Nevada County Mental Health Board Minutes
Date:
Time:
Place
April 3, 2015
9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Behavioral Health Department – 500 Crown Point Circle
STANDING ORDERS
1.
Call to Order – The meeting was called to order, self-introductions were made and a sign in
sheet was passed around.
2.
Minutes from March 6, 2015.
The minutes were approved with no changes.
3.
Announcements.
Annette LeFrancois announced a Small County Wellness Training on Friday, April 24 th in
Red Bluff. The training is for peers, family, wellness center staff, clinicians or other
individuals who have a role in providing services or support to those in recovery. For those
who cannot attend there is a webinar, see the link below to register for the webinar.
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1411117986501563650
4.
Public Comment.
Members of the public may address the board on items not appearing on the agenda. Please
understand that no action shall be taken on items not appearing on the agenda. The Chair
may limit an individual to three minutes. Printed on the back of the agenda is Mental Health
Board Protocol (Non-Board Member Participation).
Amanda Wilcox handed out copies of Each Mind Matters Impact Report from 2014. The
report highlights the stigma and discrimination reduction initiative. The Each Mind Matters
website http://www.eachmindmatters.org/mental-health/ has a link to several stories.
Michele Violett shared that Nevada County contributes $5,000 to CalMHSA to support
these types of projects.
5.
Mental Health Board Goals – Nancy Ramsey. Handout.
Number 6 there is a typo. The sentence should read: continue to monitor the planning and
implementation of Crisis Intervention Training for Law Enforcement. Number 1 is being
completed and the final report will be given at the June Mental Health Board Meeting.
Alison Schwedner made a motion to approve the Mental Health Board Goals with the
revision. All members present were in favor.
6.
Crisis Stabilization Unit Update – Darryl Quinn. Handout.
The Crisis Stabilization Unit is for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis for up to
23 hours. It will be located on Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital grounds in a modular
building. Individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis will be seen at Sierra
Nevada Memorial Hospital Emergency Department until medically cleared and evaluated by
a crisis worker. Individuals will be escorted to the Crisis Stabilization Unit where most
individuals in crisis can improve within 20 hours. Individuals needing a higher level of care
than the Crisis Stabilization Unit can provide will be transferred to a psychiatric hospital.
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Darryl Quinn reviewed a draft floor plan of the Crisis Stabilization Unit with the Mental
Health Board.
The Crisis CSU Request for Proposal will be released in April. Several Mental Health
Board members requested a copy of the draft proposal. Annette LeFrancois will email a
copy to Mental Health Board members.
7.
Truckee Report Card – Alison Schwedner. Handout.
Alison Schwedner is the Director of Community Collaborative of Tahoe Truckee. The
Collaborative is made up of 45 different health, education and social service agencies
working together to address basic needs of kids, families and seniors in the Tahoe Truckee
area. Several years ago the Collaborative began looking at data to help direct where to put
times, energy and resources as a community. In 2007 the Collaborative produced a
community report card that has recently been updated. The report can also be found on their
website under results scorecard at: www.communitycollaborative.org.
The data is comprised of: Economic Wellbeing Data, Health Information and Education.
The goal of sharing the data is to paint the picture of what it is like for kids, families and
seniors living in the Tahoe Truckee area. People often think of the Lake or Truckee and
don’t see the local community or the issues the community struggles with. The Tahoe
Truckee region has seen significant growth from 1990 to the year 2000. The Tahoe Truckee
area is one of the top ten most expensive places to live in the Country. Ten percent of the
population is living 100% below the poverty level and will qualify for Head Start, Medi-Cal,
CalWorks and CalFresh. Eighteen percent of the population is living 200% below the
poverty level (Family of 4 making $44,000 or less per year) and will qualify for some
benefits. Most of the population is making slightly more than $44,000 and will not qualify
for assistance, but are not making enough money to be self-sufficient in Tahoe Truckee.
This creates a heavy reliance on non-profits and other community based organizations.
