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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBHAC_Minutes_September 10 2024Behavioral Health Advisory Committee (BHAC) MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, September 10, 2024 at 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm BHAC Members: Heidi Eisenhour (Chair), present Neil Nelson (Vice Chair), present Chris Ashcraft, present Patricia Beathard, absent Jill Buhler-Rienstra, present David Fortino, present Amanda Grace, absent Patrick Johnson, present BHAC Alternate Members: Richard Davies, Joe Nole, present Scott Mauk, present Bruce McComas, Greg Brotherton Grey Schad Staff: Anna McEnery, Apple Martine, Barb Jones and Jenn Mitchell Attendees: Mark Magee, Lori Fleming, Jenny Vervynck, Stephen Echols, Jamie Fowler, Thomas Olson, Gabbie Caudill, Nicole Gauthier, Heather McRae-Woolf, Barb Jones, Jenn Mitchell, Elizabeth Myers, Jonathon Stolting, Brian Richardson, Elise Wright, Lolinthea Hinkley, Kara Billenger-Hessom, Sheila Rand, Jim Novelli, Holly Gumm 1. Call to Order & Introductions 2. Review/Adoption of draft Agenda: July 9, 2024 a. Member Johnson moved to approve the agenda; Member Fortino seconded; Approved unanimously. 3. Review/Adoption of draft Minutes from previous meeting(s): a. Draft Minutes from May 14, 2024 are not available as the meeting ended due to lack of quorum. b. Staff McEnery informed the Committee that JCPH has recently onboarded a Clerk Hire (temporary position) to complete past and future meeting minutes. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD – No public comments 5. BUDGET: Jenn Mitchell/Public Health Finance Manager (15 Minutes) a. Review of 2023-2024 Budget & Tracking Spreadsheet i. Staff Mitchell reported that the budget is currently underspent by $40,000 for 2024. She went on to report that most vendors are on track to spend down their funds adequately over the remainder of the year. Port Townsend Police Department’s Mental Health Navigator position has been vacant and difficult to fill in 2024; this is an example of unspent funds in the 2024 budget. ii. Staff McEnery confirmed that funds not expended for their intended purpose by contract end date go back into the 1/10th of 1% fund. b. Discussion of 1/10th of 1% RFPs for 2025-2026 & Sales Tax Projection i. Chair Eisenhour stated that there was not enough money in the 1/10th of 1% Fund for filling all of the current RFP requests; 15 proposals were received by the deadline of August 21, 2024 with a total of $2 million in requests; there are $990,000 in the Fund to cover these requests for the next contract period, 2025 & 2026. ii. Member Johnson reminded the BHAC that the Courts receive a $200,000 line item in the 1/10th of 1% budget, agreed to by the Committee in 2023, without need to submit an RFP. iii. The RFP Review Committee gave funding these requests considerable thought and agreed to fund as many applicants as possible but at lesser amounts for each than in the past. iv. Two requests were not funded for 2025 & 2026; the Review Committee decided that Discovery Behavioral Health’s request for funds to subsidize rent and maintenance of The Cabins was better suited for the Housing Fund Board. During Public Comments on the budget, a member of the public said she was concerned about the lack of funding for the unhoused. Additionally, the PT Police Department’s Police Navigator position that remains unfilled would not be receiving 1/10th of 1% Funds for 2025 & 2026, needing to seek other funds. v. The RFP recommendations for 2025 and 2026 funding passed unanimously. 6. UPDATES a. Update on the Opioid Subcommittee Meetings: Heidi Eisenhour, Apple Martine, Bradley Banks, David Fortino, Jolene Kron & Patrick Johnson i. Chair Eisenhour stated that Jefferson County will receive Opioid Settlement funds (Pharmacies Settlements) at an estimated $186,000 for the first year’s installment and that these funds will be distributed via RFP by the BHAC in 2025 ii. The nature of the Pharmacies Settlements flow of funds can present challenges in distributing these funds because they arrive via the Opioid Abatement Council (OAC) in different amounts over variable lengths in years; the subcommittee is working on a strategy to maximize these variabilities so that these funds are used in the most productive manner possible. iii. At the BHAC Special Meeting/Retreat in May 2024, consensus was formed around prioritization areas that align with the One WA MOU. The Opioid Subcommittee has decided agreed that the Pharmacies Opioid Settlement funds would be prioritized for two main target areas, housing and transportation relative to those experiencing Opioid Use Disorder. The committee will be developing an RFP protocol over the next couple of months. iv. Staff Martine reported that with Anna McEnery’s imminent retirement, JCPH will be hiring to fill the specific job of Behavioral Health Coordinator whose job it will be to staff the BHAC and dispense Opioid Settlement and 1/10th of 1% Funds. v. Member Johnson commented that it is efficient to have funds distributed to the local level and helpful to have protocols in place so that the funds will be dispensed quickly. b. Quarter- 2 Update on 1/10% of 1% Dashboard for Jefferson County: Lolinthea Hinkley, Public Health Assessment & Program Coordinator Updates to the data dashboard were shared. Members, visitors, and the public were encouraged to view the data dashboard at: https://public. tableau.com/app/profile/jcph This dashboard is a publicly accessible and highlights individual services of 15 different programs that are funded with 1/10 of 1% Funds. It illustrates what distinct services are provided by participating programs, as well as the progress on objectives for each program to see how they are being met. Programmatic information is also provided via visualization of these data. Staff Hinkley pointed out that this data dashboard has a unique narrative section that is updated quarterly and explains outreach, collaborations and other sources of funding, as well as reflections on evaluation results. Staff Hinkley encouraged everyone to read the narratives as they are updated ongoing. 7. VENDOR REPORTS a. EJFR/Gateway to Freedom – FIRE Cares Program Gabbie Caudill Attendee Caudill reports that GtF partners with East Jefferson firefighters for this program. They have a firefighter paramedic and a social worker who follow up after a 911 call, if more services are needed, as 95% of the calls are from residents that are 65 years or older, who experience isolation/loneliness or have health issues. The can also respond to mental health issues in real time and CPR calls. They can make referrals to case managers if a client needs more time spent with them. They made 849 contacts from January to June in 2024. It was announced that if a member or guest of the BHAC would like to experience a Fire CARES ride-along in the field, one can reach out to Chief Black at EJFR to learn more about the program. b. Gateway to Freedom/Jail SUD Assessment Program Attendee Caudill explained that the program allows for assessment and case management. The program has helped individuals from January to June in 2024, of those 28 individuals were able to get into treatment. The program assigns a staff person to attend District and Superior Court so they are able to understand where people are at with their case. The Jail SUD Assessment Program is able to meet with the client shortly after they are admitted to jail to find out what their needs are. c. Gateway to Freedom/South County Mobile Unit Attendee Caudill completely renovated an RV to use as the Mobile Unit to provide services. The Mobile Unit is able to provide all of the same services as are offered to clients at their office/clinic. The Mobile Unit is regularly parked in the parking lots of Quilcene and Brinnon’s fire departments, Mondays through Thursdays. The Mobile Unit is currently serving 18 unique clients; they are receiving services where they live that are not often available to them otherwise. 8. PUBLIC COMMENT a. Nicole Gauthier invited folks to Jefferson Transit’s Open House being held at the American Legion Hall to discuss transit services. b. Chair Eisenhour thanked Anna McEnery for her many years of service to the County as well as her advocacy on behalf of getting mental illness recognized as a disability. Staff Martine added her appreciation for Anna’s years of dedication to programming through Jefferson County Public Health. 9. ADJORNMENT Next meeting will be on Wednesday November 13, 2024.