Title
a. Authorize the County Administrative Officer, or designee, to accept the Department of State Hospitals grant funding to facilitate a collaborative community stakeholder workgroup focused on reducing the number of individuals with serious mental illness that are arrested and incarcerated for the grant period of July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2028 in the amount of $500,000;
b. Authorize the County Administrative Officer, or designee, to execute and administer documents to secure and receive funding from the Department of State Hospitals for the grant period through June 30, 2028.
Report
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Authorize the County Administrative Officer, or designee, to accept the Department of State Hospitals grant funding to facilitate a collaborative community stakeholder workgroup focused on reducing the number of individuals with serious mental illness that are arrested and incarcerated for the grant period of July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2028, in the amount of $500,000;
b. Authorize the County Administrative Officer, or designee, to execute and administer documents to secure and receive funding from the Department of State Hospitals for the grant period through June 30, 2028.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION
The County of Monterey has been awarded funding from the Department of State Hospitals for the period of July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2028, to facilitate a collaborative community stakeholder workgroup focused on developing and implementing local solutions that target the reduction of the number of individuals with serious mental illness arrested and incarcerated for behavior connected to their illness. This can include, but not be limited to, planning for care court, coordinating treatment, discussing housing options, planning for rearrest and/or reentry into diversion programs. The workgroup shall also focus on targeting the reduction of Felony Incompetent to Stand Trial (FIST) commitments overall within the county.
In April 2019, Monterey County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution, joining a national movement to reduce the number of incarcerations of people with mental illnesses and co-occurring substance use disorders - broadly known as the Stepping Up Initiative.
Due to the high rates of people experiencing homelessness with co-occurring substance use and mental illness, the Homeless Services Director partnered with Monterey County Behavioral Health Bureau to implement the final steps of the Stepping Up Initiative. It is the goal of the Homeless Services Director to incorporate these steps into the overarching strategy to reduce homelessness for the county.
The total amount of the funding awarded is $500,000, with $100,000 paid each year for five (5) years and will be used for planning and implementation of the Stepping Up Initiatives’ community identified goals.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Monterey County Behavioral Health Bureau, Probation, Superior Court of CA, the Coalition of Homeless Services Providers, Sheriff’s Office, and District Attorney’s Office.
The Office of the County Counsel has reviewed and approved this report.
FINANCING:
The amount funded is $500,000, in which $100,000 would be disbursed to the County Administrative Office each year over 5 years.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
___ Economic Development
_X_ Administration
_X_ Health & Human Services
_X_ Infrastructure
___ Public Safety
Prepared by: Roxanne Wilson, Homeless Services Director, Ext. 5445
Approved by: Nicholas E. Chiulos, Assistant County Administrative Officer, Ext. 5145
Attachments:
Standard Agreement