Overall Placer and Nevada County are among the healthiest of California’s Counties. Tahoe
Truckee residents enjoy healthy lifestyles with a strong emphasis on recreation, nutrition and
healthy choices. The 2011 Tahoe Forest Hospital District Community Health Needs
Assessment identified significant disparities in many health indicators between Hispanic and
non-Hispanic residents.
The California Healthy Kids Survey is done every two years with 7th, 9th and 11th graders.
The Tahoe Truckee Unified School District 2014 results show 32% of 7th, 38% of 9th and
35% of 11th graders report feeling sad and hopeless in the past 12 months. These numbers
are higher than the State average and those of Placer and Nevada County. Alcohol usage
among adults is higher than the State and the Country. Thirty percent of Tahoe Truckee
residents binge drink compared to 16% across the State. Last year over two thirds of the
DUI’s in Nevada County came from Town of Truckee residents.
There are significant education disparities for low income students and English language
learners. Third grade reading proficiency is the most important predictor of high school
graduation and career success. In the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District, thirty eight
percent of students are not proficient readers by the end of third grade and of those, sixty
eight percent of low-income children are not proficient readers.
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8.
Planning for a Truckee Mental Health Board Meeting – Annette LeFrancois.
A decision was made to hold the June 5th meeting in Truckee at the Joseph Center in the
Truckee Donner Room. Mental Health Board members will think about other places to visit
while in Truckee. Annette LeFrancois will arrange for a van.
9.
Explore the Word and Concept of Recovery when it applies to serious mental illness –
Iden Rogers.
Iden Rogers spoke on the topic of recovery. He is troubled by the use and meaning of the
word recovery when it applies to serious mental illness. The word recovery is becoming
common and is scattered among various MHSA documents and usage is common in the
mental health field. We often think of recovery as it applies to a cold or a person healing
from a broken bone. Would like to think State and County Departments and Agencies
would not casually toss around the word recovery as a fashionable feel good word and
especially not use it for chronic mental health diagnoses to engender false hopes in a
consumer or in a consumer’s family. How is recovery defined? Do people with serious
mental illness recover? A quote “Recovery refers to the process in which people who are
diagnosed with a mental illness are able to live, work, learn, and participate fully in their
communities.” Recovery is not a one size fits all concept. Recovery is an ongoing process.
Janice Deardorff suggests that all clinical staff especially those in access have an
appreciation about what they convey to new and existing clients.
10.
Access to Services – Helen Williamson, Janice Deardorff & Iden Rogers.
The subcommittee has completed interviews with community agencies about accessing
County Behavioral Health services. The interviews with Western Sierra Medical Center and
Sierra Family Medical Clinic were recently completed. Western Sierra Medical Center
recently moved into their new building and is experiencing a dramatic increase in clients.
Janice Deardorff gave an overview of the behavioral health staff working at the center and
their concerns about referrals to Behavioral Health and communication when clients do not
meet medical necessity criteria. The Sierra Family Medical Clinic results were consistent
with the other agencies interviewed and reflect that improvements to communication and
collaboration between Behavioral Health and other community agencies are needed. Helen
Williamson announced they hope to have a final report before the end of June. Helen
Williamson recommended that Mental Health Board members review Welfare and
Institutions Code that describes requirements for County Behavioral Health Departments.
11.
Mental Health Board Nominations and Election of Vice Chair.
Since there was not a quorum, voting will take place next month.
12.
Change the date of the July Mental Health board Meeting due to the Holiday –
Annette LeFrancois.
Friday, July 3rd is a County Holiday. The following week Annette LeFrancois will be on
vacation. Annette LeFrancois will look for another Friday in July and email Mental Health
Board members. This will be discussed at the May Mental Health Board Meeting.
13.
Mental Health Board Training
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Train the Trainer: Mental Health Boards 101. The Training is on Friday, April 17, 2015
from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. in San Pedro. Janice Deardorff has volunteered to attend.
Annette LeFrancois will make the travel arrangements.
14.
Crisis Peer Counseling.
This will be discussed at next month’s Mental Health Board Meeting.
15.
Suicide Rate – Rebecca Slade.
