatin County please feel free to contact the Gallatin County
Commission.
Thanks,
Don
Donald F. Seifert
Gallatin County Commissioner
Rm 306
301 W Main
Bozeman, MT 59715
.
406-582-3000