Tahlequah mental health site shuts in wake of budget cuts

TAHLEQUAH — The Bill Willis Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is being shut down because of budget cuts, officials said Wednesday.

"Today was the last day we were allowed to take new admissions,” Executive Director Margaret Bradford said. Current patients "will be able to complete their treatment, and we’ve been adamant about that. But beyond that, the program will no loner exist.”

Bradford said the cuts total $1.2 million locally. The program takes referrals from all over the state, including the court system, families, care providers with no residential services, hospitals and others.

The 20-bed program runs at full capacity year-round, and in the four years Bradford’s been with the agency, it has maintained a waiting list of at least 40 patients.

Tom Lewis, director of men’s homeless shelter Project O-Si-Yo, was disappointed about the news.

"This was a blow to the Tahlequah community in terms of important interventions for those who need help in their fight for survival against chronic alcoholism and substance abuse,” Lewis said. "Tahlequah was fortunate to have their services and needs to address this and other important needs as our state’s revenues continue to decline.

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