AFSCME Members, Youth Advocates Bring Attention to Impact of State Youth Psychiatric Facility Closure
Members of AFSCME Local 4041 were joined on Tuesday by Assemblywoman Erica Roth and Elisa Cafferata, executive director of Children’s Advocacy Alliance to bring attention to the impact closing a state youth psychiatric facility will make in Nevada.
AFSCME Local 4041 members have raised safety issues at Desert Willow Treatment Center for years and believe it should not take disruption to patient care or the lives of employees to make the necessary changes.
“AFSCME members are speaking up because an injury to one worker is an injury to all of us as state employees. Governor Lombardo said that Nevadans should feel a little pain when it comes to the economy. We're here to tell you and the governor that Nevadans and state workers are feeling a lot of pain with this decision,” said Terra Carter, AFSCME Local 4041 member and state employee.
As Desert Willow staff were instructed to not speak to media, Carter shared the following insights from AFSCME members who worked at the facility:
“Upon hearing news of the facility closure, staff’s first reaction was ‘where will the kids go?’ because we know this population needs stability and consistency in staff to improve their conditions.”
“Union members have shared that administrators at DCFS and Desert Willow have had time to implement changes and improve patient outcomes, as the facility has not brought new patients in the last few months.”
“Instead, the agency focused on hiring new administrators, preparing to fire and move staff around, and implementing superficial changes such as staff uniforms or entry/exit protocols.”
“The revolving door of administrators and upper management has created inconsistent policy changes that have led to an increase in assaults on staff since the beginning of the year.”
“Lack of consistent leadership created an environment where staff were afraid of the consequences of doing their job tasks, as constant leadership changes meant constant policy changes.”
“With decades of experience on the front lines, staff have offered solutions to improve patient care and outcomes, yet their suggestions were often ignored.”
“Closing the facility is a slap in the face of dedicated workers who have constantly tried to find ways to make improvements to patient care and outcomes, only to be met with termination.”
Elisa Cafferata, executive director of Children's Advocacy Alliance shared that while youth mental health programs need extensive changes and improvements, cutting services and jobs in mental health is not a solution.
“Children’s Advocacy Alliance is here because the message needs to come through loud and clear: Nevada must prioritize children’s mental health and well-being, not just talk about it. We have to see significant investment in children’s mental health in our next state budget and in the next state legislative session. Our children’s future is on the line, and we can’t afford not to,” Cafferata said.
Assemblywoman Erica Roth shared that closing the only public youth psychiatric facility will leave children with nowhere to go to receive vital mental health treatment.
“Desert Willow serves Nevada’s highest-needs kids, children often in acute psychiatric crisis with nowhere else to go, and they are cared for by some of the State’s most dedicated staff. Closing Desert Willow is a cruel and indefensible choice by the Lombardo administration that abandons children in crisis and the dedicated staff who care for them,” said Roth.
AFSCME members will continue to stand together to hold the state accountable and to ensure their rights are respected as state workers are reassigned or terminated from state service during this transitional period.