DATE: June 18, 2019
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Dawan Utecht, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT: Participation Agreement with California Mental Health Services Authority for the Central Valley Suicide Prevention Hotline
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Participation Agreement with the California Mental Health Services Authority for Central Valley Suicide Prevention Hotline services, effective July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020, total not to exceed $415,338; and
2. Approve and authorize the Department of Behavioral Health Director, or designee, to be the signatory and act as the Fresno County representative on behalf of the Board of Supervisors on associated California Mental Health Services Authority Central Valley Suicide Prevention Hotline related reports and forms, without modifying the maximum compensation.
REPORT
Approval of the first recommended action will assign funding to the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) for FY 2019-20 to act as a fiscal intermediary and provide program management and oversight for the Central Valley Suicide Prevention Hotline (CVSPH) program. CVSPH will serve as the primary suicide prevention hotline for the Counties of Fresno, Tulare, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, and Stanislaus. Approval of the second recommended action will allow the Department of Behavioral Health Director to sign related reports and forms, without modifying the maximum compensation, and act as a representative of the County. The services are funded with Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) funds, with no increase in Net County Cost.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board not approve the first recommended action, the suicide prevention hotline services will not be provided to the County. A local call center is more familiar with local resources and the unique populations served. If the second recommended action is not approved, the Department will return to the Board for all necessary reports and forms. This may cause a delay in providing and delivering much needed services.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Services are fully funded with MHSA PEI funds. The total cost to operate the suicide prevention hotline is approximately $696,403. As the main user of the suicide prevention hotline, Fresno County’s share of cost is $376,058, or 54% as identified by the call volume data. The share of cost is inclusive of the 9% administrative fee of total program funding due to CalMHSA. The participating counties are paying their agreed upon share of cost directly to CalMHSA. However, due to hardships in securing sustainable funding streams there is a funding shortfall from the smaller contributing counties, totaling $39,280. To ensure that services will not be interrupted in the upcoming fiscal year for our county, Fresno County will cover the shortfall, increasing the maximum compensation to $415,338. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues will be included in the Department’s Org 5630 FY 2019-20 Requested Budget.
DISCUSSION:
On September 14, 2010, the Board executed Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) No. 10-489 to implement Statewide MHSA PEI projects through CalMHSA, pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code, section 5897. The JPA allowed CalMHSA to increase cost efficiency for suicide prevention, student mental health initiatives, and reduction in stigma and discrimination related to mental illness. The County can choose to participate in CalMHSA activities, specifically the CVSPH.
On July 10, 2018, the Board approved a retroactive Participation Agreement (No. 18-364) with CalMHSA to act as a fiscal intermediary and provide program management and oversight for the CVSPH program. CVSPH operates a 24-hour/7 days a week accredited American Association of Suicidology hotline that serves as the primary suicide prevention hotline for the Counties of Fresno, Tulare, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced and Stanislaus. CVSPH answers calls through its participation in the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, maintains a hotline website, and provides outreach and technical assistance to the involved counties.
During the 2018 calendar year, CVSPH received over 11,275 calls. The Fresno community represented 52% (5,812) of the calls. These calls included 81 “talk down calls” in which callers were assisted in creating a safety plan and did not ultimately attempt self-harm, as well as 59 “active rescues” in which emergency services were activated due to self-harm activity currently taking place, resulting in a local life saved from suicide.
The recommended Participation Agreement will grant CalMHSA authority to contract with Kings View Behavioral Health for services on behalf of the County. Agreement No. 438-2019-CVSPH-FC is a contract between CalMHSA and Kings View Behavioral Health and reflects a partnership with the Counties of Fresno, Tulare, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, and Stanislaus, funded with designated MHSA PEI funds. CVSPH will serve as the primary suicide prevention hotline for these counties.
The recommended Participation Agreement is a one-year contract with the option for early termination in which either party may withdraw from the program upon a six-month written notice, or extend as deemed appropriate with prior written notice and the availability of funds. Upon cancellation, termination or other conclusions of this contract, any County funds remaining undisbursed after CalMHSA satisfies all obligations arising from the administration of the program shall be returned to the County.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #43, July 10, 2018, Agreement No. 18-364
BAI #57, June 13, 2013, Amendment I to Agreement No. 10-489
BAI #39, September 14, 2010, Agreement No. 10-489
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with CalMHSA
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald W. Alexander