Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Louise F. Rogers, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Jei Africa, Director, Behavioral Health, and Recovery Services
Subject: Measure K: Amendment to the Agreement with The John W. Gardner Center
RECOMMENDATION:
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Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing an amendment to the agreement with The John W. Gardner Center for Youth and their Communities of the Stanford University Graduate School of Education to continue to plan and evaluate the Community Wellness Crisis Response Team (CWCRT) Pilot Program, linking police officers with mental health clinicians, increasing the amount by $325,082 to an amount not to exceed $584,951, and extending the term through December 31, 2026.
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BACKGROUND:
In order to address the ongoing need for immediate mental health services in the field within local communities, the Daly City, Redwood City, San Mateo, and South San Francisco Police Departments have collaborated with San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) to develop a co-response model that partners sworn law-enforcement officers with a licensed mental health clinician within a first-responder framework. A key goal of these partnerships involves the combined expertise and resources of both disciplines to best serve the public in a timely manner.
The model, now referred to as the Community Wellness Crisis Response Team (CWCRT) calls for one mental health clinician to be embedded in each of the four-city law-enforcement agencies. This clinician serves as a supplement to law-enforcement’s response to calls for service involving individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.
In February 2021, this Board approved an agreement with The John W. Gardner Center for Youth and their Communities of the Stanford University Graduate School of Education (The Gardner Center) to assist in planning and evaluating the CWCRT Pilot Program, for the term of February 1, 2021 through March 31, 2023, in an amount not to exceed $259,869.
DISCUSSION:
The original timeline and budget for the project anticipated the pilot phase to last from December 2020 through January 2023. This extension will provide the necessary time and resources for a full and complete study of the Pilot Program, after the first year of the planning and study development. The full evaluation by The Gardner Center will include assessing implementation, defining and designing key elements and strategies for program improvement and replication, and a quantitative outcomes study.
San Mateo County continues to expand the CWCRT program to include additional cities: Foster City, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Bruno, Pacifica, and North Fair Oaks. Under this amendment, The Gardner Center will align research design to the current CWCRT program’s strategy, planning, and refinement process. The Gardner Center will also assess implementation of the co-response model and conduct a quantitative outcomes study that documents program participation and associated changes resulting from the expansion program implementation.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provisions allowing amendment of the County’s fiscal obligations by a maximum of $25,000 (in aggregate).
The amendment and resolution have been reviewed and approved by the County Attorney as to form.
The amendment is late due to extended negotiations with The Gardner Center.
It is anticipated that that 100% of reporting/evaluation for the Pilot Program and presentation of the final report will be completed by The Gardner Center.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2022-23 Actual |
FY 2023-24 Estimated |
|
Percentage of reporting/evaluation for the Pilot Program and presentation of the final report completed by The Gardner Center |
100% Phase 1 and 2 |
100% Phase 3 and 4 |
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the amended agreement is February 1, 2021 through December 31, 2026. This amendment increases the agreement amount by $325,082 to an amount not to exceed $584,951 for the 59-month term. Funds in the amount of $190,321 are included in the BHRS FY 2023-24 Adopted Budget. Of the FY 2023-24 amount, it is anticipated that the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant will fund $100,000, Measure K will fund $53,036 and City Contributions will fund $37,285. Similar arrangements will be made for future years.