HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-05-05 BHAC MINUTES1
Behavioral Health Advisory Committee
(Mental Health-Substance Use Disorders)
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
3:00-5:00 PM
FINAL
I. Call to Order/ Introductions: Called to Order by Greg Brotherton
Board Members: ABSENT- EXCUSED Greg Brotherton-Chair
X Ariel Speser-Vice Chair
X Chris Ashcraft
X Patricia Beathard
X Jill Buhler-Rienstra
ABSENT- EXCUSED Anne Dean
X David Fortino
X Patrick Johnson
X Sheila Westerman
Staff: Anna Mc Enery & Veronica Shaw
Guests: Joe Nole, Jim Novelli, Lenora Johnson, Apple Martine, Julie Canterbury, Jolene Kron,
Leah Russell, Ian Hanna, Jud Haynes and Troy Surber
II. Approval of the draft agenda of May 5, 2020: Member Westerman (M)/ Member Buhler-Reinstra
(S)/ Approved with no changes.
III. Review and adoption of the draft minutes of March 3, 2020: Member Speser (M)/ Member
Johnson (S)/ Approved with no changes.
IV. Public Comments: None
V. BUDGET: 2020 Budget Tracking Spreadsheet & Sales Tax Projection Discussion/ Staff Shaw
shared budget projections for the 1/10th of 1% sales tax. In 2020 she is projecting a revenue loss of
17%, in 2021 a revenue loss of 25%. Please see enclosure called 131 Fund Summary-(1/10th of
1% Fund) for additional details.
A discussion ensued about going back to a one-year RFP. Member Westerman said she hesitates
to do that because of the additional burden of work for staff and it’s taken years for the Committee
to move to a two-year RFP and contract. We need to resist going backwards.
Staff Shaw shared that after speaking with Vicki Kirkpatrick and Anna Mc Enery, her
recommendation would be to put out a two-year RFP, but only award one year at a time.
Staff Mc Enery said she agrees with that recommendation and added that the RFP Panel could
meet quarterly to look at the sales tax and bring recommendations back to the full committee . Then
the Committee could make a funding decision for the second year. She also went on to say that
writing yearly RFP’s is a lot of additional work for the Vendors and with COVID-19 we need to be
cognizant of that.
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Staff Mc Enery said observing the sales tax and the ability to write contractual amendments are
beneficial safeguards to not overspend. Member Johnson said that he agrees that the amendment
process will give us the necessary flexibility to adjust funding (within a two-year RFP).
Member Buhler said she is concerned with Vendors having funding expectations for the second
year. Member Westerman said we all need to become more comfortable with uncertainty. She
went onto say that she believes the Vendors are acutely aware of the sales tax issues, but we don’t
want to burden staff and vendors with unnecessary additional work. Member Westerman said we
need to move forward and stay informed about the budget. Member Buhler agreed.
VI. DISCUSSION ITEMS:
a. Discussion about Criteria/1/10th of 1% Emergency & Emergent Funding:
Ariel Speser
Member Speser walked us through the criteria about emergency and emergent funding
that was created at the August 7, 2018 BHAC Retreat; she asked if there were any
questions or concerns. (See criteria below.)
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.
Member Westerman said she remembers spending about four hours on this at the Retreat
and believes the criteria is still working well. Member Westerman went on to say it’s
important for new Committee members to review this information.
Member Johnson asked if the emergency funding would be replenished after it was
accessed. The answer is historically, we have maintained that balance.
Member Speser said the main takeaway is for the Vendors. They can access emergency
or emergent funding, without the RFP process. Staff Mc Enery said we can convene a
Special Behavioral Health Advisory Committee meeting to make a decision.
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b. Discussion about the 1/10th of 1% Supplemental RFP & Regular RFP:
RFP Panel: Commissioner Brotherton, Ariel Speser, Jill Buhler-Rienstra and Patrick
Johnson
Member Speser shared that before COVID, the Committee decided to put out a
Supplemental RFP because we had additional funding and we received a lot of great
RFP’s.
The RFP Panel’s recommendation is that we not move forward on funding any
Supplemental RFP’s because of the fiscal impact of COVID. The Panel also recommends
that these Supplemental RFP’s be considered as part of the regular RFP cycle, so none of
the Vendor’s good work would be lost.
Member Johnson just wanted to emphasize that there were some wonderful Supplemental
RFP’s and it’s important they be considered in the future. Member Buhler-Reinstra agreed
with all that was shared.
Member Speser asked Staff Mc Enery for any comments. She shared that when she
spoke to each Vendor they were all very gracious and understanding.
Member Speser asked if any other Committee members had comments or questions.
Member Fortino said it makes sense to hold off on funding for right now and Member
Westerman said she agrees completely.
VII. PRESENTATIONS:
a. Transition to the One-Tenth Online (OTO) Data Platform 2020:-Amanda
Tjemsland/Kitsap County Epidemiologist-The presentation is postponed until the next
meeting.
Presentation from Olympic Angels- Ian Hanna, Board President of Olympic Angels
shared about their program. The correlation between foster care and behavioral health is
well established. Too often foster care is the on-ramp to incarceration, homelessness,
addiction and sex trafficking. A huge number of kids are diagnosed with disorders. These
disorders usually start as trauma and neglect induced behaviors and result from their
experiences.
The goal of Olympic Angels is to increase connection, thereby reducing trauma though a
relational model. The main function of Olympic Angels is to recruit, match, train and
support volunteers for the program. Currently, they have 70 volunteers serving 23 kids.
Ultimately, the goals are to provide a consistent, healthy adult relationship for the child in
foster care and to provide whole family care to ensure that foster care placements are
successful.
