To: Board of Supervisors
From: Sheriff
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Approval of Contract Between the Humboldt County Correctional Facility (HCCF) and California Forensic Medical Group (CFMG) for Providing Mental Health Services for a Jail Based Competency Treatment Program
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve the contract between the HCCF and CFMG;
2. Authorize the Chair of the Board to sign three original copies of the contract (Attachment 1);
3. Authorize the Sheriff, Correctional Captain, or Deputy Director of Sheriff’s Administration, to sign all amendments, extensions, revisions or termination of the contract;
4. Direct the Clerk of the Board to return the signed contracts to HCCF, Attn: Captain Duane Christian.
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SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Department of State Hospitals (DSH)
DISCUSSION:
The California state mental health hospital system is overcrowded. This causes inmates who have been deemed “incompetent to stand trial” to be placed on long waiting lists for a bed in the state hospital to restore their competence. The wait is sometimes in excess of 4-6 months. During the wait period their mental health condition may deteriorate because they are not currently able to get the proper treatment at HCCF. To deal with this overcrowding issue the DSH is funding local Jail Based Competency Programs (JBCT) where inmates can be restored to competency without waiting for a state hospital bed. Several localized JBCT programs have been set-up with great success in various counties around the state.
Establishing a JBCT program in Humboldt would allow inmates, who are deemed incompetent and meet the criteria for the local JBCT, to be treated much faster. In most cases inmates would be restored to competence within 3-4 months versus waiting 4-6 months to get to a state hospital incompetency program and then another 3-4 months to regain competence. This shortened period of time will be a benefit to the inmates where they can get the care they need to regain competency. The shortened period of time will also be a relief to the court system by allowing these cases to proceed more swiftly rather than being backlogged.
In order to establish a JBCT in Humboldt County, HCCF must contract with the DSH first and then subcontract with a vendor to provide the mental health services. Based on historical data and available space, DSH and HCCF have agreed to allocate six beds for the program. At the April 28, 2020 Board of Supervisor meeting the contract between HCCF and DSH was approved.
HCCF contracts with Wellpath to provide the medical care services for the inmates. CFMG is Wellpath’s affiliate professional corporation responsible for correctional medical and mental health services in California. For continuity of care of the inmates and cohesive integration with the existing medical care provider, HCCF recommends working with CFMG as a sole source provider for the addition of a JBCT program. Additionally, DSH works with CFMG for many of the JBCT programs throughout the State of California. The contract with CFMG includes a Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Mental Health Clinician/Competency Trainer, and Administrative Assistant.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
DSH will fully fund all new costs for the program and help offset existing facility costs. DSH will pay HCCF $418.64 per day per bed for a total of $2,511.84/day for the six allocated beds. This totals $916,822/annually. In addition, DSH will provide one-time start-up program costs not to exceed $60,500 for a two-year contract total of $1,894,143.
HCCF will sub-contract with CFMG to provide the program staffing and management at $252.65 per day per bed for a total of $1,515.90/day for the six allocated beds. This totals $553.303.50/annually for a two-year contract total of $1,136.857.00 which includes half of the $60,500.00 startup costs. This leaves $378,643/annually to help HCCF pay the cost of a Correctional Deputy and offset other HCCF operating costs.
Staffing and costs associated to this contract have been included in the fiscal year 2020-21 Proposed Budget. There is no additional general fund request for this contract.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by creating opportunities for improved safety and health.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Department of State Hospitals
California Forensic Medical Group
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board of Supervisors may choose not to authorize the Sheriff or designee enter into the attached negotiated contract however, this is not recommended because it would cause those inmates who have been deemed incompetent to stand trial to wait several months waiting on a bed at a state hospital for a competency restoration program.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Contract with CFMG including BOS signed contract with Department of State Hospitals
2. Emailed approval of this contract by Department of State Hospitals
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: 20-108
Meeting of: 4/28/2020
File No.: N/A