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Health and Human Services Agency recommending the Board adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 141-2015, authorizing the implementation of an Assisted Out-Patient Pilot Program in El Dorado County, also known as Laura’s Law, with a total maximum obligation of $500,000 over the course of approximately three years, and declaring that no voluntary services will be reduced as a result of this implementation.
FUNDING: State Mental Health Services Act Funds; Community Corrections Partnership funding; and Medi-Cal funding if applicable.
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DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION:
Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board adopt the attached Resolution authorizing the implementation of an Assisted Out-Patient Pilot Program, also known as Laura’s Law, effective in Fiscal Year 2015-16 and continuing over the course of approximately three years. No voluntary mental health services will be reduced as a result of implementation of this pilot program.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
El Dorado County has established a continuum of behavioral health services for adults with severe mental illness. The Mental Health Services Act, passed in 2004, has allowed El Dorado County to expand this continuum of care through the implementation of the Intensive Case Management Team, Transitional Housing (T-House) Program, and the Wellness Center. In FY 13/14 and FY 14/15, an average of approximately 1,075 adults per fiscal year had at least one open MHSA episode for all or a portion of the fiscal year. Currently, there are approximately 549 adults with a serious mental illness who have an open MHSA episode.
The implementation of the Assisted Out-Patient Treatment program will provide El Dorado County an additional tool to use in engaging people with severe mental illness. People eligible for this program will be El Dorado County residents, 18 years or older, and suffering from mental illness who are unlikely to remain safely in the community without supervision. ...
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