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Appropriation for new mental health facility approved
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Posted on Jan 26 2000
The government will allocate $600,000 for the completion of a new facility for the Division of Mental Health patients under an appropriation measure approved yesterday by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio.
The funds to complete the transitional Living Arrangement facility will come from revenues generated from the annual local license fees for poker and pachinko slot machines.
“This worthwhile project will accommodate clients from Saipan, Rota and Tinian,” said the governor in signing into the bill offered by Rep. Heinz S. Hofschneider.
“It will provide a transitional place for hands-on education for skills necessary for mentally challenged individuals to be able to transit into a more independent and productive way of living,” Mr. Tenorio added.
The Northern Marianas Housing Corporation has shouldered part of the needed funding to construct the building through the $500,000 financial assistance provided by the Community Block Development Grant.
According to the Legislature, this facility is necessary to house mental health patients whose care does not require acute mental health in-patient care, but additional services to prepare the patient for independent living.
At present, nine patients in the acute psychiatric ward of the Department of Public Health stand to benefit by having this center in place.
Public Health Sec. Joseph Kevin Villagomez will have expenditure authority over the fresh appropriation in consultation with Marylou S. Ada, executive director of the Commonwealth Development Authority which administers NMHC.
