Title
Health and Human Services Agency recommending the Board approve El Dorado County’s Fiscal Year 2022-23 Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan.
FUNDING: 100% State Funding: Mental Health Services Act Funding (MHSA).
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
In July 2017 Assembly Bill 114 directed the California Mental Health Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHOAC) to develop a statewide strategic suicide prevention plan. In November 2019 the ‘Striving for Zero: California’s Strategic Plan for Suicide Prevention 2020-2025’ was adopted. One of the Local and Regional Objectives of this plan is to develop a local suicide prevention plan and implementation strategy to prevent suicidal behavior across the lifespan.
In May 2020, the El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Behavioral Health Division began discussions for the development of a local Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan (Plan) and identified contributors to structure the development of the first draft of the Plan. Work began on this effort in July 2020. In total, forty-five (45) individuals from thirty-one (31) different local organizations worked collaboratively to develop the plan presented today. Over the course of Fiscal Year (FY) 2020-21, data was collected, and sub-committees were formed to work collaboratively to develop four strategies and accompanying objectives. The strategies prompt the development of: 1) Leadership, oversight, and accountability framework for the Plan; 2) Prevention; 3) Intervention; and, 4) Postvention initiatives throughout the County. The intent is to align local and regional efforts with state priorities in delivering best practices for suicide prevention.
Development of this Plan started early in the Coronavirus Pandemic where meetings were initially held virtually, and other remote strategies were utilized to bring together various stakeholders for critical discussions. Throughout this effort, Behavioral Health has been experiencing further impacts from a national Mental Health staffing shortage crisis. Specific to El Dorado, the division has experienced a high number of vacancies, as well as a higher rate of turnover amongst administrative staff. Combined with impacts of the Caldor Fire and continued Coronavirus surges, the Plan's development was delayed at times, leading to a slower process for completion.
The Behavioral Health Division presented the Draft Plan to the Behavioral Health Commission at their regular meeting on February 16, 2022. The Behavioral Health Commission approved the Plan with one notable change, to update the overarching goal of “Reduce the ten-year average number of deaths due to suicide in El Dorado County by 20%” to the five-year timeline presented in the Plan today.
Upon approval, current Behavioral Health staff are prepared to submit a Request for Proposal for the Suicide Prevention Coordinator outlined in the Plan in order to implement strategies in a timely manner.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may decline to approve the Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan, but that action will cause the FY 2022-23 MHSA allotment for this project to be unexpended. It would also halt an effort to strategically focus on suicide prevention in El Dorado County.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
N/A
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
County Strategic Plan Healthy Communities - Improved health, well-being and self-sufficiency of El Dorado County communities, residents, and visitors.
CONTACT
Daniel Del Monte, Interim Director, Health and Human Services Agency