HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-03-15 BHAC MINUTESBehavioral Health Advisory Committee
(Mental Health-Substance Use Disorders)
Meeting Minutes
March 15, 2022
3:00-5:00 PM
FINAL
I. Call to Order/ Introductions
X Heidi Eisenhour-Chair
X Aislinn Diamanti-Vice Chair
X Chris Ashcraft
X Patricia Beathard
X Jill Buhler-Rienstra
X Anne Dean
Excused- David Fortino
X Patrick Johnson
Excused- Sheila Westerman
Staff: Apple Martine, Anna Mc Enery & Veronica Shaw
Guest: Andy Pernsteiner, Whitney Friddle, Kimberley Gorman, Jud Haynes, Lori
Fleming, Mike Schleckser, Gabbie Caudill, Amanda Tjemsland, Jolene Kron, Stephen
Echols, Jim Novelli, Julie Canterbury, Leanne Peterson
II. Approval and/or modification of the draft Agenda of March 15, 2022
Staff McEnery brought up a change to the agenda- The staff person from OlyCAP is
unable to attend, so the OlyCAP transitional housing update will be removed from the
agenda.
Jill Buhler-Reinstra (M), Aislinn Diamanti (S). Approved unanimously.
III. Review/Adoption of draft Minutes of January 4, 2022
a. The January minutes will be approved at the next meeting.
b. Member Ashcraft wanted to clarify what he said during the January meeting. He
would like the minutes to reflect the following: Due to Covid and the change with
the Supreme Court legalizing drugs, it has been a different year for Drug Court. It
has not been possible to use the 1/10th funding in the same fashion, as in the past;
the Drug Court team is working on expending the money in different ways, such
as housing for participants.
c. Staff McEnery will make the changes to the January 4th minutes.
IV. Public Comments/None
V. BUDGET/25 Minutes/ Veronica Shaw/Anna McEnery
a. 2022 Budget Tracking Spreadsheet & Sales Tax Projection
b. Discussion- Allocate Additional Sales Tax Funding in 2022, (for the existing
Vendors)
Staff Shaw noted that originally when the budget was put together in September
for the year of 2021, the operating budget amount was $625,000. Staff Shaw had
a discussion with the County Treasurer; it was decided that depending on the sales
tax income, they should be able to increase the budget. At this point, the sales tax
is already higher than expected. Therefore, it is a safe assumption that sales tax
income will be about 6% more than last year, but it will still need to be monitored.
A 6% increase puts the operating budget amount at $754,000. Staff Shaw noted
that there were adjustments made in the projected columns for future months
across the entire budget.
Staff Shaw noted the $656,115 carry over from 2021. This number may be
updated after the Auditor finalizes their report in May. Staff Shaw updated the
reserve amount because of the projected 6% increase. Then she reminded
everyone that the reserves have to be 10% of the income. With all of that, the
projected remaining cash is $657,705, including reserves. January's actuals came
in at 4.45% over the amended budget and February came in 1.82% over the
amended budget.
Staff McEnery asked what Staff Shaw recommends as far as additional funding to
the vendors, Staff Shaw recommend an additional $150,000. She explained that
inflation could greatly affect income in the coming years. It can do one of two
things, make people want to stop shopping as much, which would depreciate the
sales tax income. Alternatively, the sales tax income could increase because of the
amplified price of items. Member Buhler-Reinstra asked if the additional
$150,000 for vendors is included in the expense paid column for 2022, Staff Shaw
confirms it does. Staff Shaw reiterates that she is not sure what the sales tax is
going to do over the next few years and that this is all a prediction.
A motion to add $131,230 in funding for vendors in 2022 was made by Member
Dean and seconded by Member Johnson.
Member Eisenhour also suggests waiting until the next meeting to decide as well
because last year when the end of the year rolled around additional funding was
needed.
Staff McEnery noted that extra service needs presented themselves in the third
quarter of 2021; the emergency fund allocated funding, (for mental health services
in each School District). In addition, not all of the vendors spent all of their funds,
so there was some surplus.
Committee members agree that getting the funds out into the community is better
than letting the funds just sit. It is suggested the committee dives deeper into the
options before making a final decision. Staff McEnery agrees and suggests
scheduling a Special BHAC Meeting soon.
Staff McEnery amended the motion of allocating an additional $131,230 to
vendors: Staff will take a deeper look to make sure allocating the additional
funding is a sound decision. Once the decision has been made, a Special BHAC
Meeting will be scheduled.
Member Dean accepted the amendment to the motion. Member Johnson approved
the second and Member Ashcraft seconded the amendment. The motion was
unanimously approved.
VI. VENDOR REPORTS/ 15 Minutes
a. OlyCAP/Transitional Housing (Speaker not present.)
VII. PRESENTATIONS - UPDATES/65 Minutes
a. Update- Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) Jail-Based
Program in our County Jail-/Gabbie Caudill- Substance Use Disorder
Professional
Guest Caudill noted that this past year, the Jail-Based RSAT Program was able to
treat seventy-five participants. Of those, twenty-four successfully completed the
program and eighteen participants were released back into the community. Forty-
two participants did not complete the program due to an early release and ten
inmates went to prison.
