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Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Marc A. Jerome on Wednesday said that seven employees were notified that their positions, funded wholly from federal grants, would cease being available at the end of the business day, September 30, 2011.
The employees are administrative, support personnel who were being paid from the Title V Block Grant provided to the Department of Health’s Maternal and Child Health and Children with Special Health Care Needs Program, commonly referred to as
MCH.
“While we are forced to take this agonizing action, our hearts go out to the employees and their families and undoubtedly our clients, who will be affected by this decision,” said Dr. Jerome. “Unfortunately, the fiscal constraints and budgetary challenges of the Government, Department of Health, in this case, does not allow for these employees to be placed on any other grant or the General Fund.”
Employees were told that the action “in no way” is reflective of their performance with the Department of Health or Virgin Islands Government. They were encouraged to visit the Division of Personnel’s Vacancy Postings as a resource for other job opportunities.
MCH provides audiology, speech therapy, physical therapy, general pediatric services, prenatal and services for children with special healthcare needs, among others, territory wide. The Title V Block Grant, from which the MCH Program operates, has been burdened with personnel costs and again, this year, the Federal Government mandates our compliance with the award terms, more specifically, utilization of its funds for direct healthcare-provider services.
The staff had been made aware of the pending actions, as Dr. Jerome met with MCH employees earlier in the month to alert them of the possibility that some positions would be separated from the grant. “We must comply with the federal mandate to utilize the grant for its intended purpose and not place at risk the loss of funding all together,” Dr. Jerome said.
Though some of our services will be curtailed, hours of operations adjusted, MCH will not be closing, Dr. Jerome asserts. For the most part, MCH services are by appointment.
MCH services that will continue to be offered, along with the new hours of operations will be published before the effective date of October 1, 2011. |
