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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-01-04 BHAC MINUTES1 Behavioral Health Advisory Committee (Mental Health-Substance Use Disorders) MINUTES January 4, 2022 3:00-5:00 PM FINAL 1. Call to Order/ Introductions X Heidi Eisenhour-Chair X Aislinn Diamanti X Chris Ashcraft Excused Patricia Beathard Excused Jill Buhler-Rienstra X Anne Dean X David Fortino X Patrick Johnson X Sheila Westerman Staff: Apple Martine, Anna Mc Enery & Veronica Shaw Guests: Miranda Burger, Amanda Tjemsland, Ciela Meyer, Lori Fleming, Tanya Barnett, Mike Schleckser, Lenora Johnson, Jud Haynes, Cherish Cronmiller, Heather McRae-Woolf, Jim Novelli, Lisa Thomas, Sam Schroeder, Frank Hoffman, Brian Gleason 2. Approval and/or modification of the draft Agenda of January 4, 2022 Member Westerman (M), Member Fortino(S) Approved unanimously 3. Review/Adoption of draft Minutes of November 9, 2021 Member Johnson (M), Member Westerman(S) Approved unanimously 4. Public Comments None 5. BUDGET a. 2022 Budget Tracking Spreadsheet & Sales Tax Projection Staff Shaw reviewed the updated budget, which reflected the updated award amount to the OESD #114. Staff Shaw reported that the actual revenue amounts are in through December. She noted the comparison of the budgeted amount and the amended budgeted amount. As reported previously, the revenue has come in higher. The assumption is that the additional revenue is linked to the pandemic, people shopping at home, and on-line. The additional sales tax in the budget is $131, 230. YTD Actuals are at 72% of the total budget. There is concern about getting the rest of the invoices in to see the money spent for this year, specifically around Drug Court funds. 2 Member Ashcraft explained that due to Covid and the change with the Supreme Court legalizing drugs, it has been a different year for Drug Court. It is not possible to use the funds in the same fashion they have been used in the past; there is then a need to find other ways to use the money. Staff Shaw noted that it is challenging when invoices come in late because reconciliation happens after the year closes. Member Johnson asked what happens to unexpended funds on a two-year contract. Staff Mc Enery explained that each Vendor has a two-year contract, but the funds do not roll over to a second year if unspent. They just stay in the fund and will be reallocated elsewhere if needed. Member Westerman noted that the total outstanding is about $148,000. Staff Mc Enery shared her certainty that Discovery Behavioral Health will still get their invoices in for October-December. Staff Shaw encouraged the Committee to give the Vendors the time to get their invoices in before making any decision on allocating future funding. b. Discussion-Process to Allocate Additional Sales Tax Funding in 2022 (for the existing Vendors) Staff Mc Enery shared that in early 2022; we should have a clearer idea how much additional sales tax dollars there is, as well as what is not going to be invoiced. She thought RFP Panel (Eisenhour, Johnson, Buhler-Rienstra) could meet to look at the RFP’s for 2021-2023 to reallocate some additional funding. Staff Mc Enery will set up the Panel meeting after we know how much underspent funding we have to work with. 6. PRESENTATIONS - UPDATES a. Presentation on 7th Haven – OlyCAP 43 Unit Affordable Housing Project Guest Cherish Cronmiller/OlyCAP Executive Director shared highlights about the 7th Haven Project. She started with a video that the Department of Commerce made about the 7th Haven Project process. Guest Cronmiller explained that there were many pieces that came together to create this project. The State Housing Trust Fund sees this project as a critical need for our area and designated funding for 70% of the cost. A City-County partnership, by way of the Counties offer of the land, was a big part of why the project was able to move forward. Section 8 vouchers are a crucial part of this project, as the vouchers stay with each unit. This is a high efficiency project with solar panels and high efficiency appliances. There is on-site parking underneath the units; at least one parking spot will be designated for an electric vehicle. There will be on site supportive services, childcare, and community spaces. Building is underway and the goal is to be ready for move in by the fall of 2022. Staff Mc Enery asked what kind of screening or application process would be implemented. Guest Cronmiller said that her understanding is, that the partners who are sending people to apply for housing will set up the process and will provide on-going supportive services. 3 4 b. Update- Bayside Housing Guest Mike Schleckser with Bayside Housing shared information about the three active projects underway at Bayside. 1. Bayside Towers is where the most vulnerable populations are living. One floor has families and the other floor has single men. Dinner is provided at Bayside for anyone who requests it; they recently added a JC Mash Doctor to their program, with a Doctor who comes to the facility for the residents. Bayside supports residents to develop a life plan so they can move toward an attainable future. 2. Peter’s Place is located behind the Community United Methodist Church. There are 12 single units, with one occupied by the site monitor. 3. Pat’s Place is located between 9th, 10th, and Rosencrantz in Port Townsend. Schleckser expects that people will be living there within two weeks. Guest Schleckser noted that there are future projects coming up which will increase housing inventory. The OlyCAP project will also increase the number of units available for vulnerable and income challenged populations. Guest Heather McRae-Woolf with the Benji Project shared that they are working to offer Benji Project programming at Bayside Housing for families living there. Staff Mc Enery asked if Guest Mike Schleckser could share any information about future projects with the Committee. Guest Schleckser responded that it’s too early to talk about. However, there is an effort to collaborate with Oxford House on behalf of individuals, who have a narcotics issue, (after a court, decision is made). Guest Schleckser noted that addiction services are vital. Guest Lenora Johnson pointed out that MAT services are currently expanding at Discovery