DATE: April 23, 2019
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Dawan Utecht, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT: California Health Facilities Financing Authority Community Services Infrastructure Grant Submission
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Department of Behavioral Health to submit a grant application to the California Health Facilities Financing Authority for the Community Services Infrastructure Grant Program, effective upon award and allocation of grant funds ($2,100,000).
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will allow the Department of Behavioral Health to submit a grant application to the California Health Facilities Financing Authority’s Community Services Infrastructure Grant Program. If awarded the grant will allow for the acquisition and renovation of residential facilities that will house justice-involved individuals previously released from jail who are seriously mentally ill and/or have a substance use disorder, and provide intensive case management services.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the Board does not approve the recommended action, the Department of Behavioral Health will cancel the project and not submit the grant application.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The maximum amount of the grant ($2,100,000) will be fully offset with California Health Facilities Financing Authority Community Services Infrastructure Grant Program funds. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues will be included in the Behavioral Health Org 5630 FY 2019-20 Recommended Budget and subsequent budget requests as applicable.
DISCUSSION:
Senate Bill 843 (2016), Section 52 established a competitive grant program to disburse funds for the purpose of creating and expanding community alternatives to incarceration. The Community Services Infrastructure (CSI) Grant Program, administered by the California Health Facilities Financing Authority (CHFFA), intends to expand access to jail and prison diversion programs and services; create or expand mental health treatment facilities, substance use disorder treatment facilities, and trauma-centered service facilities in local communities; and reduce the need of mental health treatment, substance use disorder treatment, and trauma-centered services in jails and prison. The grants from CHFFA will be disbursed to California counties to support acquiring and expanding facilities. The Department has prepared a grant submission for the acquisition and renovation of residential facilities that will house justice-involved individuals recently released from jail who are seriously mentally ill and/or have a substance use disorder. The Department will own and maintain the facilities for the duration of their useful life. A contracted vendor will use the facilities to provide intensive case management services and facilitate mental health and/or substance use disorder services for individuals who participate in the program and be selected through a request for proposals process.
Counsel is currently preparing responses to a legal status questionnaire required by CHFFA concerning financial viability and fraud, corruption, or serious harm. Counsel has reached out to CHFFA for additional clarification and is awaiting further direction to respond to the questionnaire appropriately. DBH will include the responses to the grant application prior to submission once they are completed.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Application with California Health Facilities Financing Authority Community Services Infrastructure Grant Program
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander