Title
Health and Human Services Agency recommending the Board:
1) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 049-2021 delegating authority to the Health and Human Services Agency’s Director or designee, on behalf of the County, to accept annual funding and execute all necessary documents required to secure and maintain specific allocations issued by the Department of Health Care Services through June 30, 2022, and contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management, as applicable;
2) Delegate authority to the Health and Human Services Agency Director or designee to execute, on behalf of the County, additional documents related to those specific allocations and any amendments thereto, that do not increase Net County Cost, and contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management, as applicable;
3) Approve and authorize the Health and Human Services Agency Director or designee, to execute any required programmatic reports for said allocations; and
4) Approve and authorize the Health and Human Services’ Agency Chief Fiscal Officer to execute any required fiscal reports for said funding allocations.
FUNDING: Federal and State funding.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
The Board of Supervisors Policy A-6, Grant Applications, establishes the Board as the sole authority for accepting grant awards and approving grant agreements. Over the years, and in accordance with said Policy, Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) has presented many funding/revenue agreements, grants, and other funding allocations to the Board for approval.
The Department of Health Care Services issues at least two annual revenue allocations/agreements to the Health and Human Services Agency that require signature by the HHSA Director of Behavioral Health. These include but may not be limited to 1) Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH); and 2) Community Mental Health Block Grant (MHBG). At this time, HHSA is recommending the Board adopt and sign the attached Resolution delegating authority to the HHSA Director or designee to accept and execute these funding allocations/agreements and ancillary documents to secure the funding.
PATH Funding
PATH funds are specifically designated for outreach, case management, staff training, referrals to primary health services, job training and relevant housing services for homeless clients of the Behavioral Health Division. Historically these requirements have been successfully fulfilled via subaward contracts with Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless (TCH).
MHBG Funding
Since 1997, the MHBG funds have been used in collaboration with other public and private organizations such as HHSA Social Services Programs and the County Office of Education to address the needs of children/adolescents with serious emotional disturbance.
MHBG is comprised of funds to 1) support the County in carrying out plans for providing comprehensive community mental health services to adults (age 18 and over) with serious mental illnesses, and to children (under age 18) with serious emotional disturbances; 2) provide treatment to patients diagnosed with dual disorders (psychiatric disorders along with alcohol and other drug use disorders); and 3) provide treatment to adolescents and young adults who experience psychotic symptoms or a psychotic episode for the first time.
Additional Background
Each of the above-referenced DHCS allocations require signature by a Mental Health Director / Director of Behavioral Health.
For the past few years, the HHSA Director also served as the Mental Health Director; and the current HHSA Director served as the Interim Mental Health Director until April 2020, when the County hired a Director of Behavioral Health. HHSA is recommending that the Board continue to delegate authority to the HHSA Director or designee to accept funding and execute specific revenue agreements and ancillary documents issued by the Department of Health Care Services that require signature by a Mental Health Director / Director of Behavioral Health, these include but may not be limited to the PATH and MHBG allocations.
On June 9, 2020, the Board adopted a resolution delegating authority to the Director of Mental Health to accept annual funding and execute all necessary documents required by the Department of Health Care Services; the resolution is set to expire June 30, 2021.
ALTERNATIVES:
Disapproval of the Resolution will mean that HHSA will present these allocations individually to the Board to accept funding and request that the Board delegate signature authority to the HHSA Director or designee to sign all necessary documents to secure the funding.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
1) 06/09/2020, 20-0678, HHSA MH Director signature authority resolution
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Approved by County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with these revenue allocations/agreements. Sufficient appropriations have been requested in HHSA’s Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Budget for the anticipated allocations.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Clerk of the Board to obtain the Chair’s signature on one (1) original of the Resolution.
2) Clerk of the Board to return one (1) certified Resolution to Health and Human Services Agency, Contracts Unit, 3057 Briw Road.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
Healthy Communities
CONTACT
Don Semon, Director