Nevada County Mental Health Board Minutes
Date:
Time:
Place
February 6, 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 January 9, 2015.
The minutes were approved with no changes.
3.
Announcements.
Welcome to Dan Miller the new Board of Supervisors representative assigned to the Mental
Health Board.
Annette LeFrancois announced Humboldt State’s informational meeting about their virtual
Masters in Social Work Program. For more information call (707) 826-4443 or the website
at: http://www2.humboldt.edu/socialwork/home-page . Michele Violett reported this
accredited program is supported through Superior Region Counties Mental Health Services
Act (MHSA) Workforce Education and Training (WET) funds. Chico State also has a
similar program.
Nancy Ramsey announced Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalition (DVSAC) are
having a Crisis Intervention Training for those working in the field of crisis counseling
beginning in March. A flyer for the training was handed out at today’s meeting. Email
Jennifer@dvsac.org to RSVP or for more information.
Helen Williamson announced the League of Women’s Voters General Meeting on Saturday,
February 14th from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Peach Lutheran Church in Grass Valley. The
topic will be on the Community’s Relationship with Law Enforcement.
4.
Public Comment.
Nancy Ramsey asked if there was any public comment. There were no comments.
5.
Truckee – Alison Schwedner.
Alison Schwedner announced that Placer County Innovation funding criteria has been
released. Placer County is focusing their funds on underserved populations that include:
Veterans, homeless, seniors and individuals with severe mental illness needing health care
services. In Truckee there are a smaller number of people within these populations, making
it difficult to develop programing and attract resources. Alison asked if there are models
that work in other rural Counties or if there are any ideas for collaboration with Placer
County to serve these individuals.
Alison Schwedner will be reporting on data from the Truckee Report Card at the March
Mental Health Board Meeting.
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Michele Violett announced the Sierra Sun reported a major drop in Tahoe Truckee student
suspensions. The schools are being more proactive and training students in social skills in
order to reduce student offenses. The Second Step program funded with MHSA funds is
likely to have had an impact on the drop in suspensions.
Michele Violett announced the Boys and Girls Club has opened in Truckee. They had room
for 125 students and they are already full.
6.
Access to Services – Iden Rogers and Helen Williamson. Handout.
Iden Rogers presented a summary report from the interviews with community agencies on
accessing Behavioral Health services. Areas of concern are the negative impression
working with Adult Behavioral Health in contrast with Children’s Behavioral Health, lack of
clarity on eligibility for services and being supportive to individuals seeking services.
Organizations that were interviewed include Family Court, SPIRIT Peer Empowerment
Center, Nevada City Police, Hospitality House, Community Recovery Resources, Common
Goals, Victor Community Services and Truckee. It was felt that these organizations are
representative of the County and there is no need to interview additional agencies. There
was a suggestion to have Western Sierra Medical Clinic and/or Sierra Family Medical Clinic
interviewed as Behavioral Health interacts with these agencies more frequently. Nancy
Ramsey asked if anyone wants to volunteer to help interview the two remaining agencies.
Linda Villegas volunteered to help.
Rebecca Slade mentioned that Children’s Behavioral Health services have increased five
times due to EPSDT funding that provided 50 cents in Federal funds, 45 cents from the State
and 5 cents from the County for every dollar spent. We do not have this level of funding on
the adult side. Rebecca Slade will work on making improvement to adult services.
7.
Public Comment Process. Handout.
The Mental Health Board has been working to clarify the public comment process. The
Mental Health Board looked at Placer County’s Board Protocol and adapted it to meet
Nevada County’s requirements. Helen Williamson spoke with Alison Barratt-Green from
County Counsel who was able to clarify the public comment process. It is appropriate to
have a public comment period for items not appearing on the agenda and the timeframe can
be limited. The Mental Health Board can ask clarifying questions, but cannot respond to
items not appearing on the agenda. In Nevada County we must provide time for public
comment after each agenda item has been presented and discussed by Board members.
There can be a fifteen minute timeframe total for public comment that can be extended by
the Mental Health Board Chair.
Today’s handout is the Board Protocol (Non-Board Member Participation) from Nancy
Ramsey. A decision was made to add the Board Protocol to the back of the agenda and add
the third sentence to the front of the agenda. Helen Williamson made a motion to approve
the Board Protocol. Alison Schwedner seconded the motion. All Mental Health Board
members present were in favor.
8.
Mental Health Board Vice Chair Nominations.
This item will be discussed next month.
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9.
Mental Health Board Goals – Nancy Ramsey. Handout.
There was discussion on goal number two. A decision was made to remove goal number
two. Under the Section as time and resources allow number two, separate phone listing
from the crisis phone update.
10.
Behavioral Health Budget for Fiscal Year 2015/16 – Rebecca Slade. Handouts.
Behavioral Health will be using realignment funds for the Crisis Stabilization Unit and
Respite Care. All of our realignment is currently budgeted for other programs. Behavioral
Health management and fiscal staff are working to determine where to make program cuts.
Nevada County is one-third to one-half the size of Placer County, yet has more Full Service
Partnership (FSP) slots than Placer County does. The budget cuts will include some
reduction to wraparound services.
