DeWitt County center shutting down

500 patients may be affected. (Courtesy http://dchrc.org/)
More than 500 patients will be affected. (Courtesy http://dchrc.org/)

 

By Terry James

CLINTON – Hundreds of Dewitt County residents are receiving the disappointing news that they will not receive services from the Dewitt County Human Resource Center after June 30th.

The center is closing and the lack of a state budget is to blame.

Director Lynn Scoville says the center started reducing staff last August and already is on a skeleton crew. Scoville says the whole situation is cruel.

“We had to tell our clients in our developmental disabilities program last week that we couldn’t keep our doors open anymore,” said Scoville. And to see the raw emotions on their face, the fear, and feeling discarded it’s absolutely heartbreaking.”

The closure means the end to outpatient services for mental health clients, no services for those with developmental disabilities, and no counseling offered for those struggling with drug and alcohol addiction.

Terry James can be reached at [email protected].

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