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Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign zero-cost Vehicle Use Agreement 9982 with the California Department of Health Care Services, which governs the use of a mobile crisis vehicle that was purchased with HHSA awarded Crisis Care Mobile Units (CCMU) grant funds, and imposes restrictions on funding resulting from the potential sale of the vehicle by the County, for the retroactive term of six years from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2031;
2) Authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute amendments relating to Agreement 9982, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management, which do not increase the maximum dollar amount or term of the Agreement; and
3) Authorize the HHSA Director, or the Chief Assistant Director, to execute programmatic, administrative, and fiscal documents relating to Agreement 9982.
FUNDING: State General Funds funded through Advocates for Human Potential CCMU grant program.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
In early 2021, DHCS developed the CCMU grant program to support and expand behavioral health mobile crisis and non-crisis services throughout the State. DHCS contracted with AHP to be the Administrative Entity of the CCMU awarded grant agreements.
On October 11, 2021, HHSA’s Behavioral Health Division (BHD) applied to the CCMU grant. In February 2022, AHP notified BHD that their application had been selected for an initial $200,000 planning grant for the development of an Action Plan (AP) that addressed the need of mobile crisis and non-crisis outreach programs in the County. On June 14, 2022, the Board accepted this planning grant via Funding-In Agreement 6256 (Legistar file 21-1989). Subsequently, BHD submitted its AP to AHP, outlining that HHSA would provide mobile behavioral health crisis services throughout the County. This AP included the purchase of two outreach vehicles with customized safety equipment built to enhanced specifications, estimated to be $461,960 each, for a total of $923,920, for use by HHSA to perform mobile outreach services throughout the County.
On December 8, 2022, AHP awarded HHSA BHD an additional $2,000,000 for CCMU Early Implementation and Base Allocation Funding, to be processed via a modification to the existing Funding-In Agreement 6256. On May 2, 2023, the Board approved the modification to this agreement, accepting an additional $2,000,000 in CCMU operation funds, increasing the total award of the grant to $2,200,000, and extending the term through June 30, 2025 (Legistar file 23-0066). This modification provided BHD the opportunity to purchase numerous resources, including the mobile outreach vehicles deemed necessary for the successful implementation of the County’s 24/7 mobile crisis services. Despite earlier plans to purchase two vans, HHSA purchased a singular van in December 2024 and has been using it to provide mobile crisis services throughout the County.
In November 2025, DHCS issued the zero-dollar Vehicle Use Agreement 9982 to HHSA with a start date of July 1, 2025, making the retroactive start date unavoidable. The agreement presented in this agenda item includes the following notable terms and conditions:
(a) If the vehicle becomes non-operational, County will obtain DHCS consent to sell the vehicle, by which the sale of the vehicle will be arranged at fair market value.
(b) The proceeds from the sale or disposition of the vehicle will be used exclusively for Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) purposes consistent with California Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) §5960 et seq.
(c) County will ensure that the vehicle is maintained at the County’s expense in good condition and must arrange for necessary repairs and maintenance during the agreement’s term.
(d) County will maintain certified automobile liability insurance during the term of the agreement or any extension period during which the vehicle remain in the County’s possession.
(e) County will ensure that all operators of the vehicle must hold a valid State of California driver's license
As this Agreement has the potential for funds to be obtained in the event of a sale of the vehicle, this agreement does not fall under Board Policy C-18 and is being brought to the Board for approval.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decide not to approve this agreement, DHCS retains the authority to take the vehicle currently in use by HHSA BHD into the State’s possession.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
1) 06/14/22, 21-1989, HHSA Advocates for Human Potential, 6256
2) 05/02/23, 23-0066, HHSA Advocates for Human Potential, 6256 A1
3) 08/13/24, 24-1105, HHSA BH Mobile Crisis Vans PO
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with this agenda item.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS:
1) Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of Chair on two originals of Agreement 9982; and
2) Clerk of the Board to return two fully executed Agreements to HHSA Contracts Unit at 3057 Briw Rd, Suite B.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
N/A
CONTACT:
Olivia Byron-Cooper, MPH, Director, Health and Human Services Agency