Behavioral Health Care. Guest Jim Novelli said that the program has been providing services to individuals who have accessed MAT services in the past, but they plan to expand with more SUD services. Guest Lisa Thomas with Jefferson Health Care reported that they also have waiver prescribers for these services, and when the Jamestown Healing Center is open, they will provide alternative treatments. These services will be available to Jefferson County and they intend to offer transportation as well. c. Presentation- Accessible Community Advisory Committee (ACAC) Member Patrick Johnson started his presentation by defining the word “stigma” which is defined as “a mark of disgrace.” Member Johnson shared that this is the first time a Mental Health project has gone to the Governors AC Committee. He noted that members of this BHAC group know that people with mental illness have a disability. The ACAC grant funds from the Governors Committee are minimal, but the project envisioned is important and will consist of a variety of things. The focus will be on those in the community who are willing to entertain a discussion to learn more about mental illness and to support funding for mental illness. Reducing stigma by increasing awareness and providing education is key. 5 Member Johnson believes that by reducing stigma, people will access treatment, and families will be able to get support that they need. The plan is to have articles and advertising in the local newspaper, to provide printed materials around stigma reduction, to use radio and other media outlets to talk about mental health stigma. It is all about removing barriers. Member Johnson shared that NAMI estimates one in four people have some form of a mental illness. He said that we do not often think of mental illness as a disability, but a person with mental illness often does not have access, just as others with a disability do not. 7. VENDOR REPORTS a. DBH/Transitional Housing Guest Lenora Johnson reported that the DBH transitional apartment currently has two residents currently living there, but over the year, they have served four individuals. One of those four residents was able to find permanent housing in the area by being diligent in following up with applications and rental waitlists. This resident did a monthly check and reported in. A new mother had been living in her vehicle. After she gave birth, CPS took custody of the child because there was not a stable housing environment. Although DBH Transitional Housing is not a family housing unit, they were able to have her move because then she had a place for visitation with her daughter. She was able to regain custody and is currently residing at Bayside in a supportive unit there. This individual is continuing to receive support through Bayside and at DBH; she is currently looking for permanent housing. Guest Johnson read two letters from clients who each had positive experiences with DBH transitional housing. Staff Mc Enery mentioned that DVR – Division of Vocational Rehabilitation could pay for people’s school supplies, provide individualized job development, and job coaching and employment services. Commissioner Eisenhour asked who connects all clients with all these services. Guest Johnson said that the case managers have a good list of resources. b. DBH/Wrap Around Case Management Guest Jim Novelli gave a shout out to the DBH transitional housing staff who worked directly with clients during the pandemic. He stated that they were out there providing services, consistent support and they deserve commendations. Guest Novelli reported Medicare does not cover all the services some clients need. Six individuals stayed on services for the full year – therapy, group counseling, and med management – are services that Medicare will cover. However, Guest Novelli said that Medicare would not cover med monitoring, support of medications or case management and all that entails. The 1/10th of 1% tax funds those services and clients would not have complete services without it. Guest Novelli reported that intakes have been overwhelming; so for now, they have been limited to taking only those individuals who have Medicaid. At present, they are about two weeks out for an intake. 6 Guest Novelli shared a final sales purchase agreement for Safe Harbor and Beacon of Hope has been successful. As of February 1, they will be under the DBH roof. He is excited to see DBH become a Certified Community Behavioral Health Center. This will make it easier for clients to receive all around care. 8. Public Comments Staff Apple Martine shared the State Department of Health’s push to get the State CARE-a-Van into communities, to help disseminate vaccine/boosters for employers, employees and others. She is hoping the van will be available to residents here in Jefferson County. Staff Anna McEnery asked if anyone had agenda topics to discuss at future BHAC meetings. Commissioner Eisenhour said it would be interesting to see a data report about the pandemic and mental health needs. Guest Lori Fleming said that the Behavioral Health Consortium has been gathering data over the last few years. She explained they track data on how many mental health encounters have happened across agencies. Although, it has been a challenge to find a normative approach, on how to track the data across agencies. Staff Apple Martine shared a report about this issue from the Washington State Department of Health. Staff Martine will follow up to see if the person who wrote the report would be willing to speak at one of our meetings. 9. Adjournment of Meeting/Commissioner Eisenhour adjourned the meeting. Future Agenda Items:  Presentation from the New Family Resource Navigator Program- YMCA of Jefferson County- Tanya M. Barnett  Update- Drug Court/ Richard Davies- Public Defenders Office & James Kennedy- Prosecutor’s Office  Update- Mental Health Field Response Team Meetings  Update- Washington State Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) Jail-Based Program and Aftercare Services for Jefferson County - /David Fortino & Gabbie Caudill  Updates on (HB 1310) & the Sheriff’s Dept. Navigator Program  Vendor Presentations in 2022 BH ADVISORY COMMITTEE MTGs: 2022- Held on Tuesdays @ 3PM to 5PM on Zoom  March 15, 2022  May 3, 2022  July 5, 2022  September 6, 2022  November 1, 2022