To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Probation Department
Staff Name and Phone Number: Christine Williams, 565-2145
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Supportive Housing and Case Management Agreement
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize the Chief Probation Officer to execute a professional services agreement with InterFaith Shelter Network for the initial term December 17, 2019, through November 30, 2022, in the amount of $1,250,000 to provide supportive housing and case management for defendants who are homeless and have mental illness, and to execute up to two one-year renewal options for a maximum five-year agreement value of $2,100,000.
end
Executive Summary:
The Probation Department requests Board approval to execute a professional services agreement with InterFaith Shelter Network to provide services for defendants who are homeless and have mental illness or co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse disorder. Such defendants pose difficult challenges to the courts. While the crimes for which they are charged might not warrant incarceration while awaiting trial, their mental health and living conditions increase their likelihood of committing new crimes, failing to appear in court, causing harm to themselves, or being victimized in the community. To reduce these risks, courts may require such defendants to remain incarcerated until adjudication. The services proposed here would provide the courts a viable alternative to incarceration whereby defendants could remain safely in the community and receive supportive housing and intensive case management. Overall program goals are to reduce unnecessary incarceration and associated costs, provide treatment and services to improve outcomes of justice system-involved individuals, and increase public safety.
Grant funding for this program comes from the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s “Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program,” which the Board approved on December 11, 2018, and from the California Department of Health Care Services’ “Homeless Mentally Ill Outreach and Treatment Program,” which the Board approved on February 26, 2019.
Discussion:
Background
In 2016, the U.S. Department of Justice released a competitive grant announcement for the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program, and Sonoma County was awarded $250,000 for a three-year project that included one year of funding for planning and two years of implementation funding to improve public safety and serve individuals with co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse disorder who encounter the justice system. This grant will continue through September 30, 2020, and funded services include case management, supportive housing, and program evaluation.
In 2018, the Department of Justice released a competitive grant announcement to expand upon the 2016 grant and provide higher levels of service to a similar population of individuals. Sonoma County submitted a successful proposal and will receive $750,000 to provide eight supportive housing beds, case management, 24-hour supervision, and program evaluation over a 27-month period for individuals on pretrial release, focusing on those with co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder.
An additional $215,000 from the state Homeless Mentally Ill Outreach and Treatment Program will cover start-up costs and first-year costs for contracted mental health and substance abuse treatment staff. This program is part of one-time appropriations authorized by the California legislature to address homelessness in the 2018-19 Budget Act. The program provides flexible one-time funding for projects involving individuals experiencing mental illness and homelessness.
Request for Proposals
The Probation Department issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) announcement in August 2019. The RFP sought proposals from organizations that could provide eight supportive housing beds along with case management services to individuals with mental illness on pretrial release. Additionally, the RFP requested an array of supportive services to help offenders stabilize their lives, such as permanent housing assistance, enrollment in health care, and job search assistance. Finally, the RFP required that the successful organization develop a quality assurance plan to ensure high service standards and report on outputs and outcomes to help stakeholders determine program performance.
Sonoma County received proposals from Buckelew Programs and InterFaith Shelter Network. A panel of representatives from the Probation Department and the Department of Health Services rated the proposals using clear criteria such as qualifications and experience, staffing, program services, and cost of service. In addition to reviewing the proposals, the panel conducted phone interviews with both proposers.
While both Buckelew Programs and InterFaith Shelter Network (IFSN) presented viable programs, the panel rated IFSN more highly based on the alignment of program services offered with the County’s needs and its readiness to commence services immediately. For example, IFSN proposed 24-hour-per-day supervision--a requirement of the RFP--while Buckelew proposed 15-hour-per-day supervision. Additionally, while IFSN has multiple bilingual staff that it could assign to this program, Buckelew would need to hire staff. Finally, IFSN has a current lease on the house proposed for this project while Buckelew has not yet identified a house.
Based on its proposal review and interviews, the panel recommends awarding supportive housing and case management services to IFSN.
Program and Scope Overview
Housing: The program will provide an eight-bed housing facility and support to help individuals with mental illness or co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse disorder maintain stability on pretrial release and achieve better outcomes. Desired outcomes include participants complying with their court orders, not committing new offenses or failing to appear in court, and in which, post-adjudication, being better prepared to live successfully in the community. The broader goals are to enhance public safety, rehabilitate individuals in the criminal justice system, and reduce unnecessary incarceration.
