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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-05-03 BHAC MINUTES 1 Behavioral Health Advisory Committee (Mental Health-Substance Use Disorders) Meeting Minutes May 3, 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 Excused___ Jill Buhler-Rienstra ___x Anne Dean ___x David Fortino __ x Patrick Johnson ___x Sheila Westerman I. Staff: Apple Martine, Anna Mc Enery & Veronica Shaw II. Guest: Whitney Friddle, Lori Fleming, Mike Schleckser, Gabbie Caudill, Stephen Echols, Jim Novelli, Julie Canterbury, Leanne Peterson, Richard Davies, Brian Gleason, Jud Haynes, Teresa Wirth, James Kennedy, Joe Nole, Ayesha Chander, Mark McCauley, Mickey Forbes, Brian Richardson, Amanda Tjemsland, Drew Gilliland, Mindy Walker, Nikki Russell III. Approval and/or modification of the draft Agenda of May 3, 2022/(Enclosure) Patrick Johnson (M), Sheila Westerman (S). Approved unanimously. IV. Review/Adoption of draft Minutes of January 4, 2022 Minutes of January 4, 2022 will be reviewed at the next BHAC meeting. Minutes of March 15, 2022 are not yet completed~ II. Public Comments Sheriff Nole wanted to remind everyone this Mental Health month and Member Patrick Johnson wishes everyone good mental health. Guest, Susan O’Brien wanted to understand why counseling in the Schools would go from two days of counseling per week to one day a week, beginning in June. Staff McEnery explained the RFP Panel and Committee officially decided on the funding amounts. There was an additional ask of additional funds for the next two-year cycle, because there is a finite amount of money, the Panel needed to compensate for the additional funding request. It was also noted, that the Committee was able to give out an additional $50,000 to the School Districts from the 1/10th of 1% Emergency Fund to help with costs. Guest O’Brien noted that counselors could easily fill up a third day to see students, as their two days are already filled. Once it cuts down to one day a week, it is going to be a huge problem. Sheriff Nole asked whom Guest O’Brien was representing. Guest O’Brien responded that she is a Nurse Practitioner from Jefferson County Public Health and works at the School-based Health Centers in the Chimacum and Port Townsend School 2 Districts and part time as a Nurse Practitioner in Quilcene School District’s Health Center. Staff Mc Enery noted that Member Trish Beathard put the following comment in the chat: Schools also have "COVID" funds and may need to pitch in (and fund mental health services). That is what the Brinnon School District does. III. PRESENTATIONS a. Presentation - Creating a Therapeutic Courts Coordinator Position and Program Assistant Position & 1/10th of 1% Budget Request–/ Brian Gleason- District Court Administrator - 15 Minutes Guest Brian Gleason shared a request from the Therapeutic Courts Team. They would like to access the funds previously allocated to Drug Court, for new positions: a Therapeutic Court Coordinator and hopefully (eventually) an Assistant. These positions will help to make sure all Therapeutic Courts are running efficiently. Nearby Counties were surveyed; most of their Courts have Therapeutic Court Coordinators. Therapeutic Coordinators can conduct assessments; provide case management services, while noting individuals who would benefit from the programs they offer. They would also make sure that Jefferson County gets in compliance with the National Drug Court Program. Therapeutic Court Coordinators would keep data on each program/service and work towards better outcomes. Guest Gleason said he planned to apply for the Therapeutic Court grants from Washington State, but recently learned that the State is focusing on Eastern Washington and on brand new Therapeutic Court programs. Guest Richard Davies noted that all the Drug Court and Family Therapeutic Courts are in desperate need of a Coordinator. Up until now, the Drug Court position had no real structure; this caused staffing issues and not great outcomes. Guest Jim Novelli noted that having a Therapeutic Court Coordinator in place, would create an environment of best practises and keep everyone on track. Guest Nikki Russell noted that Drug Court addresses generational issues and prevents individuals closely linked to the offender, from being hurt. Judge Mindy Walker noted District Court has Behavioral Health Court Coordinator; it is a necessity. Member Sheila Westerman said she completely agrees with the position of a Therapeutic Coordinator, but she is not in support of funding this position because of the fact that School Districts will only have one day a week for counseling services next year. Member Westerman believes the County should find a different way to fund this position. Member Westerman also noted that Senator Hargrove wrote a letter when this funding because law; the letter clarified that 1/10th funding would go towards treatment and preventative programs, not just Therapeutic Courts. IV. BUDGET/25 Minutes/ Veronica Shaw/Anna McEnery 2022 Budget Tracking Spreadsheet & Sales Tax Projection Staff Veronica Shaw shared about the 2022 spreadsheet, with actuals through March at 16% of the total budget. Revenue is 5% above the budget. Staff Shaw had a meeting with the County Budget Committee and the County is currently 6% below revenue for sales tax. This is something to keep an eye on, as it is hard to predict sales tax in regards to the potential of extra revenue. 3 Staff McEnery asked a question about how much extra cash is unencumbered in the fund, because it looks like there is additional funding for Vendors. Staff Shaw said we are projecting over 600,000. Staff Shaw shared that we need to remember a recession could be coming. We cannot predict the future, in the event of hard financial times; we would want to have extra funds to keep current programs in place. Staff McEnery asked Mark McCauley, the County Administrator to weigh in. Guest McCauley said we only need 10% for a reserve of annual revenues for the 131 budget, so this fund has the resources, (ten times the amount needed) to fund those urgent needs. Of course, you would need to be vigilant we you begin to draw down that budget. The Committee members decided to schedule a Special BHAC meeting to discuss how to allocate the additional 1/10th funds/cash for the existing Vendors and for the Therapeutic Courts. The BHAC will hold a Special meeting on Friday, May 13. Member Patrick Johnson asked how much funding was cut from the counseling budget for schools. Staff Mc Enery noted that nothing was cut from the budget, counseling services raised their rates. There are fewer services because now those services cost more. Although, the Panel/Committee did add more funding to their budget. a. Discussion about allocating additional Sales Tax Funding in 2022, (for the existing Vendors) will occur on Friday, May 13. V. PRESENTATIONS Continued Presentation on Becoming a Recovery Friendly Region, Stigma of Substance Abuse -/ Ayesha Chander, Program Coordinator- Olympic Communities of Health, (OCH)- 30 Minutes- (Enclosure) Guest Ayesha Chander explained the OCH non-profit program tackles local health issues that current institutions cannot focus on. Guest Chander explained that the stigma around substance abuse could cause treatment barriers. People who suffer from substance abuse are looked on as weak, can face social rejection, self-stigma and experience resistance to treatment services. About 9% of adults in Washington State have a substance abuse disorder. Statistically, only one out of two adults receive the treatment they need, for youth it is - two out of five. OCH hosted online focus groups; from this data, 83% of respondents believed that stigma is a problem when getting treatment. Only 17% did not believe stigma is a problem; these respondents also believed that if stigma did not exist, that substance abuse would be widely accepted in the community. Provider stigma is another reported barrier when accessing the help people needed. Guest Lori Fleming said to use People First language; it helps humanize and lessen the shame. Guest Drew Gillilan shared what OCH is doing, in order to support a recovery friendly region. OCH is addressing the following: determinants of health, (like food & transportation), withdrawal management support, recovery hero campaigns (story sharing), reviewing policies, providing trainings and encouraging positive youth development. Schools are invited to be involved. OCH hopes there will be a program in each County. 4 VI. VENDOR REPORTS a. Dove House/Recovery Café- Brian Richardson/Recovery Café Program Manager Brian Richardson reported that the Recovery Café helps facilitate relationships for people recovering from everything from substance abuse, loss, mental health issues. Etc. Every day, the Recovery Café guidelines hold people accountable, this helps separate the person from the behavior. There are over 40 Cafés across the country now. They serve free meals, coffee; provide support groups and sober social events. The demographic of the people attending the Recovery Café are the following: individuals who have experienced trauma, mental health struggles, substance abuse and been victims of crime. The Recovery Café has created trust with people who are struggling within the community and has helped where other agencies/facilities have not. b. Due to time constraints, the following presentations will occur at a future BHAC meeting. i. District Court/Behavioral Health Court, Brian Gleason, Courts Coordinator ii. OlyCAP Transitional Housing Program, Pamela Kozora Agency-Wide Property Manager VIII. Public Comments a. Sheriff Nole brought up the RCW for the 1/10th of 1% funds, which states how the funds can be spent. Staff McEnery will send out a link to that RCW along with the letter from Senator Hargrove. b. Guest Richard Davies thanked the BHA Committee for providing mental health funding for School Districts, as it has been a tremendous help. However, he said we still need funding for a Therapeutic Court Coordinator. 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 ➢ 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