State Rep. Jim Grego
By Rep. Jim Grego
It was announced recently that CREOKS Health Services will be taking over the operation of the Carl Albert Community Mental Health Center in McAlester. This is a shift from state agency management to private sources. The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health has awarded these private contracts in four state-operated services areas, but the department will continue operating state hospitals, forensic services, crisis services and other behavioral health programs across the state. The department remains responsible for oversight of the state’s behavioral health system and ensuring Oklahomans have access to care.
CREOKS has had a presence for some time in this area with a smaller office in McAlester. Hopefully, this will be an improvement in services, as this is one area in which we struggle as a state in caring for our residents who need these services.
A $2 million Brownfield’s Assessment Grant was recently awarded to the Choctaw Nation. Part of this will be used to remove some hazardous materials from a couple of buildings at the Talihina Veterans Center. I find it ironic that this probably wasn’t a problem when this was a fully operational, functioning, thieving center caring for our veterans until a decision was made to close it. I guess my question is, after we clean this up, “then what”?
I recently was involved in trying to get a bridge named after a local World War II veteran. This was request by his family. This individual served in World War II and fortunately returned home. I’ve learned this is possible, but since the individual did not lose his life in service to our country than the requestors have to pay the cost associated with such naming, and this can be cost prohibitive.
As always, thank you for allowing me to serve. If I can help you in any way, I can be reached at (405) 557-7381 or by email at jim.grego@okhouse.gov.
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