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Accept a 4 year Mental Health Student Services Act grant for $4,000,000 from the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission to increase availability of prevention and early intervention of mental health services and supports for students from September 1, 2020 through August 31, 2024; Approve a contract with Solano County Office of Education for $4,000,000 to implement the grant award from September 1, 2020 through August 31, 2024; and Authorize the County Administrator to execute the contracts with the Mental Health Services Oversight Accountability Commission and Solano County Office of Education
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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 accept a four-year Mental Health Student Services Act (MHSSA) grant for $4,000,000 from the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC) to increase availability of prevention and early intervention of mental health services and supports for students from September 1, 2020 through August 31, 2024; approve a contract with Solano County Office of Education for $4,000,000 to implement the grant award from September 1, 2020 through August 31, 2024; and authorize the County Administrator to execute the contracts with the Mental Health Services Oversight Accountability Commission and Solano County Office of Education.
SUMMARY:
Solano County Health and Social Services collaborated with the Solano County Office of Education (SCOE) to apply for a four-year grant from the MHSOAC for $4,000,000 to augment existing mental health services in Solano County schools. The MHSOAC grant application was approved by the Board on February 25, 2020, and Solano County recently received the grant award (Attachment A). H&SS intends to contract with SCOE to implement the grant, building upon existing partnerships between Solano County Behavioral Health and local education agencies in Solano County (Attachment B).
The grant is expected to increase availability of services and supports that bolster prevention and early intervention of mental illness for students. Strategies will include: increased screening, strengthened crisis responses, education regarding stigma reduction, additional resources for vulnerable students such as those identified as foster youth, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+) or at risk of dropping out of school. The grant is expected to strengthen collaboration between school districts and Solano County Behavioral Health to decrease youth suicides and suicide attempts, reduce school drop-out rates, and increase overall access to mental health services and supports on school campuses and for students who may be home-schooled due to a mental health condition.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The grant application included a section for counties to explain local matching funds from both County Behavioral Health and all the participating local education agencies that will support and/or sustain the program during the term of the grant and beyond. Existing services and supports currently funded by Mental Health Service Act (MHSA) and local education agencies will be used as match for the grant and will provide the funding for administrative oversight for the grant. Appropriations and grant revenue for this grant project for year one of $850,000 are included in the FY2020/21 Supplemental Budget. The grant project does not impact the County General Fund.
DISCUSSION:
The MHSOAC, governing body for Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), recognized that the effects of mental health crises are evident on school campuses and that reaching pupils in the school setting is practical as a first point of contact for mental, behavioral, and substance use disorder services for youth. The MHSOAC is administering funds provided through California Senate Bill 75, which includes establishing partnerships between County Behavioral Health Departments and educational entities. These partnerships will increase access to mental health services in locations that are easily accessible to students and their families. The MHSSA grant of 2019 was highly competitive; Solano County was one of only four medium-sized counties to be awarded this grant in California.
This grant program will build upon existing services offered in the schools, both by school staff and County or contracted Behavioral Health staff. Through MHSA, strong partnerships already exist between the County and the partners in this grant, positioning the program to be successfully implemented.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to accept the MHSSA grant funds or enter into a contract with SCOE. These alternatives are not recommended as the grant provides funding for expansion of a collaborative approach to prevention, early intervention, and mental health service delivery to vulnerable youth in Solano County schools. Inadequate access to services to address the needs of students can result in untreated mental illness and the development of more serious, disabling mental health conditions, as well as increased high school dropout rates that put youth at risk for unemployment, homelessness, and suicide.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Department collaborated with SCOE and stakeholders from all six school districts to develop and submit the grant application which outlined collaborative mental health programming for vulnerable students in Solano County. The SCOE board and all six school district boards voted to approve applying for the MHSSA grant to enhance support and services for students. Additionally, through the MHSA community program planning process stakeholders consistently identified the need for increased mental health services in school settings.
County Counsel approved the contracts as to form.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION