The Otto Community Health Center funding may now be restored, five months after the money was cut.
An additional $24 million is included in the 2002-03 School Aid budget to fund Otto and 27 other Adolescent Health Program services. The budget passed by state House and Senate last week and is waiting for Gov. John Engler’s approval.
“I think in a situation like this you really walk a line between being grateful for getting the money back and being (upset) that it happened in the first place,” said Robin Turner, who is co-chairman the center’s advisory board. “I try to lean toward the grateful side.”
In November, the state cut $160,000 in funding from Otto Health Center, 500 E. Thomas St. in Lansing, along with funding from 19 other health centers in the state.
Turner said she is uncertain the governor will approve the budget. But Matt Resch, the governor’s spokesman, said Engler proposed the funding restoration and will be pleased to pass the budget.
State Rep. Virg Bernero, D-Lansing, said the budget could be a one-time fix.
“We feel good about keeping Otto open, but it is a bittersweet victory,” he said. “Funding had to be cut from early intervention programs to do this. So we are helping health care but hurting the next generation of children.”
Five health centers have closed since November, but Otto has survived with local donations and funding from the Ingham County Health Department.
Among the donations was a check from state Rep. Paul DeWeese, R-Williamston, who gave $15,000 of his recent pay raise to the center.
Debbie Brinson, Ingham County Adolescent Health Coordinator, said if the funding is restored, all the center’s donations will be returned.
Other donors included the Granger Foundation, Associated General Contractors, the City of Lansing, the Lansing School District and the National Electrical Contractors Association.
The Junior League of Lansing offered the largest donation, $40,000, and told the center to keep it, no matter the outcome of the budget.
The center is part of Otto Middle School, also at 500 E. Thomas St. in Lansing. It provides prevention education, health care for students and primary health care for about 2,000 uninsured and underinsured people in north Lansing.
Brinson said she is concerned about the future.
“I’d hate to put all of the time and energy into what to do with this money and have it not work out,” Brinson said.
And there’s always the question of whether the center will get similar funding in next year’s budget.
Legislators, though, are optimistic. Bernero said he plans to expand programs like Otto.
“They are setting the tone that needs to be heard across the state,” he said. “They are the prescription for the future of health care.”
