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County looks to help veterans, approves 911 triangulation testApr 28, 2010 (York Daily Record - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The York County commissioners on Wednesday approved a $293,000 grant application to the federal government to provide psychiatric care and social services to returning veterans from York and Adams counties. County clerk Chuck Noll said county officials hope the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration approves the grant. But even if it doesn't, the county intends to find the funding one way or another. "We're pretty much dedicated to providing those services," Noll said. The intent behind the application is to provide for soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan who may be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or other mental problems related to their service, according to Heather Hallman, deputy director of social services with the county. About $60,000 of the money would go toward the salary for a full-time caseworker, who would officially be an employee of York-Adams Mental Health/Mental Retardation. But the caseworker would be based out of the York County Office of Veterans Affairs, so veterans who seek the service need not be concerned about the stigma that sometimes accompanies mental illness. Hallman said the caseworker would get a $32,000 salary, and some money would go toward expenses such as travel and training for the post. The caseworker would help the veterans with such tasks as finding housing or employment. The remainder of the funds would go toward contracting for psychiatric services with an outside agency, on an as-needed basis. In other news: The county commissioners approved a $108,000 contract to test the ability of the county's 911 system to detect the location of incoming, wireless 911 calls through triangulation. Noll said the contract, with L.R. Kimball and Associates Inc. of State College, is part of the standard setup and maintenance procedure for the county's 911 system. The money will come entirely from the interest on a county fund for wireless communication provided by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. To see more of the York Daily Record, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.ydr.com. Copyright (c) 2010, York Daily Record, Pa. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |