BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

Mental Health Commission request to review Local 1 Survey regarding Mental Health Division Administration. On March 23, 2010, the Board of Supervisors referred the review of a survey conducted by Public Employees Union (PEU) Local One in November 2009 to the IOC. The survey was sent to 189 employees of the Health Services Department Mental Health Division and 132 responses were received. This survey – An Evaluation of Contra Costa County’s Mental Health Senior Staff and the Mental Health Administration’s Policies and Procedures - indicated significant issues with morale, confidence in the management staff, and seemed to indicate a growing belief among line staff that management was “out of touch” with concerns of employees. In a letter dated January 26, 2010 addressed to William Walker, M.D., Director of the Health Services Department, Professional & Technical Engineers, Local 21 raised concerns with the survey, its objectivity and the methodologies used to conduct the survey. On February 11, 2010, the Mental Health Commission (MHC) discussed the survey and the response by Local 21. After discussion, the MHC requested that the Board of Supervisors refer the matter to the IOC for review.  
  
The IOC discussed this issue during the May and November 2010 meetings. Specifically, the IOC heard presentations from the Health Services Department and County Administrator’s Office regarding implementation of a new Cultural Confidence Plan, implementation of two Mental Health Integration Projects, and deployment of several training projects within the Mental Health Division. At the November 2010 meeting, the IOC requested that staff return with a comprehensive update using quantitative performance measures to help illustrate program changes. On June 20, 2011, the IOC received a close-out report from the Health Services Department. After significant public testimony, the IOC did not accept the report from HSD and directed HSD staff to continue working with PEU Local 1 and the Mental Health Commission to address outstanding concerns with the goal of returning at a future date with a plan to move forward. On November 21, 2011, the IOC received an updated closeout report from the Health Services Department. Due to lack of consensus between the department, the Mental Health Commission, and PEU Local 1, the IOC did not accept the report.   
  
Mental Health Commission request to review Employee Participation on County Advisory Groups (CPAW). On April 13, 2010 the Board of Supervisors referred a request by the Mental Health Commission to review employee participation on County Advisory Groups to the IOC. This request was initiated by concerns over employee participation on the Consolidated Planning Advisory Committee (CPAW) within the Health Services Department (HSD). On May 10, 2010, the IOC accepted a report from HSD and directed the department to develop guidelines on the conflicts of interest, gather information on how other counties have organized Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) stakeholder groups, and report back the IOC. On November 22, 2010, the County Administrator’s Office (CAO) reported back to the IOC on this issue. Specifically, the CAO reported that the CPAW had initiated changes in how membership was tracked. The IOC asked staff for an update on this issue to monitor changes underway. On November 21, 2011, the IOC received an updated closeout report from the Health Services Department. Due to lack of consensus between the department, the Mental Health Commission, and PEU Local 1, the IOC did not accept the report.   
  
On February 13, 2012, the 2012 IOC reviewed a proposed discussion schedule for calendar year 2012, which included the consolidated referral outlined above. The Committee reviewed prior IOC action taken to date and voted to recommend termination of this referral to the Board of Supervisors with no further action.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

The issue will remain on referral to the Internal Operations Committee.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

No impact.