CMHIP closes treatment program over staffing

That is the name of this article I reviewed today. "'A 20-bed program that treats patients for both drug addiction and mental illness is being closed at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo so its nursing staff can be used elsewhere in the hospital, state officials confirmed Tuesday. They called it a temporary closure. That’s not how it was described to patients. 'My son waited for seven months in jail to get in the CIRCLE program because a judge said us it was the gold standard,' a Western Slope woman told The Pueblo Chieftain. 'He finally got a bed on May 30 and now we’re told the program is closed and we don’t know what his status is.'" In 1992 it was the best drug and alcohol program in the state and I guess it still is. When they moved me in the state hospital to ward 69 the first day I asked to go to the CIRCLE program because I knew that I would need that to get out.  The first day I was there I was wrote up for walking on the carpet early in the morning to use the phone to tell my people that I was there.  The second day there I was put in charge I had the keys to let everyone get there towels for showering. It is  a strict program that includes cleaning the shower after use getting up ant six in the morning and having your clean and inspected.

The article goes on to say: "'The CIRCLE program is a 90-day residential program and it is rare because it treats people suffering from both addiction and mental illness. 'This is a terrific program,' said a young woman patient who called the newspaper. 'I don’t know how they think the 19 staff members of this program are going to fix the staff shortage at this hospital. They’re moving us out of here.' The state Department of Human Services, which oversees CMHIP, said all the patients are being transferred to other programs. They said the shutdown was temporary and caused by a staffing shortage elsewhere in the hospital. 'This is a temporary measure and the transition specialists and community partners in the region are working very closely to ensure that every patient is transitioned into a program that provides treatment for their needs,' the statement said. The Western Slope woman whose son just got in the treatment plan was frustrated by that. 'From what we understand, there isn’t any other suitable program for people like my son,' she said. 'We were waiting for this one.' She acknowledged he’d failed other treatment programs, largely because of his mental health issues.'" Another thing I had to do because I was from the state hospital if I seen any of my friends on the campus I was not allowed to talk to them.  Also mainly I remember that if you told war stories you could get written up. I remember one guy getting written up for this. It is because you get to telling about your drug days and you start wanting to use. Closing this program for even a little while is not right.  I do know someone while I was there using and you can tell my me just handing out towels she would get the towels and not shower.  The found all the towels in her drawer she never showered.

The article ends: "'Staff who work in the program were upset Tuesday. 'We have 110 people on waiting lists to get treatment here,' one staffer said. 'We’re in the process of trying to find places for these patients to go but there really isn’t anyplace like this.  'Callers to the newspaper said no staff are losing jobs. Just being reassigned. 'This isn’t a new problem,' said Sen. Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo, who checked on the status of the program Tuesday. 'The staffing problem at CMHIP is well-known. It is competing for the same (medical staff) that Parkview and St. Mary-Corwin (medical centers) are trying to recruit.' Garcia said officials told him Tuesday the closure was temporary, but didn’t say when it would reopen.'" When I was there it was the main job for people in Pueblo. My counselor from the ward I had just got transferred from his wife worked at the circle program. Callers to the newspaper said no staff are losing jobs. Just being reassigned.

'This isn’t a new problem,' said Sen. Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo, who checked on the status of the program Tuesday. “The staffing problem at CMHIP is well-known. It is competing for the same (medical staff) that Parkview and St. Mary-Corwin (medical centers) are trying to recruit.”
Garcia said officials told him Tuesday the closure was temporary, but didn’t say when it would reopen. By me asking to go there I was treated better because to want to change yourself is good. The only thing I did not like were all the videos we had to watch about our inner child. My inner child was not damaged and I did not understand that I  had a good childhood.  I was always quiet and did have friends.  I forgot the person who made those videos but I did not like him at that time. I did not have to do the whole ninety days because like I said I was a leader there. The liked me so much the are the ones who got me social security the doctor there wrote for me to get it when I was released. The waiting list is long it is the best program in the state of Colorado. By closing it. It will hurt a lot of people.