Slow start to county mental health services in Manchester; clinic coming soon

In 2017 Washtenaw County passed an 8-year Public Safety and Mental Health Millage. Resources from the millage became available on January 1, 2019. One of the goals was to to provide mental health services to traditionally under-served areas of Washtenaw County, of which Manchester is one. How has this impacted the need for mental health help in Manchester? Not much so far.

Previously Washtenaw County Community Mental Health (WCCMH) provided services for uninsured residents and those in crisis, but beginning May 1st this summer, WCCMH expanded coverage to the under-insured and (regardless of insurance) to those on waitlists to access care. Additionally, instead of patients having to drive into Ann Arbor or Ypsilanti to access care, WCCMH began driving out to rural areas to see patients. And WCCMH began looking for locations to hold weekly clinics in Dexter, Chelsea, Whitmore Lake, and Manchester.

At the end of August, WCCMH released a six-month update on expansions using millage funds. As of July 1, they had received 250 outpatient service referrals. Of these 203 were from Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor but 11 were from Saline, six were from Dexter, five were from Whitmore Lake, 3 were from Chelsea and 3 were from Milan. WCCMH had received no requests for outpatient services from Manchester residents.

The update stated, “While most of the referrals are currently coming from the county’s urban areas, there continues to be unmet need in the county’s rural communities, where residents may lack transportation to travel to Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti for care.”

So why aren’t Manchester residents utilizing the service?

Lisa Gentz, LMSW, the administrator in charge of the Mental Health Public Safety Millage, sees the slow start as a result of the clinic space not yet being established.

WCCMH is working with the Village of Manchester and Manchester Community Schools to secure spaces to offer a clinic on Tuesdays. This involves a memorandum of understanding (MOU). Gentz stated, “We are just finishing up our MOU process with the village (manager) and the superintendent of schools to begin providing services, on location, one day a week–split between the village offices and the schools.” 

Gentz continued, “We are able to receive referrals now from Manchester folks, despite the MOU process, and I think a lack of awareness may be the reason we haven’t received any yet.” Once the MOU is finalized and the WCCMH is coming weekly to Manchester, they will increase their efforts to spread the word to Manchester residents.

When asked about the MOU, Village manager Jeff Wallace, stated that he hoped to receive the final version from the county in time for the next Village Council meeting, which is at 7 pm tonight.

To learn more about WCCMH rural service or to schedule an appointment, contact WCCMH’s 24/7 hotline at 734-544-3050 or 800-440-7548.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.