There have been 5 suicides in the last month in the Truckee area in Placer County. Nevada
County does not have the highest suicide rate in the State of California. The State average is
9 per 100,000. Nevada County has 16 – 17 per 100,000. All northern California, small rural
Caucasian Counties have a similar suicide rate.
Amanda Wilcox announced at the last Suicide Prevention Task Force Meeting they
discussed getting a more detailed report from the Coroner that would include: age, race, and
means. This would be helpful information for the Mental Health Board as well.
Rebecca Slade referred to a nationwide study from the Harvard School of Public Health on
what makes certain regions have a higher suicide rate than another. A correlation was found
between the percentage of completed suicides and the number of people in the community
who have guns. There was discussion on educating the public that when they have a family
member at risk to store the gun so that the family member cannot access it. Many local gun
dealers will offer temporary firearm storage.
REPORTS
1.
Behavioral Health Director’s Report – Rebecca Slade. Handouts.
There are monthly meetings with Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital for the Crisis Request
for Proposal. Rebecca Slade invited Mental Health Board members to attend the monthly
meetings. You must RSVP to Rebecca Slade if you are interested. The Respite Center is
scheduled to open May 1st.
The Behavioral Health budget will be submitted to the budget subcommittee on April 13th.
Behavioral Health has a monthly meeting with contractors and will be meeting individually
with the contractors to discuss their contract renewals. The contractors have been notified
about the budget reductions for next year’s contracts, but may not have informed their staff.
Rebecca Slade recently attended a Quality Assurance Conference. The State will begin
extrapolation for audits. An audit showing more than 5% in errors for an audit, for example
if there were 10% in errors, the penalty will be 10% of the funding for the year.
Rebecca Slade handed out EQRO audit data for 2013. Results for Nevada County show the
penetration rate is twice the State average. Nevada County serves 82% of Foster Care youth
with the State average being 50%.
2.
Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Report – Michele Violett. Handout.
Michael Violett announced the MHSA Three Year Plan for fiscal year 2014/15, 2015/16 and
2016/17 has been approved by the Nevada County Board of Supervisors.
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There has been discussion about sanctioning MHSA Programs if deadlines are not met.
Regulations are being rewritten to include a deadline of December 31st of each year.
Housing
Behavioral Health is working with Nevada County Housing Development Corporation to
lease a nine unit apartment that will provide housing for Behavioral Health clients. This will
be going to the Board of Supervisors next month.
Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI)
EMQ is still looking to hire a therapist to provide short term therapy in the Truckee schools.
The Moving Beyond Depression Program has had a delay in getting a contract. The
program may not start until July.
Michele Violett sent in a Letter of Acknowledgment to CalMHSA for Phase I and II
Projects. Per the community planning process it was noted in our Letter of
Acknowledgment that our funds would not go to any organization that did not support
Laura’s Law or Assisted Outpatient Treatment.
Innovation
There have been four Innovation community planning meetings. Michele Violett will be
communicating to the Mental Health Oversight and Accountability Commission about our
plans for Innovation and get feedback on whether or not our Innovation Plan (Respite
Center, Crisis Stabilization Unit and Community Planning Process) fit the Innovation
Guidelines.
Workforce Education and Training (WET)
Mental Health First Aid Training is being offered on March 11th and May 8th. Refer the
flyer that was handed out for more information.
Superior Region WET is presenting a Peer Core Competency Training Proposal. Each
County will be able to send four participants. The Training is 12 months and would be in
person, by computer and phone.
3.
Communication – Future Mental Health Board Agenda Items.
Email future agenda items to Nancy Ramsey at nancy@dvsac.org or Annette LeFrancois at
annette.lefrancois@co.nevada.ca.us .
ATTENDANCE:
Members Present:
Iden Rogers, Helen Williamson, Nancy Ramsey,
Janice Deardorff, Linda Villegas, Alison Schwedner.
Excused Absent
Supervisor Miller.
BH Staff:
Rebecca Slade, Michele Violett, Annette LeFrancois.
Visitors:
Laura Parker-Preston, Amanda Wilcox, Shera Banbury, Mariya Fuentes.
Minutes by Annette LeFrancois
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