Marge Brewster Laying Off 5 Employees

Marge Brewster Center in Sebring will be losing five employees as part of layoffs announced by Winter Haven Hospital's behavioral health department, which sponsors Marge Brewster.

The Winter Haven hospital's behavioral health department had to release 34 of its 137 employees Monday due to budget cuts.

Since 2007, the division has experienced a $3 million reduction in state and federal grant money, according to Joel Thomas, hospital spokesperson.

Polk Works is assisting the displaced employees in finding work elsewhere, Thomas said.

The cuts came from the outpatient division and no cuts were made to inpatient staff, Thomas said.

He added that the behavioral health division provides comprehensive mental health services to individuals, regardless of their socioeconomic status.

"Patients will still have access to services in both Polk and Highlands counties," Thomas said.

The main focus of the hospital, according to Thomas, is to work with the affected staff members and try to help them.

Availability of mental health services is something Highlands County Sheriff Susan Benton takes seriously.

"We interact on a regular basis with many (community) members who are critical mental health patients," she said.

Most of the mental health patients deputies encounter are those without the financial resources to afford private care, according to Benton. Some will often self-medicate with items like alcohol if they can't afford proper prescriptions.

The Marge Brewster Center provides care to those who suffer from a severe and persistent mental illness, according to the Winter Haven Web site. Subsidized care is also available for those who qualify.

Benton said Marge Brewster employees often intervene when deputies encounter individuals on the street who suffer from mental health disorders.

This benefits not only those suffering from such a condition, but also taxpayers who would carry the financial burden of incarcerating these people when the underlying problem is they cannot receive good mental health care, according to Benton.

"We work very, very closely with Marge Brewster to keep them out of jail," she said.