Below is information from the Olympic Angels website:
The link to their website is: https://www.olympicangels.org/our-mission.html
The mission of Olympic Angels is to walk alongside children in the foster care system, as
well as their caretakers, by offering consistent support through intentional giving,
relationship building, and mentorship. Olympic Angels is one of 20 models nationally and is
the only one based in a rural community.
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Olympic Angels values building community around foster and kinship families who care for
children who have been through trauma, abuse, and neglect to show them they are not
alone. Our program utilizes a trauma-informed, wrap-around support service model that
can help strengthen families.
We value empowering volunteers to make a consistent difference that is both meaningful
and powerful in a child’s life. When foster families are matched with committed volunteers
who show up monthly, parents feel supported and children gain a greater sense of
belonging and self-confidence.
We value the gift of hope for every child to find healing and reach their fullest potential. We
know the value of love, friendship, and positive role models to speak truth and life into the
children in our programs and the selfless people who care for them.
VIII. VENDOR REPORTS:
a. DBH Transitional Housing: Lenora Johnson, DBH Case Manager, gave an overview of
their transitional housing program. They have three locations, of which one apartment and
an apartment at Bayside Housing is funded by the 1/10th of 1% fund. A total of 6 clients of
DBH are participating in transitional housing. Three individuals exited this program in 2019,
two successfully moved into permanent housing and another person left the area.
Lenora works with each client on a stability plan by checking in two to three times a week.
Some examples:
supporting individuals to work part time,
obtaining social security,
financial planning,
learning computer skills,
reestablishing relationships,
focusing on self-care & mental health
creating/achieving smart goals,
compliance/graduation in the therapeutic courts,
transition to permanent housing.
The ACES questionnaire that the 1/10th of 1% data has requested will begin when Lenora
Johnson can meet with the individuals in person. Staff Mc Enery shared that the ACES
questions are new this year. Because the questions could be triggering, we understand it
won’t work for everyone and needs to be done on a case by case basis. She thanked
Lenora for her great update.
Executive Director Jim Novelli gave kudos to Lenora and her crew; he said technology has
been working well with their clients.
b. OlyCAP-Transitional Housing: Leah Russell from OlyCAP reported there are eight
Haines Street cabins. Each cabin has two bedrooms, a kitchen and a bathroom and can
house up to four people each, (they have 10 households in the cabins at this time). They
have one male cabin, one female cabin and cabins for families.
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Eight participants from the Therapeutic Courts have been housed at the cabins over the
last year. They get a lot of referrals from the Courts, Safe Harbor, Believe in Recovery,
Department of Children and Youth Services. Each participant who lives in a cabin is
assigned a Case Manager to help them find permanent housing.
Leah shared a success story about a participant from Family Therapeutic Court who was
able to get his kids back, find permanent housing and will be graduating from his
Therapeutic Court program shortly. Member Ashcraft said it’s a great program and
wonderful to hear an update.
Sheriff Nole asked if there was a limit to how long you can stay at the cabins. Leah said up
to two years. People from the Therapeutic Courts are prioritized for the cabins.
IX. UPDATES:
a. Salish Administrative Services Organization-(ASO) Update:
Jolene Krone- Deputy Administrator shared they have not seen an increase in crisis calls
because of COVID and across the region everything seems to be stable.
New Trueblood diversion funding is coming through the ASO’s and will be going to DBH.
The funding is intended to provide diversion and treatment programs for individuals who
are involved with law enforcement and have behavioral health conditions.
The Criminal Justice Treatment Account is meeting in all three Counties and will be
working on priorities for funding coming out on July 1st. Jolene will be sending out a survey
about their block grant funding.
The Health Care Authority has put out an RFP that would allow up to five Managed Care
Organizations in a region. We only have three Managed Care Organizations at this time.
Jolene will keep us posted.
b. Public Comments: Julie Canterbury of MCS Counseling said one of the Supplemental
RFP’s she submitted was for a school navigator, because of the high rate of suicide
ideology. She is hoping a future contract would match the school year, (like their
counseling contract). Staff Mc Enery said the contract for school based mental health
services ends on June 30, 2021.
Member Beathard said thank you for the timeline. Brinnon School District is responding to
the first round of budget reductions and it looks like the counselor the District is funding
could be cut.
Sheriff Nole thanked the Committee for their good work and said he appreciated Member
Westerman’s comment about the importance of becoming more comfortable with
uncertainty.
Member Westerman asked if we could request written public comments and questions and
read them at this meeting. This is done at the Board of Health and at the BoCC meetings.
Member Buhler said the Hospital Commission sends out a request for written public
comments with their agenda.
Member Westerman asked if the agenda with a request for written public comments could
be posted on the County website. Staff Mc Enery said we can do that.
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Staff Mc Enery said the Mental Health Field Response Team has been meeting weekly
since the beginning of the pandemic. Because everyone is getting busier, we will be
meeting in two weeks and then monthly. Member Speser thanked Staff Mc Enery for the
update and said the Mental Health Field Response Team has been a great forum for
providers to connect.
c. Adjournment of Meeting: Member Speser adjourned the meeting.
Future Agenda Items:
Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Program & Workshop Update/Ariel Speser
Updated BH Advisory Committee By-Laws/Staff
Update on Quarterly 1/10th of 1% Vendor Network MTGs in 2020/Adult & Youth
Update on Workshop for the Behavioral Health Advisory Committee/Vicki Kirkpatrick
Island County Behavioral Health Outreach Program Presentation
Next BH Advisory Committee MTG- Tuesday, July 7, 2020