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County of El Dorado

Minutes - Final

Behavioral Health Commission

James Abram, Chair - Term Expiration 8/15/2026

Norma Santiago, Vice Chair - Term Expiration 9/24/2027

Deanna Santana, Vice Chair - Term Expiration 5/13/2028

Kieran Smith, Secretary - Term Expiration 08/26/2028

Greg Ferrero, Board of Supervisors Representative - Term

Expiration 01/01/2029

Dr. Stephen Clavere, Commissioner - Term Expiration

01/01/2029

Vacant (5), Commissioners

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

5:00 PM

Meeting Locations (in person and connected via

tele/video-conferencing):

• 330 Fair Lane, Bldg. A, Placerville, CA

• Mental Health Office, 1900 Lake Tahoe Blvd., Suite 103,

South Lake Tahoe, CA

5:03 PM CALLED TO ORDER

Note: Meeting start delayed by 5-minutes due to technical difficulties with

teleconferencing equipment at the onsite Placerville location.

Note: Commissioner Smith departed the meeting at 6:05PM.

6 - Santiago, Clavere, Abram, Ferrero, Santana and Smith

Present:

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA AND APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Diane Rabinowitz, President of NAMI El Dorado County: Requested clarification for

procedure of public comments accepted during this portion of the meeting.

Approved

6 - Santiago, Clavere, Abram, Ferrero, Santana and Smith

Yes:

CONSENT CALENDAR

25-1909

Commission Chair recommends the Behavioral Health Commission to

approve the minutes from the October 15, 2025 regular meeting of the

Behavioral Health Commission.

Approved

25-1910

In accordance with AB 2249 (2022) Commission Chair accepts any

commissioner request to participate remotely according to Just Cause

or Emergency Circumstances allowances pursuant to Title 5

Government Code, Division 2, Part 1, Chapter 9, 54953(f)(2) and take

action on any requests made.

No Formal Action

END OF CONSENT CALENDAR

OPEN FORUM

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Diane Rabinowitz, President of NAMI El Dorado County: Provides statement regarding

circumstances from a person who died after relapsing with alcohol addiction; asks the

Behavioral Health Department for review of this case and criteria for [involuntary

detention of an individual for up to 72 hours for psychiatric evaluation], as well as

increased focus from [Mobile Crisis] dispatchers on call request content.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

25-1911

Nominating Committee to present the nominations for the 2026 slate of

officers of the Behavioral Health Commission. Election of Chair, West

Slope Vice Chair, South Lake Tahoe Vice Chair and Secretary, for

2026. Commission to receive/review/discuss and take action as

appropriate.

(10 minutes)

On behalf of the Nominating Committee, Norma Santiago, Commission Vice Chair,

presented the nominees to serve as Officers for the Behavioral Health Commission for

2026.

Nominees:

Chair: Jim Abrams

West Slope Vice Chair: Deanna Santana and Dr. Steve Clavere

South Lake Tahoe Vice Chair: Norma Santiago

Secretary: Kieran Smith

Anonymous votes were cast for the position of West Slope Vice Chair, resulting in the

election of Deanna Santana. Commissioners nominated and running unopposed were

unanimously voted into their respective officer positions.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

There were no public comments made.

2026 Officers were Elected for the El Dorado County Behavioral Health

Commission: Chair: Jim Abram, West Slope Vice Chair: Deanna Santana, South

Lake Tahoe Vice Chair: Norma Santiago, Secretary: Kieran Smith.

6 - Santiago, Clavere, Abram, Ferrero, Santana and Smith

Yes:

25-1912

Ad Hoc Committee for engagement with the Behavioral Health Service

Act [BHSA] 2025 Community Planning Process (CPP) to provide an

update on activities to date.

(10 minutes)

On behalf of the Ad Hoc Committee for engagement with the Behavioral Health

Services Act Community Program Planning (CPP) Process, Commission Chair Abram

provided a general overview of CPP activities to date; noting information available for

upcoming meetings.

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS:

Norma Santiago, Commission Vice Chair: Would like a timeline of related public

meetings, and information about how everything is integrated with upcoming activities in

January and February.

Meredith Zanardi, Program Manager: Staff provided a printed copy of an announcement

of focus groups meeting information, which will also be available online and through our

distribution list. Encourages anyone who has not signed up to go sign up for

GovDelivery announcements [on the County Website] or by emailing

BHAdmin@edcgov.us. Further information will be provided as it becomes available,

such as the draft plan aimed for release at the end of January or early February. The

30-day public comment period will then occur prior to the intended March Public

Hearing before this Commission.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

There were no public comments made.

FURTHER COMMISSIONER COMMENTS:

There were no further commissioner comments made.

No Formal Action

25-1913

Presentations by El Dorado County Behavioral Health Department Staff

and Contracted Providers on Children’s Specialty Mental Health

Services in El Dorado County. Commission to receive/review/discuss

and take action as appropriate.

(60 minutes)

Justine Collinsworth, Director of Behavioral Health, presented a brief overview from the

perspective of El Dorado County Behavioral Health regarding how requirements for

Children's Specialty Mental Health Services are implemented. Carrie Thomas, Director

of Administration for New Morning Youth and Family Services, presented a brief

overview of contracted SMHS services provided in El Dorado County. Barry Harwell ,

Executive Director of Sierra Child & Family Services, presented a brief overview of

contracted SMHS services provided in El Dorado County. Anna Gleason, Chief

Executive Officer, and Jess Schnetz-O’Brien, Chief Program Officer, at Summitview

Child & Family Services, presented a brief overview of contracted SMHS services

provided in El Dorado County. Sara DeCoursey, Executive Director of Programs for

Stanford Sierra Youth and Families, presented a brief overview of contracted SMHS

services provided in El Dorado County.

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS:

Questions were asked throughout presentations by Commission Chair Abram,

Commissioner Santiago, Commissioner Smith, and Commissioner Clavere, regarding

vendor services on school campuses, out-of-county STRTP placements, outpatient and

inpatient services, peer support certification, continuation of evidence based practices,

and residential programs.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

There were no public comments made.

FURTHER COMMISSIONER COMMENTS:

There were no further commissioner comments made.

Presented

25-1914

Review/Discussion/Questions of Behavioral Health Director's Report.

(15 minutes)

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS:

Norma Santiago, Commission Vice Chair: Asked a question regarding out-of-county

hospitalizations data.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Diane Rabinowitz, President of NAMI El Dorado County: Asks for clarification about the

reasoning for data showing low numbers of Mobile Crisis responding in comparison to

the higher number of calls coming in.

ANY FURTHER COMMISSIONER COMMENTS:

There were no further commissioner comments made.

Received and Filed