REPORTS
1.
Behavioral Health Director’s Report – Rebecca Slade. Handouts.
APS Healthcare conducted a California External Quality Review Organization (CAEQRO)
audit of Nevada County Behavioral Health processes in March 2014. Behavioral Health has
just received the final report from the audit and it is included in today’s handouts. Rebecca
Slade reviewed the data that can be found on pages 16-20. This year’s audit is scheduled for
March. Helen Williamson mentioned the work load for staff has increased with staff
covering additional assignments and having less staff to do the work is creating a strain.
Rebecca Slade reviewed data on the number of housing units provided to clients by
Behavioral Health and Turning Point.
On Tuesday February 10th the Crisis Stabilization Unit land lease and operational agreement
will go to the Board of Supervisors. Since 1995 there has been a 30% decrease in the
number of psychiatric hospital beds in the State and a 19% population increase in California.
In the last year there was a 54% increase in the number of 5150 evaluations in Nevada
County. A Crisis Stabilization Unit will provide intense services to an individual for 23
hours that could prevent a hospitalization. It is estimated to cost $460,000 per year. If we
are able to divert 25% of our clients from hospitalization, it will cover half this cost.
Behavioral Health will also be opening Respite Care that will have four beds and will be run
by peers for individuals in a mental health crisis. It is expected to open on April 15th.
2.
Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Report – Michele Violett. Handouts.
Nevada County Behavioral Health is in the public comment period for the three year Mental
Health Services Act (MHSA) Plan for Fiscal Year 2014/15 through 2016/17 and Annual
Progress Report for Fiscal Year 2012/13. A Public Hearing will take place on March 6,
2015 at 9:30 a.m. at the Mental Health Board Meeting. The meeting will take place at the
Behavioral Health Department in the Crown Point Conference Room at 500 Crown Point
Circle in Grass Valley. After the Public Hearing, the three year plan and annual progress
report will go to the Board of Supervisors. Nevada County’s Auditor/Controller must also
sign off on our plan and progress report. It will then be submitted the Mental Health
Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC).
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Included in today’s handouts is a copy of the MHSA Three Year Plan and Annual Progress
Report. Fiscal information is located on pages 3 – 18. New this year, fiscal staff had to
estimate other sources of funding used with MHSA programs. Michele Violett had fiscal
staff overestimate the amount of MHSA funds we would receive as if estimates are lower
than what we received the plan, public hearing and approval process would have to be
redone. Contracts for services will be based on funds we receive, not the estimate. Exhibit
D on page 19 – 22 is the community planning process. Exhibit E on page 23 - 91 is the
MHSA Plan. Exhibit F on page 99- 161 is the Annual Progress Report narrative. The total
number of individuals served by MHSA is 11,748; refer to pages 162 – 173 for this data.
Michele Violett announced that Nevada County received a HUD renewal Permanent
Supportive Housing Grant. We are also applying for renewal of this grant and this year we
will ask for family vouchers. The grant for Winters Haven will end in 2016.
Behavioral Health is applying to renew this grant. The Supportive Housing Program
currently houses 17 people is also due for renewal. The Homeless Connect event went very
smoothly. This year’s focus for the homeless count was on Veterans and Schools. This year
the surveys were done at the shelters and participants were given gift cards. This year there
were not enough volunteers helping at the event and next year we will focus on getting more
volunteers.
Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) guidelines are changing. There will be an increase
in the evaluation requirements. Included in today’s handouts is a copy of the Talking Points
in response to the Little Hoover Commission MHSA Report. The Little Hoover
Commission Report was critical of MHSA and the lack of reporting on outcomes, yet every
County is required to report on MHSA outcomes and the reporting requirements are
increasing.
The Moving Beyond Depression Program in collaboration with Public Health has been
working on processes and procedures and is calling therapists in the community who may be
interested in working in this program. Public Health has already scheduled some interviews.
Innovation Planning Meetings have been scheduled for February and March. This year we
do not have enough money to start any new programs, so we are looking to build on and
learn from existing programs. Innovation funding is not about providing service, it is about
what we want to learn. The proposals we want to focus on are: Stakeholder Group, Respite
Center and Crisis Stabilization Unit. The Innovation guidelines are also being redone.
A Peer Employment Training attendee shared her experience from the training. She learned
about talking one on one with a person and being there for that person and being the bearer
of hope for that person. One of the most helpful things for an individual comes from people
that love, care and understands them. There were 19 graduates from the training.
3.
Recruitment of New Mental Health Board Members.
There are currently four vacant Mental Health Board positions. Mental Health Board
applications were handed out at today’s meeting. Applications are also available online at
http://www.mynevadacounty.com/nc/bos/cob/Pages/Committees-and-Commissions.aspx .
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4.
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:
Supervisor Miller, Iden Rogers, Helen Williamson, Nancy Ramsey,
Linda Villegas, Janice Deardorff, Alison Schwedner.
Excused Absent
N/A.
BH Staff:
Rebecca Slade, Michele Violett, Annette LeFrancois.
Visitors:
Laura Parker-Preston, Amanda Wilcox.
Minutes by Annette LeFrancois
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