Title
Approve and authorize the Health Department’s Behavioral Health Bureau to submit a grant application to the Board of State and Community Corrections for the Proposition 47 Grant Program in an amount up to $6,000,000, to fund mental health services, substance use disorder services, housing related assistance, and community based supportive services for Fiscal Years, 2016-17 thru 2018-19.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Approve and authorize the Health Department’s Behavioral Health Bureau to submit a grant application to the Board of State and Community Corrections for the Proposition 47 Grant Program in an amount up to $6,000,000, to fund mental health services, substance use disorder services, housing related assistance, and community based supportive services for Fiscal Years, 2016-17 thru 2018-19.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Health Department’s Behavioral Health Bureau is creating and submitting a grant for the Proposition 47 Grant Program in an amount up to $6,000,000. Proposition 47, passed by California voters in 2014 is aimed at reducing overcrowding in the state's prisons by converting many nonviolent offenses, such as drug and property offenses, from felonies to misdemeanors. The Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) is an independent statutory agency that provides leadership to the adult and juvenile criminal justice systems as well as expertise on Public Safety Realignment issues. The BSCC requires formal authorization in order to consider the County’s submission. Therefore, Board approval of the submission is requested.
Monterey County Health Department Behavioral Health Bureau is developing and submitting a funding application, in collaboration with other local partners, for the “Proposition 47 Grant Program.” Monterey County will focus on the following priority:
(A) Mental health services, substance use disorder treatment services, misdemeanor diversion programs, or some combination thereof.
(B) Housing-related assistance that utilizes evidence-based models, including, but not limited to, those recommended by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. Housing-related assistance may include, but is not limited to, the following:
i. Financial assistance, including security deposits, utility payments, moving-cost assistance, and up to 24 months of rental assistance.
ii. Housing stabilization assistance, including case management, relocation assistance, outreach and engagement, landlord recruitment, housing navigation and placement, and credit repair.
(C) Other community-based supportive services, such as job skills training, case management, and civil legal services.
The critical problem to be addressed focuses on the unmet need in South County (Soledad, Gonzales, Greenfield and King City) for substance use disorder treatment services, expansion of mental health services, job training services and housing related assistance by way of sober living environments. The population of focus is individuals in the criminal justice system in need of the services mentioned in order to eliminate barriers to successful reintegration into society and reduce the recidivism rate of people convicted of less serious crimes. The goals and objectives for this proposal focuses on increasing the progression and recovery rate of this population by providing local substance use disorder services such as residential treatment slots, outpatient services and sober living environments along with mental health services and job training services.
Currently, there are no substance use disorder treatment services offered in South County which presents a barrier to recovery for residents living in this community. Individuals needing treatment services must commute to Salinas which is at a minimum a 30-minute drive. Individuals involved in the criminal justice system have an increased barrier to transportation as they may not have a current driver’s license and/or a vehicle for commuting. Establishing a service site in South County would increase access to mental health care, substance use treatment services and job training services. In addition, the Public Defender’s office will be working closely with our proposed contract collaborators to assist with the reclassification of Prop 47 clients from a non-violent felony to a misdemeanor.
Grant funding from the BSCC falls in line with the proposed needs in South Monterey County including treatment services, reclassification of charges for Prop 47 clients, vocational training, job placement and housing related assistance. This funding would assist in closing the service gap in South County by bringing much needed resources to this community.
This work supports the Monterey County Health Department 2011-2015 strategic plan initiative: 3) Ensure access to culturally and linguistically appropriate, customer-friendly, quality health services. It also supports one of the ten essential public health services, specifically: 7) Link people to needed personal health services and assure the provisions of health care when otherwise unavailable.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel, Risk Management, and the Auditor-Controller have reviewed this Grant Application as to legal form, insurance requirements, and fiscal provisions respectively.
FINANCING:
This grant application is for the maximum amount of $6,000,000 over three fiscal years (FY 2016-2019), and requires financial leveraging through other Federal, State and Local funds or other social investments. The total value of the proposed project is $10,202,124, of which $6,000,000 are to be covered with grant funds, and the remaining $4,202,123 from leveraged Federal funding. The grant requires that at a minimum, 50% of grant funds are allocated to non-governmental organizations; the submitted proposal allocates 76% or $4,562,711 of the requested grant funds to the organizations that will provide the bulk of the direct services. services. The remaining $1,437,290 will pay for program evaluation costs, and salary and benefit costs of Public Defender’s Office staff and two full-time Psychiatric Social Workers II in Behavioral Health.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
☐Economic Development:
• Through collaboration, strengthen economic development to ensure a diversified and healthy economy.
☐Administration:
• Promote an organization that practices efficient and effective resource management and is recognized for responsiveness, strong customer orientation, accountability and transparency.
☒Health & Human Services:
• Improve health and quality of life through County supported policies, programs, and services; promoting access to equitable opportunities for healthy choices and healthy environments in collaboration with communities.
☐Infrastructure:
• Plan and develop a sustainable, physical infrastructure that improves the quality of life for County residents and supports economic development results.
☐Public Safety:
• Create a safe environment for people to achieve their potential, leading businesses and communities to thrive and grow by reducing violent crimes as well as crimes in general.
Prepared By: Rose Moreno, Management Analyst III, x4716
Approved By: Elsa M. Jimenez, Director of Health, x4526