Of all those participants, forty-seven went into an after care program. Note that
this year was extremely successful, especially in the light of the Blake legislation
occurring during the first few weeks of programming. We believe this greatly
affected the number of participants.
The program has counselors, a mental health professional and a case manager.
The grant has been extended for an additional year beginning in October. Member
Dean asked if there are any duplicate candidates, Guest Caudill notes that most
participants are non-duplicates; it’s rare to have a duplicate.
b. Update from the Mental Health Navigator @ Sheriff’s Office/ Stephen
Echols
Guest Echols has been working at the Sheriff’s Office as their Mental Health
Navigator since November 1st. He uses an electronic record keeping program;
and has recorded 109 encounters. Guest Echols has encountered many different
situations- ranging from a mental health crisis, dealing with kids, domestic
violence situations, giving rides to people who need to get a UA or helping
someone get to a needed service in the community. Guest Echols receives updates
when he is back in the office and follows up to see how he can help the situation
or make a referral.
Guest Haynes and Guest Echols have had some overlap with clients; and
communicate accordingly. Guest Haynes and Guest Echols note that their amount
of clients they serve can fluctuate tremendously.
c. Update on HB 1310 -/ Andy Pernsteiner/ Jud Haynes - PTPD MH Navigator
Undersheriff Andy Pernsteiner noted that HB-1735 expands upon the authority
for a peace officer to use physical force, subject to the requirements of exercising
reasonable care. Examples include, taking a person into custody for evaluation or
treatment, taking a minor into protective custody, executing a court order or
executing a search warrant. The Undersheriff noted that before, officers were not
allowed to help an EMT restrain a patient onto a gurney, but now they can.
The HB 1719 bill, (military equipment) removes the prohibition on the use and
acquisition of ammunition of .50 caliber or greater by law enforcement agencies.
The bill narrows the prohibition on the use and acquisition of firearms of .5
caliber by law enforcement agencies to only apply to rifles of .5 caliber or greater.
These provisions will restore law enforcement's ability to use certain firearms
such as shotguns and other equipment.
HB 2037 defines force and authorizes limited Terry stops. Physical force is
defined as any act reasonably likely to cause physical pain or injury or any other
act exerted upon a person’s body to compel, control, constrain or restrain the
person’s movement. Physical force does not include pat downs, incidental
touching, verbal commands or compliant handcuffing, or where there is no
physical pain or injury. This bill revises the standard for use of force by peace
officers by authorizing use of force to prevent a person from fleeing a lawful
detention or a Terry stop. The governor should sign the bill this week.
Many members agreed that this overview was very helpful.
Guest Haynes expressed before these bills passed, the officers were very limited.
These bills help change that dynamic; now there is more that officers can help with
during a mental health crisis.
The Undersheriff noted that one law he wishes passed this year is the ability for
law enforcement to pursue. Currently officers can only pursue and chase the
following: violent crimes, burglary 1 and suspicion of DUI.
d. Presentation on REAL-/ Leeann Peterson- Project Manager/Supervisor
Guest Peterson noted that REAL stands for recovery, empowerment, advocacy,
and linkage. This program comes from Senate Bill 5476; this states the program
should provide community outreach, intake assessment, connection to services,
and (as appropriate), long-term case management. This program is for people,
including children, with substance abuse disorders and mental health conditions.
The REAL program receives referrals through diverse ways.
REAL is a harm reduction program. This program literally meets the person
where they are. This could be at a tent or even an encampment. There are two
recovery coaches on staff, a care manager and a project manager. REAL follows a
trauma informed model, while also listening and following the individual's
cultural differences.
SBH-ASO’s approved plan provides five teams across the three County region.
Priority populations: substance abuse disorders, mental disorders, and people with
frequent contact with law enforcement. This is a voluntary program and there is
no time limit to services. Currently this is a Monday- Friday program, from 9-5. A
future goal is for the program to be 24 hours. As a policy coordination group the
REAL program likes to include public officials, such as law enforcement officers
and behavioral health professionals.
Staff McEnery asked Guest Peterson to clarify the requirements to become a peer
coach. Guest Peterson shared that the baseline requirement for a peer coach is the
following: to have experienced a struggle with mental health or a substance
disorder. Luckily, the two peer coaches on Guest Peterson’s team not only have
real life experience, but they are accredited through different agencies.
VIII. Public Comments/None
IX. Adjournment of Meeting - Member Eisenhour moved to adjourn.
Future Agenda Items:
a. Presentation from the New Family Resource Navigator Program- YMCA of
Jefferson County- Tanya M. Barnett
b. Update- National Drug Court- Technical Assistance Report on the Jefferson Co.
Drug Court/ Richard Davies- Public Defenders Office & James Kennedy-
Prosecutor’s Office
c. Update- Mental Health Field Response Team Meetings
d. Vendor Presentations in 2022
BH ADVISORY COMMITTEE MTGs: 2022- Held on Tuesdays @ 3PM to 5PM on Zoom
● May 3, 2022
● July 5, 2022
● September 6, 2022
● November 1, 2022
MENTAL HEALTH FIELD RESPONSE TEAM MEETINGS: 2022- Held on Thursdays @
1:30PM to 2:45PM on Zoom
● September 29, 2022
● December 1, 2022