The board of the Alameda Health System is expected to meet Tuesday to discuss the controversial planned closure in Oakland of Highland Hospital's substance abuse program. The day care program is tailored toward pregnant women and new mothers up to 60 days after their babies are born, and an outpatient program offers services to both men and women.
The program, which had been in operation more than 20 years, is slated to close this week due to financial problems.
Jerri Randrup, spokeswoman for the board, said in a statement that the county's public health system has had two very difficult fiscal years.
She says the board moved to close the center by the end of the month because of low patient volume. The program only served about half the 120 people they were contracted for this year. Money saved from the program's closure will be redirected into other community programs that offer similar services.
SEIU Local 1021 held a rally Monday in front of the hospital, to protest the closure. The union represents many health care workers and other staff at hospitals throughout Northern California, including Highland Hospital.