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Approve 5 Health and Social Services, Behavioral Health Division contracts for the period July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024: 1) Bay Area Community Services for $325,000 to provide step-down transitional housing for eligible seriously mentally ill adults; 2) Caminar, Inc. for $724,390 to provide transitional housing for adults with psychiatric disabilities; 3) Caminar, Inc. for $1,091,096 to provide wellness and recovery center programming for adults with serious mental illness; 4) Crestwood Behavioral Health, Inc. for $4,704,863 to provide 23-hour crisis stabilization unit services; and 5) Shelter Solano, Inc. for $830,790 to provide emergency shelter services and case management; and Delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the five contracts, including one waiting for final execution by the vendor, and any subsequent amendments, with County Counsel concurrence, up to an aggregate of $74,999 per contract
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Published Notice Required? Yes ___ No _X_
Public Hearing Required? Yes ___ No _X_
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Health and Social Services (H&SS) recommends that the Board of Supervisors approve 5 H&SS, Behavioral Health Division contracts for the period of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024: 1) Bay Area Community Services for $325,000 to provide step-down transitional housing for eligible seriously mentally ill adults; 2) Caminar, Inc. for $724,390 to provide transitional housing for adults with psychiatric disabilities; 3) Caminar, Inc. for $1,091,096 to provide wellness and recovery center programming for adults with serious mental illness; 4) Crestwood Behavioral Health, Inc. for $4,704,863 to provide 23-hour crisis stabilization unit services; and 5) Shelter Solano, Inc. for $830,790 to provide emergency shelter services and case management; and delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the five contracts, including one waiting for final execution by the vendor, and any subsequent amendments with, County Counsel concurrence, up to an aggregate of $74,999 per contract.
SUMMARY:
To allow timely delivery of services for the benefit of H&SS clients and to ensure compliance with County, State and federal regulations, H&SS is requesting approval of five Behavioral Health Division’s FY2023/24 contracts, effective July 1, 2023. All four vendors provided mental health services in FY2022/23 including vital housing, crisis stabilization, adult wellness and recovery center programming, and case management services for Solano adults experiencing severe mental illness or psychiatric disabilities. The contract with Bay Area Community Services has been reviewed by County Counsel but is waiting for final execution by the vendor. Individuals served by these contracts are identified as being at risk of hospitalization, homelessness, involvement in the criminal justice system, incarceration, or are part of an unserved/underserved population.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The FY2023/24 Working Budget includes sufficient appropriations for the five contracts. Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Community Services and Support (CSS) revenue will provide funding for these agreements. For contracts that include Medi-Cal billable services, Short Doyle Medi-Cal will offset any Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Community Services and Support (CSS) funding. There is no additional impact to the County General Fund.
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the Department’s FY2023/24 Working Budget.
DISCUSSION:
In November 2004, California voters passed Proposition 63, also referred to as the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), which imposed a one percent income tax on personal income in excess of $1 million to provide funding to support County mental health programs. There are five funding streams of MHSA, one of which is the Community Services and Support (CSS) component. MHSA programs address a broad continuum of prevention, early intervention, and direct services along with the necessary infrastructure, technology, and training elements to effectively support the mental health system. Counties administer the MHSA programs, and are required to create and implement, with the local community input, three-year plans that are updated annually. The CSS funding component is used to enhance the mental health service delivery system to provide treatment and recovery services for children and adults.
The services provided by these contracts are outlined in the Solano County MHSA Three-Year Plan FYs 2023/26, which was approved by the Board on September 12, 2023. The MHSA Three-Year Plan provides funding for the delivery of mental health services for supportive transitional housing, wellness and recovery centers, crisis stabilization unit services, and emergency shelter access and interim housing coupled with case management. The recommended contracts provide for continuation of these mental health services provided in FY2022/23 with the same four vendors, Bay Area Community Services (BACS), Caminar, Inc, Crestwood Behavioral Health, Inc. and Shelter Solano, Inc. Each of the FY2022/23 contracts included the provision to extend the contracts for up to 90 days to allow for continuation of services and sufficient time to complete renewal contracts. Approval of the recommended FY2023/24 contracts will provide for the continuation of services that are necessary to stabilize and treat individuals experiencing severe mental illness.
In FY2022/23, Bay Area Community Services’ (BACS) transitional housing served 25 unduplicated individuals with a monthly average bed occupancy of 13 individuals; Caminar’s Bridge transitional housing served 42 unduplicated individuals, of which 26 (or 76%) transitioned to permanent housing; Caminar’s adult Wellness Recovery Centers program served 150 unduplicated individuals; Crestwood Behavioral Health, Inc.’s Crisis Stabilization Unit program served 638 unduplicated individuals and reported 859 total admissions and 268 discharges to the community with 100% referral or linkage to ongoing care; and Shelter Solano, Inc. served 71 unduplicated individuals and reported 87 total admissions resulting in 91% of individuals receiving case management services and 73 discharges.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose to address some or all of these contracts individually. This is not recommended because approving these routine contracts on an individual basis requires the preparation of multiple agenda items. Furthermore, individual approval may disrupt services to H&SS programs and clients.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION