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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20180807M MHSA1 SPECIAL Mental Health and Substance Abuse Advisory Committee Retreat Meeting MINUTES August 7, 2018 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM Location: Jefferson County Public Health/Pacific Room I. Call to Order/Introductions Board Members: Kathleen Kler ABSENT Patricia Beathard Jill Buhler Anne Dean Michael Evans Ariel Speser Steve Workman Sheila Westerman Staff: Vicki Kirkpatrick and Anna Mc Enery Guests: Justine Bedell and Alison Arthur II. Public Comments/Justine Bedell from OlyCAP advocated for 1/10th of 1% funding for operational expenses for the Cabins. She read a letter from a Drug Court participant who benefited from living at the Cabins while participating in Family Therapeutic Court and working to get clean and sober. NEW BUSINESS III. Review- History/10th of 1% Fund: Anna Mc Enery & Vicki Kirkpatrick/(Handouts) How 1/10th of 1% Funding Came to Be~ In 2005, Washington State enacted legislation sponsored by Senator Hargrove that authorized Counties to impose a one-tenth-of-one-percent local sales tax to fund new mental health and chemical dependency treatment programs and therapeutic court services. Goals of the Washington State legislation:  Reduce negative impacts of mental health & substance abuse on children and families  Avoid building more jails and prisons and prevent the number of crime victims  Minimize public assistance expenditures and unemployment  Reduce homelessness  Lower physical healthcare and emergency room costs  Improve recovery outcomes and quality of life for those with substance abuse and mental health disorders 2 IV. The Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners was the first in the state to approve the tax in Ordinance No. 08-1003-05, signed October 3, 2005. By enacting this 1/10th of 1 percent sales tax (or Mental Health/Substance Abuse Sales Tax), the County enhanced funding for prevention, diversion, and intervention that creates, or enhances, services for youth and adults who are mentally ill, chemically dependent, or who have co-occurring disorders; also services that help contain or divert the growth of the jail’s population. ~ Staff Mc Enery shared a handout of Jefferson County priority funding areas and what services are being funded with 1/10th of 1% funding at this time. See document info on page 2-3-4-5-6: 2018 PRIORITY FUNDING AREAS- SERVICES (Updated Language) FUNDED with JEFFERSON Co 1/10TH OF 1% SALES TAX FUNDING 1) Reduce the incidence and severity of behavioral health disorders in youth and decrease initial or further involvement with our criminal justice system by providing community-based prevention/treatment in children’s centers, school campuses, or in homes for families & children coping with mental illness or substance abuse. $172,901.00 JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH: NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP Description: Public Health Nurse serves low-income first-time pregnant mothers with social/health indicators that increase the risk for poor outcomes for mother and infant. The majority of participants either have a recent personal history of substance use and/or mental illness or these risks currently or historically in the immediate family environment. Nurse treats the mother using behavior change theory & motivational interviewing for quitting substances, preventing relapse, treating mental illness, addressing intergenerational patterns within the family system. JUMPING MOUSE CHILDREN'S CENTER:  COUNSELING SERVICES FOR CHILDREN  BRINNON SCHOOL DISTRICT PILOT PROJECT Description: Services to traumatized children who have been directly impacted by a parent's substance use disorder and/or mental illness; services also provided to the children's caregivers. Jumping Mouse is reaching some of the most at-risk members of our community, preventing substance abuse & mental health problems before they begin. SCHOOL BASED MENTAL HEALTH-COUNSELING SERVICES Description: Mental health Professionals provide therapeutic services, to students in the Port Townsend, Chimacum, Quilcene and Brinnon School Districts. Consultations with school staff and other agencies are also provided for the students engaged in the program. Easy access to experienced professionals with no financial burden to the family and has proven its worth in high levels of participation at all four sites. 3 2) Reduce the incidence and severity of behavioral health disorders while improving the health status and well-being of all Jefferson County residents, by providing treatment for mental illness, substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders. $29,662.00 DISCOVERY BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE: CODIT PROGRAM Description: Discovery Behavioral Healthcare provides substance abuse treatment, along with continuing mental health services and UA’s for 24-40 Jefferson County citizens with co-occurring disorders (with severe & persistent mental illness), seeking Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder treatment. 3) Reduce recidivism within our criminal justice system by providing therapeutic courts that coordinate substance abuse & mental health court referrals, family dependency, housing, transportation services and other needs within the adult courts. $129,824.00 THERAPEUTIC COURT PROGRAMS-Mental Health COURT, Drug COURT and Family THERAPEUTIC COURT Description: The Therapeutic Courts serve the population who are involved with the Criminal Justice System and would likely be incarcerated. All participants in Drug Court and in Family Therapeutic Court, (FTC) have a substance abuse issue and participants in Mental Health Court have mental health disorders. Therapeutic Courts provide an opportunity for participants to work on their underlying issues, therefore reducing the jail population & is an essential element of restorative justice. TRUANCY REFORM PROJECT Description: The Truancy Reform Project provides Functional Family Therapy to families of children who are chronically truant and facing court intervention due to failed family system, mental health concerns, chemical dependency concerns and other associated behaviors. 4) Reduce future contact with the criminal justice system and increase recovery thru trauma- informed behavioral health interventions in the jail, by coordinating and providing substance use disorders and mental health assessments, counseling treatment and in- patient referrals during incarceration. 5) Divert adults with substance abuse disorders and mental health issues from re-cycling through costly interventions like hospitals, emergency rooms and jails, by providing case management-related services for those suffering from mental illness and/or substance abuse (e.g. housing, medical, employment, etc.). $105,000.00 DISCOVERY BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE: TRANSITIONAL HOUSING Description: Discovery Behavioral Healthcare provides transitional housing services for up to 20 Jefferson County citizens who are at immediate risk of or a continuing risk of psychiatric hospitalization, or who have been recently discharged from the hospital without a home. OlyCAP: TRANSITIONAL HOUSING Description: Olympic Community Action, (OlyCAP) provides transitional housing at the Haines Street Cabins, for individuals with substance use disorder or mental illness who are participating in Therapeutic Courts or who are discharged from Jail or a Hospital 4 JAIL ASSESSMENT Description: A Mental Health Professional, (MHP) assesses subjects booked into jail for substance use disorder and/or withdrawal and mental health conditions. MHP provides assessment, early intervention for inmates with substance dependencies and/or mental health issues, including relapse prevention education sessions (RPE) and public health interventions; makes referrals to DBH, (Mental Health Provider) and the Jail Medical Provider, coordinates care with Safe Harbor and the Therapeutic Courts, and assists with inmate placement into treatment programs. The MHP actively recruits inmates with substance abuse issues to participate in 2 weekly Life skill classes. ~Staff Mc Enery shared examples of policy goals & priority funding areas from other Counties in comparison to Jefferson County- (Updated Language). See info on page 4-5-6 of this document JEFFERSON CO. PRIORITY FUNDING AREAS -(Updated) 1 Reduce the incidence and severity of behavioral health disorders in youth; decrease initial or further involvement with our criminal justice system by providing community- based prevention/treatment in children’s centers, school campuses, or in homes for families & children coping with mental illness or substance abuse. 2 Reduce the incidence and severity of behavioral health disorders while improving the health status and well-being of all Jefferson County residents, by providing treatment for mental illness, substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders. 3 Reduce recidivism within our criminal justice system by providing therapeutic courts that coordinate substance abuse & mental health court referrals, family dependency, housing, transportation services and other needs within the adult courts. 4 Reduce an inmate’s future contact with the criminal justice system by increasing recovery thru trauma-informed behavioral health interventions in the jail, by coordinating and providing substance use disorders and mental health assessments, counseling treatment and in-patient referrals during incarceration. 5 Divert adults with substance abuse disorders and mental health issues from re-cycling through costly interventions like hospitals, emergency rooms and jails, by providing case management-related services for those suffering from mental illness and/or substance abuse (e.g. housing, medical, employment, etc.). CLALLAM COUNTY In September 2013, the Clallam County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution authorizing a sales and use tax for Chemical Dependency, Mental Health and Therapeutic Court Programs. This sales and use tax shall be known as “CD/MH Sales Tax”. The goal of this tax is to prevent and reduce the impacts of disabling chemical dependency and mental illness by creating and investing in effective, data-driven programs for a continuum system of care. Clallam County seeks to assure that funds collected are expended in an accountable and transparent manner, and with measures to determine the effectiveness of these publicly- funded investments. The County will require appropriate oversight, accountability, and status and progress reports for programs supported with the CD/MH Sales Tax. Each funded project or program will be partially evaluated according to performance measures for outcomes and cost effectiveness. 5 Clallam Programs shall achieve the following policy goals:  Improve the health status and wellbeing of Clallam County residents.  Reduce the incidence and severity of chemical dependency and/or mental health disorders in adults and youth in Clallam County.  Reduce the number of chemically dependent and mentally ill youth and adults from initial involvement with the criminal justice system.  Reduce the number of people in Clallam County who re-cycle through our criminal justice systems, including jails and prisons.  Reduce the number of people in Clallam County who use costly interventions including hospitals, emergency rooms, and crisis services. Collective Impact: The Clallam County Board of Commissioners have recognized collective impact as a framework for making it possible for local service providers to work together to help solve complex social problems, such as chemical dependency and mental illness. It is an innovative and structured approach to making collaboration work across government, business, philanthropy, non-profit organizations and citizens to achieve significant and lasting social change. Collective Impact is a significant shift from the social sector’s current paradigm of "isolated impact" because the underlying premise of collective impact is that no single organization can create large-scale, lasting social change alone. Systemic social problems cannot be solved by simply scaling or replicating one organization or program. KING COUNTY-Mental Illness & Drug Dependency 2 (MIDD 2) Result and Priorities: The overarching result of King County’s MIDD sales tax for 2017-2025 (referred to as “MIDD 2”) is that people living with, or at risk of behavioral health conditions, are healthy, have satisfying social relationships, and avoid criminal justice involvement. King County’s MIDD initiatives work together across the continuum of behavioral health services in order to achieve this outcome. This result is further detailed via the MIDD 2 Framework. MIDD 2 priorities are as follows: 1) Funding services and programs to keep people out of or returning to jail and the criminal justice system, including upstream prevention and diversion activities. 2) Investing in a treatment on demand system that delivers treatment to people who need it, when they need it, so crises can be avoided or shortened. 3) Creating services that are responsive to the unique needs of King County’s geographic and cultural/ethnic communities. The overarching result and priorities are pursued through five policy goals, formally adopted by King County Council via Ordinance 18407: 1) Divert individuals with behavioral health needs from costly interventions such as jail, emergency rooms and hospitals. 2) Reduce the number, length, and frequency of behavioral health crisis events. 3) Increase culturally appropriate, trauma-informed behavioral health services. 4) Improve the health and wellness of individuals living with behavioral health conditions. 5) Explicit linkage with, and furthering the work of, King County and community initiatives. 6 KITSAP COUNTY Mission: Prevent and reduce the impacts of disabling chemical dependency and mental illness by creating and investing in effective, data driven programs for a continuum of recovery- oriented systems of care. Meaningful Outcomes: Kitsap County seeks to assure that citizens and policy makers spend the funds collected in an accountable and transparent manner, with community input and support, and with measures to determine the effectiveness of these publicly-funded investments. The county will require appropriate oversight, accountability, and status and progress reports for programs supported with the Treatment Sales Tax. Each funded program will be evaluated according to performance measures regarding cost effectiveness and the ability to attain stated goals. These programs shall achieve the following policy goals:  Improve the health status and wellbeing of Kitsap County residents.  Reduce the incident and severity of chemical dependency and/or mental health disorders in adults and youth.  Reduce the number of chemically dependent and mentally ill youth and adults from initial or further criminal justice system involvement.  Reduce the number of people in Kitsap County who recycle through our criminal justice systems, including jails and prisons.  Reduce the number of people in Kitsap County who use costly interventions including hospitals, emergency rooms, and crisis services.  Increase the number of stable housing options for chemically dependent and mentally ill residents of Kitsap County. SKAGIT Treatment Sales Tax Priorities: Programs and services shall reflect priorities set forth in RCW 82.14.460 including the following areas, based on a current lack of treatment services for those populations: 1) Individuals in the criminal justice system, including new or expanded therapeutic courts 2) Individuals in need of treatment who do not have access to other forms of funding or benefits to obtain such services 3) Crisis and acute services 4) Intervention and outreach services for children and adolescents 5) Creation and expansion of access to recovery support services, including housing supports. WHEREAS, in Snohomish County any new or expanded programs and services to be supported with sales and use tax revenues should be designed to achieve the following policy goals: 1) Reduce the incidence and severity of chemical dependency and/or mental health disorders in adults and youth; 2) Reduce the number of individuals with chemical dependency and/or mental health disorders using costly interventions such as hospitals, emergency rooms or jails; 3) Diversion of adults and youth with mental chemical dependency and/or health disorders from initial or further involvement with the criminal justice system; 4) Support linkages with other county efforts; 5) Provide outreach to underserved populations; and Provide culturally appropriate service delivery. 7 ~ Staff Mc Enery shared graphs of priority 1/10th of 1% funding areas from the last 5 years. See pie charts below: Treatment, 113,990.00 , 21% Therapeutic Courts, 129,824.00 , 24% Case Management & Housing Support, 159,428.00 , 29% Schools, 89,729.00 , 16% Finance & Contracts Management, QA, 52,096.00 , 10% ALLOCATION OF 1/10TH OF 1% SALES TAX FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE 2018 Total Allocated in 2018: $545,067 Treatment, 90,248.44 , 16% Therapeutic Courts, 128,731.00 , 23% Case Management & Housing Support, 153,166.85 , 27% School based MH, 137,156.46 , 25% Finance & Contracts Management, QA, 52,096.00 , 9% ALLOCATION OF 1/10TH OF 1% SALES TAX FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE 2017 Total Allocated in 2017: $561,398.75 8 Treatment, 196,249.00 , 50% Therapeutic Courts, 46,538.00 , 12% Case Management & Housing Support, 44,432.00 ,12% Schools, 59,736.00 , 15% Finance & Contracts Management, QA, 43,532.00 , 11% ALLOCATION OF 1/10TH OF 1% SALES TAX FOR MENTAL HEATLH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE 2016 Total Allocated in 2016: $390,487 Treatment, 214,840.00 , 51% Therapeutic Courts, 45,547.00 , 11% Case Management & Housing Support, 59,498.00 , 14% Schools, 59,736.00 , 14% Finance & Contracts Management, QA, 44,523.00 , 10% ALLOCATION OF 1/10TH OF 1% SALES TAX FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE 2015 Total Allocated in 2015: $424,144.00 Treatment, 241,000.00 , 53% Therapeutic Courts, 48,000.00 , 11% Case Management & Housing Support, 64,740.00 , 14% Schools , 65,000.00 , 14% Finance & Contracts Management, QA, 36,071.00 , 8% ALLOCATION OF 1/10TH OF 1% SALES TAX FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE 2014 Total Allocated in 2014: $454,811.00 9 1/10th of 1% priority funding areas from the last 5 years 1. What does the spending trend of 1/10th of 1% fund tell us? The Committee looked at the pie charts for the last 5 years, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2018. Staff Mc Enery walked everyone thru the data.  Finance & Contracts Management & Community Assessment has averaged between 8% & 11% over the five-year period.  Case Management & Housing Support jumped from 11% in 2014 to 29% in 2018.  School-based Mental Health Services averaged 14% to 16% except for 2017 where it was at 25%.  Therapeutic Courts jumped from 11% in 2014 to 24% in 2018.  Treatment Services, (Jumping Mouse, CODIT & Safe Harbor) were at 53% in 2014 and were at 21% (Jumping Mouse & CODIT only) in 2018. Member Dean mentioned that we are spending a lot less 1/10th funds on substance abuse treatment now than in 2014. A discussion ensued about expanded medicaid filling the gap. Member Workman said he read the RCW 82.14.460 and didn’t see anything about this fund paying for prevention. Member Westerman shared a letter that Senator Hargrove wrote to clarify that mental health/chemical dependency treatment & programs was intended to include services in the entire continuum, including prevention and outreach programs. 2. Are the priority funding areas still the top priority funding areas? Commissioner Kler said there will always be more needs than funding. Think about what our filter is when it comes to priorities? What can we fund that no one else can fund? Staff Mc Enery said we have tried to be the funder of last resort and should continue. The Committee agreed. Commissioner Kler pointed out that the list of Priority funding areas is not in order of their importance. List of Jefferson Co Priority funding areas: 1. Reduce the incidence and severity of behavioral health disorders in youth, while decreasing initial or further involvement with our criminal justice system. 2. Reduce the incidence and severity of behavioral health disorders while improving the health status and well-being of all Jefferson County residents. 3. Reduce recidivism within our criminal justice system by providing Therapeutic Courts. 4. Reduce an inmate’s future contact with the criminal justice system by increasing recovery thru trauma-informed behavioral health interventions in the jail. 5. Divert adults with substance abuse disorders and mental health issues from re-cycling through costly interventions like hospitals, emergency rooms and jails. 10 3. How do we access prioritized community needs/gaps? Anna suggested doing a 1/10th of 1% Community Forum. Asking the community what is working, what’s not working, what do we need more of? Maybe focus groups in different areas of the County to share what programs we are supporting with the 1/10th funds, the amount we are funding, the priority funding areas along with data and outcomes. Vicki suggested looking at CHIP because they will be conducting a 2019 Community Health Assessment (CHA) in Jefferson County. CHIP will be gathering input from the community through Community Forums, Conversations and Key Informant interviews. No decision was made by the Committee about scheduling a Community Forum. 4. What categories of funding match the priority areas? Examples of categories that match the funding:  Early Intervention  Prevention  Intervention  Treatment  Recovery Support Services 5. Is the funding allocated clearly based on defined priorities? Member Westerman feels the work of this Committee has been incredible and is not comfortable prioritizing kids over people in jail or vice-versa. Member Evan said we don’t really know the funding priorities until we see the new RFPs. Member Workman asked how the Committee decided on the amount of funding for each Vendor during the last round of RFPs. Commissioner Kler said that a RFP Panel of the Committee is convened. They read the RFP’s, interview the Vendors, rank the proposals, (with prospective funding amounts) and bring those recommendations forward to the full Committee for discussion and approval. A discussion about transparency and judgement calls ensued. Commissioner Kler said the full Committee needs to trust the RFP panel members. Member Westerman said she has always felt this process was very transparent. Staff Mc Enery said the process is transparent because the recommendations from the RFP Panel is shared and discussed with full Committee at an open public meeting. The Committee can decide to make changes to the funding recommendations before they send them forward to the Board of County Commissioners for approval. 6. Do we split the funding up into percentages again? The Committee decided against this. 11 V. Outputs vs Outcomes/Vicki Kirkpatrick/35 Minutes 1. Definitions/ Measures Output is number of services produced. Outcomes measure the level of performance and effectiveness. From Outputs vs. Outcomes and Why it Matters by Sheri Chaney Jones “Outputs tell the story of what you produced or your organization’s activities. Output measures do not address the value or impact of your services for your clients.” “Outcomes are about performance levels. Outcomes need to be expressed quantitatively, showing how performance changes over time. Therefore, it is critical to define and measure your outcomes prior to implementing your process or programs. Without the starting measure, it becomes difficult to demonstrate the true impact.” 2. How do we know we are funding the best interventions in the priority areas? Vicki shared that the 1/10th of 1% Report really only gives us output data. Right now the contracted Kitsap County Epidemiologist helps us to identify program outputs with data/statistics. (Now, Vendors give program reports to the Committee by providing a narrative that tells the story of how effective services are and if the funding is making a difference.) We are wanting the 1/10th of 1% Report to move towards outcome based metrics data. Vendors will need to report more data and then follow up to see the status and milestones, (or how performance levels changes over time). The Committee decided it makes sense to do two year contracts so Vendors can provide outcome based data/milestones. 3. Develop a Criteria? -Evidence Based vs. a Promising Practice An evidence-based practice relies on scientific evidence for guidance and decision-making. A best practice is a method or technique that has been generally accepted as superior to any alternatives and may become a standard way of doing things. 4. Treatment vs Prevention. o How do we measure Treatment? If the goal is recovery, what data elements do we need to demonstrate recovery? Are participants maintaining recovery and moving towards self-sufficiency? o How do we measure Prevention or what didn’t happen? Vicki said we can’t measure what didn’t happen, which is why it’s important to maintain fidelity with an evidenced-based program. Your outcomes will be similar to other proven evidenced-based programs. Vicki shared the Nurse Family Partnership Program as an example. 12 BREAK/DINNER VI. RFP Process/Vicki Kirkpatrick & Anna Mc Enery/30 Minutes 1. Do we continue to only fund existing organizations? Do we fund existing organizations and set aside a fund for new RFPs? The Committee decided to do a standard two year RFP for all Vendors/Organizations old and new. 2. If so, do we need an RFP process? Yes, we need an RFP process. 3. Do we do an RFP every two years? The Committee discussed the idea of moving to a two year standard RFP and clarifying the process around a Supplemental and Targeted RFP and the criteria for Emergency and Emergent. Commissioner Kler said many Vendors would like the stability of knowing they have two years of funding. Member Dean moved that the Committee put out a standard two year RFP, (2019- 2021) on the calendar year and based on existing priority areas for all applicants, (with the exception of school based service providers, as they would be contracted for two school years). Member Buhler seconded the motion. Discussion ensued about the motion. Member Evans said we should have a one-year review. Member Buhler asked if we could cancel a vendor contract for non- performance. Staff Mc Enery said that the County has standard language in each contract that gives us the ability to cancel a contract. The Committee passed the following motion, with Member Workman abstaining: The Committee will put out a standard two year RFP, (2019-2021) on the calendar year and based on existing priority areas for all applicants, (with the exception of school based service providers, as they would be contracted for two school years). 4. When should we do a Targeted RFP? The Committee may initiate a Targeted RFP because of an emergent need in our community. A Targeted RFP will be decided on a case by case basis. 13 VII. Decision Process/Criteria for Funding- 1. Supplemental RFP-Funding- (additional or new) 2. Emergency Funding 3. Emergent Funding Decision-making processes for Supplemental and Targeted RFP Funding: Should the decision-making process for supplemental funds be the same as the decision-making process for regular funds? Should supplemental funds be targeted differently than regular funds? Decision-making processes for Emergency Funding: Should the decision-making process for emergency funds be the same as the decision-making process for regular funds? Criteria for emergency funding? Decision-making processes for Emergent Funding: Should the decision-making process for emergent funds be the same as the decision-making process for regular funds? Criteria for emergent funding?  Process for a Supplemental RFP:  The Committee may initiate a Supplemental RFP because additional 1/10th funding is available. There is not a set amount or a certain percentage of additional 1/10th of 1% funding in the budget that will bring this issue forward.  A Supplemental RFP will be decided on a case by case basis.  The process to put out a Supplemental RFP is the same process as when putting out a regular RFP. o Advertise the RFP publically in the newspaper of record and on the Jefferson County Courthouse website with a due date. o Convene an RFP Panel of the Committee to interview the Vendors, to rank the proposals, (with prospective funding amounts) and bring those recommendations forward to the full Committee for discussion and approval.  Process for Targeted RFPs:  The Committee may initiate a Targeted RFP because of an emergent need in our community.  A Targeted RFP will be decided on a case by case basis.  The process to put out a Targeted RFP is the same process as when putting out a regular RFP. o Advertise the RFP publically in the newspaper of record and on the Jefferson County Courthouse website with a due date. o Convene an RFP Panel of the Committee to interview the Vendors, to rank the proposals, (with prospective funding amounts) and bring those recommendations forward to the full Committee for discussion and approval. 14  Criteria for Emergency Funding:  An RFP is not needed by the nature of the need.  It could be a Community or a Vendor emergency.  The Committee would have an unscheduled emergency meeting to take action.  A Community member or Vendor would come to the Emergency Committee meeting and request funding.  The Committee can decide to provide funding immediately.  The Committee voted to set aside a permanent amount of $50,000 in the 1/10th of 1% budget for emergency funding.  Criteria for Emergent Funding:  A Vendor is operating but their funding stream stops.  The Vendor then comes to a regular Committee meeting to request funding.  The Committee can decide if they want to provide funding immediately or if they need additional information before making a decision.  If contracted services, (approved by the Committee) cannot be provided by the Vendor, Staff has an obligation to bring forward project ideas to the Committee to replace the needed services. A discussion ensued about the amount for a stabilization fund. Member Evans suggested 180 days or 6 months of expenses for Vendors, just in case the fund stopped completely. Staff Mc Enery asked how realistic it would be for this tax to go away completely. Vicki suggested looking at how much of a loss we had during a past recession and basing the stabilization fund on that. We discussed not having so much cash on hand that it exceeds what we are putting out in an RFP. The Committee thought 90 days of the actual Vendor expenses would be a good amount for a stabilization fund. The Committee requested that Veronica give them a number at a future meeting. 15 VIII. Closing Thoughts of each Member:  Member Buhler said she thought this Committee did an awesome job today.  Member Speser requested that there is advance notice about any Supplemental RFP so it’s fair to all grant recipients.  Member Evans said he had no other comments.  Member Westerman said she had no other comments.  Member Workman said we should try to leverage these funds and partner with the SBHO.  Member Dean said she was happy that we have a process!  Commissioner Kler said that we are extremely fortunate that we are a small community, know each other, the providers and where the money is going. Housing first is an important topic.  Staff Mc Enery thanked the Committee for being here and for their engagement in this retreat; she feels like we accomplished a lot today.  The Committee thanked Staff Mc Enery for her good work on organizing the Retreat. IX. Public Comments: o Alison Arthur thanked the Committee for their good work and reminded everyone that housing is essential. o Justine Bedell appreciated the thoughtfulness of each Committee member and thanked them. Meeting was adjourned.