The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners would like to explore the possibility of combining mental health/substance abuse and community health services under one department.

In a 6-to-nothing vote during their meeting on Tuesday (February 7th), commissioners approved a motion by Commissioner John Dobberteen to “ask the CMH (Community Mental Health) board to explore the possible opportunity.”  (The seventh commissioner, Allen Balog, was absent.)

In introducing the “Integrating Health Care” agenda item, Board Chairman Rick Shaffer said, “In our Executive Committee meeting last Friday, we had some discussion about ever-changing health care, not only nationally, but right down even to our county.”  He then asked Dobberteen to kick off the discussion by the board.  In doing so, Dobberteen said, “Everybody knows health care is changing”  and talked about getting “ahead of the curve.”  Dobberteen suggested “asking CMH and the Health Department to talk to see if they can integrate in some way to become one unit rather than two.”

Shaffer agreed and said, “It’s incumbent on county commissioners always to be watchful and looking for new policy ideas, new and innovative ways to achieve the goals that we’re presented with.”  He applauded Dobberteen and encouraged fellow commissioners to support the exploration.

Commissioner Robin Baker supported the motion, suggesting the board “at least look into it and see if there’s a savings there” and the affirmative vote followed.

During a post-meeting interview with the River Country Journal, Dobberteen said, “We’re looking at efficiencies and we’re looking at the future of health care as it relates to mental health and physical health and it just kind of seems logical that we should, at least, explore the idea of combining or partnering the two agencies in a better way that better serves the public more efficiently.”

Regarding how the exploration may unfold, Dobberteen said, “We’ve made the request to the CMH director to kind of start exploring those options.  She will work with the district health officer and kind of see where it goes.  One advantage CMH has is, we have a former health director on staff so she kind of knows the ropes and what might entail.  It might not work at all.  I think we owe it to the taxpayers to see if there’s some savings.”

When asked if he had any timeline in mind for the exploration, Dobberteen said, “None at all.  Wide open, wide open.”

To hear the interview with John Dobberteen – recorded by Bruce Snook of the River Country Journal – click on the following link:  John Dobberteen interview (1:47 – 1.63 MB).