Beyond providing temporary shelter, supportive housing helps defendants secure permanent housing and, in coordination with the Probation Department, provides other supportive services, such as the following:
• Permanent housing search and placement assistance
• Assistance with enrollment in health care and CalFresh
• Employment preparation and job search assistance
• Referral to credit counseling services
• Assistance with advancing education
• Individual counseling
• Group counseling focused on cognitive-behavioral skill development
• Drug and alcohol testing
Although residents will be able to freely leave and return to the house, IFSN will provide a house monitor 24 hours per day, 365 days per year to support residents and enhance neighborhood safety.
A separate Board item from the Department of Health Services will seek approval to apply for California State County Medical Services Program funding to support homeless individuals with medical, behavioral health, and substance use disorder challenges as they are released from jail or local acute care facilities. While the Department of Health Services grant would support a population clinically similar to that served in the Probation Department’s program, the program focuses differ substantially. The Department of Health Services program would deploy permanent housing to stabilize indigent populations who would otherwise be homeless in the community. By contrast, the Probation Department’s program would provide supervised temporary housing to incarcerated defendants who, absent this program, would remain incarcerated until adjudication because of their mental health and living conditions. If the Department of Health Services grant application proves successful, the two departments will collaborate to streamline program navigation and, as appropriate, transition the Probation Department’s clients into the Department of Health Services’ permanent housing.
Case Management: A case manager working outside the jail will support participants during the pretrial process, including accompanying them to court. This case manager will work closely with a case manager in the jail to ensure that information regarding participant needs is included in the planning process, and that those selected for the program benefit from a warm handoff and avoid service gaps. Additionally, a case manager will work on site at the supportive house approximately 25 hours per week to help participants connect with stabilization services, obtain medication, address health issues, and other related activities.
Quality Assurance: Finally, IFSN will collaborate with the Probation Department to develop and implement quality assurance and data collection plans to ensure high-quality program implementation and allow the Probation Department to evaluate program performance. Additionally, the grant includes funding for evaluation by an external provider, which Resource Development Associates will perform under a separate contract previously approved by the Board.
Conclusion
In addition to the Probation Department and IFSN, other departments and organizations will also contribute to the success of this initiative. A Health Services behavioral health clinician will assess defendants for program suitability. The District Attorney and Superior Court will review and approve cases before participants will be accepted into the program. The Sheriff’s Office will provide office space and facilitate meetings between Probation Department assessment staff and program candidates.
Overall, the program intends to promote public safety, improve outcomes, and reduce costs for justice-system-involved individuals with mental illness. Commonly, this population ineffectively--and expensively--accesses multiple community services, including police and fire first responders, hospital emergency departments, mental health crisis services, and jails. Most treatment is short-term and non-rehabilitative, resulting in repeated cycles through these services. By providing stable housing, intensive case management, and 24-hour supervision, this program intends to break the cycle.
Prior Board Actions:
February 26, 2019: Homeless Mentally Ill Outreach and Treatment Program approved
December 11, 2018: Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program 2018 funding approved
November 15, 2016: Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program 2016 funding approved
April 8, 2014 - August 6, 2019: IFSN transitional housing contracts and amendments approved
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 19-20 Adopted |
FY20-21 Projected |
FY 21-22 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$189,895 |
$385,779 |
$397,944 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$189,895 |
$385,779 |
$397,944 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
$189,895 |
$385,779 |
$397,944 |
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Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$189,895 |
$385,779 |
$397,944 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Funding for this program is included in the Board’s adopted FY 19-20 budget. FY 19-20 costs will be $189,895 or $31,649 per month for the six months beginning January 1, 2020. Accounting for a price escalation of approximately 3.2% after the first project year, costs will increase to $32,647 per month beginning on January 1, 2021, and $33,677 per month beginning on January 1, 2022. While the grant provides funding for approximately 27 months of service, if the program proves successful, it may continue beyond 27 months under separate funding sources, pending Board approval. If the program continues for five years, the total five-year contract value, including two one-year renewal options, would be up to $2,100,000.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None.
Attachments:
Supportive Housing and Case Management Agreement
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.