The director of the Chicago Department of Public Health’s mental health division has been replaced.
According to an internal memo sent yesterday by Deputy Commissioner Matthew Beaudet, Sylvia Riperton-Lewis was replaced on an interim basis by Linda Hackett-Bradley, previously director of administrative services for the city’s behavioral health program.
It’s unclear what prompted the change, but the move comes a week after a group of mental health activists pressed health commissioner Dr. Bechara Choucair on the state of the city’s mental health program, and complained about staffing levels at clinics.
Riperton-Lewis ran the city’s beleaguered mental health program since 2008.
Mental health activists complained that she was not in tune with their needs. Riperton-Lewis was involved in discussions with the state about the city’s faulty reimbursement computer program, which was incompatible with the state’s system. More than $1 million in reimbursement funds was rejected, forcing the state to withhold money, which almost led to the closure of four of the city’s 12 mental health centers. More than 2,000 patients would have been affected.
While Choucair promised the centers would stay open in 2010, barring a massive cut in funding, activists are still worried Chicago’s mental health services will be cut.
Windy Citizen 