DATE: December 13, 2016
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT: Agreement for Consumer/Family Advocacy Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with Centro La Familia Advocacy Services for consumer/family advocacy services and coordination of supportive collaborations, effective January 1, 2017, not to exceed four and one-half consecutive years, which includes a two and one-half-year base contract and two optional one-year extensions, total not to exceed $511,056.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will allow the Department of Behavioral Health to provide culturally sensitive consumer/family advocacy services through Centro La Familia Advocacy Services (CLFAS) for persons experiencing first onset serious mental illness or serious emotional disturbance in the County. CLFAS was selected following a Request for Proposals (RFP) for consumer/family advocacy services. The recommended Agreement will be financed with Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) funds, with no increase in Net County Cost.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION:
Non-approval would leave underserved and unserved target populations without advocacy, outreach and education services needed to empower them, improve their well-being, and help them navigate the mental health system of care. These populations have been documented in mental health studies and through US Census analysis to have low levels of access and/or use of mental health services. Many individuals will not seek mental health services through traditional methods and need education, guidance, and service linkages provided by consumer/family advocacy services resulting in a possible escalation of a consumer's mental illness symptoms and referrals to hospital emergency departments.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Services are fully funded b...
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