Upon approval, this action will result in an annual cost of approximately $9,639,567, with pension costs of $3,738,224 already included. (100% funded by Measure X Expenditure Plan)
On 11-16-21, the Board of Supervisors approved the Measure X expenditure plan, to include funds for the A3 Contra Costa Community Crisis Initiative. A component of the initiative is the Miles Hall Community Crisis Call Center, which will provide an alternative site for County residents experiencing behavioral health crises associated with mental health, substance use, and/or co-occurring conditions, and will expand the County’s capacity to provide crisis-level care as a diversion to Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES), Contra Costa County Regional Medical Center (CCRMC) in-patient services, and the emergency departments of our local hospitals. As an urgent behavioral health care center, the Miles Hall Center will help ensure residents receive appropriate and timely access to health care and support to meet their urgent behavioral health needs in Contra Costa County for Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime (A3). This will also reduce the demand on other local government services such as law enforcement, emergency medical services, and 911 dispatch centers.
The Health Services department is requesting to add seventy-three (73) positions in the Behavioral Health Division. To staff these services, the following positions are being requested:
One (1) Permanent Full-Time Mental Health Program Chief (VQDN)
One (1) Permanent Full-Time Mental Health Program Manager (VQDC)
One (1) Permanent Full-Time Mental Health Project Manager (VQSE)
One (1) Permanent Full-Time Health Services Systems Analyst II (LBVC)
One (1) Permanent Full-Time Planner and Evaluator - Level B (VCXD)
One (1) Permanent Full-Time Departmental Human Resources Analyst II (ARTA)
One (1) Permanent Full-Time Secretary - Advanced Level (J3TG)
Twenty-Six (26) Permanent Full-Time Mental Health Clinical Specialist (VQSB)
Eighteen (18) Permanent Part-Time (20/40) Mental Health Clinical Specialist (VQSB)
Four (4) Permanent Full-Time Substance Abuse Counselor (VHVC)
Eighteen (18) Permanent Full-Time Mental Health Community Support Worker II (VQVB)
The Mental Health Program Chief will implement and supervise the A3 Contra Costa Community Crisis Initiative inclusive of the Call Center, Mobile Crisis Teams, and Urgent Care Crisis Hub. The Mental Health Program Manager will supervise the Level 1, 2 and 3 mobile teams and Call Center staff. The Mental Health Project Manager will assist with implementation and continued operations and provide administrative support. The Secretary-Advanced Level will provide administrative support to management. The Departmental Human Resources Analyst II will assist with ongoing recruitment and hiring of staff. The Health Services Systems Analyst II will provide technical assistance with telecommunications and interface with ccLink. The Planner and Evaluator-Level B will collect data and analysis for monitoring and reporting performance of the program components. Eleven (11) Permanent Full-Time Mental Health Clinical Specialists will staff the Call Center and receive calls from the community 24/7, screen, triage, and arrange appropriate level of intervention. Fifteen (15) Permanent Full-Time Mental Health Clinical Specialists, 18 Permanent Part-Time (20/40) Mental Health Clinical Specialists, and 18 Permanent Full-Time Mental Health Community Support Workers II will staff the regional Mobile Crisis Response Teams which provide 24/7 County-Wide community-based crisis services. Four (4) Substance Abuse Counselors will provide assessment, crisis interventions, and treatment referrals.
If not approved, residents will not receive the appropriate and timely access to health care and support. Also, there will be a lack of support to the operation of the new Crisis Call Center, which would impact the ability to provide much needed mental health services to the community.