To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Behavioral Health
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Memorandum of Understanding with Willow Glen Care Center regarding the Provision of Long-Term Residential Mental Health Treatment Services
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the attached memorandum of understanding with Willow Glen Care Center regarding the Provision of Long-Term Residential Mental Health Treatment Services;
2. Authorize the Department of Health and Human Services - Behavioral Health Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the attached memorandum of understanding with Willow Glen Care Center after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management, and the County Administrative Office; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to return one (1) fully executed copy of the attached memorandum of understanding with Willow Glen Care Center to the Department of Health and Human Services - Contract Unit for further processing
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Behavioral Health Fund (1170)
DISCUSSION:
The Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services - Behavioral Health (“DHHS - Behavioral Health”), in coordination with the Humboldt County Public Guardian’s Office, utilizes a variety of placement options to provide long-term mental health treatment services to mentally ill clients who require assistance in a secure setting. It is important for the placement team to have a variety of treatment options because vacancies and client needs fluctuate.
Willow Glen Care Center (“Willow Glen”) operates a variety of mental health treatment facilities that are designed to serve diverse client needs, including, without limitation, several adult residential treatment facilities and a secure mental health rehabilitation center, most of which are located in Yuba City, California.
Willow Glen’s adult residential treatment facilities serve as sub-acute psychiatric residential facilities, offering rehabilitative mental health services for severely and persistently mentally ill individuals. All mental health services provided by Willow Glen’s adult residential treatment facilities focus on transitioning clients to independent living within their communities as soon as may be appropriate.
Willow Glen’s mental health rehabilitation center (“MHRC”) serves clients who require twenty-four (24) hour monitoring in a locked and secure environment due to the severity of their mental illness. DHHS - Behavioral Health clients placed at Willow Glen’s MHRC are monitored by the county’s multi-disciplinary Strategic Assistance for Adult Recovery Interventions (“SAFARI”) committee. The SAFARI committee authorizes services, determines the appropriate level of care, and monitors clients’ needs in the community upon discharge. When an initial placement at Willow Glen’s MHRC occurs, transitional plans for a less restrictive placement are put into place, and reviewed monthly, in order to transition the client to community living as soon as may be appropriate. All mental health treatment services provided at Willow Glen’s MHRC are delivered with a wellness focus which includes, without limitation, concepts of recovery and resilience.
On July 2, 2019 (item C-9), the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors approved the current professional services agreement with Willow Glen regarding the provision of long-term residential mental health treatment services to adults with severe mental illnesses for the period of July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2022. There were 3 subsequent Amendments signed by the DHHS-Behavioral Health Director, dated June 23, 2020, December 31, 2020, and May 13, 2021 which increased the maximum amount payable thereunder and adjusted the rates of compensation set forth therein. Due to an unexpected extra utilization, the contract cap was exceeded and an amendment to increase the cap was unable to be completed prior to the expiration of the agreement.
The purpose of the attached memorandum of understanding is to document Willow Glen Care Center long-term residential mental health treatment services to adults with severe mental illness during fiscal year 2021-2022, and to provide for payment of such services. Accordingly, the Department of Health and Human Services - Behavioral Health (“DHHS - Behavioral Health”) recommends that the Board approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the attached memorandum of understanding with Willow Glen Care Center regarding payment of the provision of long-term residential mental health treatment services to adults with severe mental illness. It also recommends that the Board authorize the DHHS - Behavioral Health Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the attached memorandum of understanding with Willow Glen Care Center, after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management, and the County Administrative Office, in order to avoid any unnecessary delays in the payment for the provision of long-term residential mental health treatment services to adults with severe mental illness.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The attached memorandum of understanding with Willow Glen Care Center has a maximum amount payable of Sixty-Seven Thousand One Hundred Eighty-Five Dollars ($67,185.00). Expenditure appropriations related to the attached memorandum of understanding have been included in the approved fiscal year 2021-2022 budget for DHHS - Behavioral Health Administration budget unit 1170-424. Funding for the attached memorandum of understanding with Willow Glen Care Center is made available through state realignment and Mental Health Services Act revenues received by DHHS - Behavioral Health. As a result, approval of the attached memorandum of understanding with Willow Glen Care Center will not impact the Humboldt County General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by protecting vulnerable populations, supporting self-reliance of citizens and improving the safety and health of our communities.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board could choose to not approve the attached memorandum of understanding with Willow Glen Care Center, regarding the provision of long-term residential mental health treatment services to adults with severe mental illnesses. However, this alternative is not recommended since it would not allow DHHS - Behavioral Health to pay Willow Glen Care Center for the additional services provided.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Memorandum of understanding with Willow Glen Care Center regarding the Provision of Long-Term Residential Mental Health Treatment Services
2. Professional Services Agreement with Willow Glen Care Center Regarding the Provision of Long-Term Residential Mental Health Treatment Services for Fiscal Years 2019-2022
3. First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Willow Glen Care Center Regarding the Provision of Long-Term Residential Mental Health Treatment Services for Fiscal Years 2019-2022
4. Second Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Willow Glen Care Center Regarding the Provision of Long-Term Residential Mental Health Treatment Services for Fiscal Years 2019-2022
5. Third Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Willow Glen Care Center Regarding the Provision of Long-Term Residential Mental Health Treatment Services for Fiscal Years 2019-2022
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: C-19, C-9, C-7, C-16, C-12, C-11, C-26, C-9
Meeting of: 6/22/10, 6/26/12, 7/1/14, 6/28/16, 8/15/17, 6/12/18, 7/31/18, 7/2/19
File No.: 16-5357, 16-2465, 14-0489, 16-4690, 17-2235, 18-570, 18-994, 19-926, 22-1110