This Contract complies with the provisions of Board Resolution No. 2015/9, adopted February 3, 2015, that directs the implementation of Laura’s Law (AOT) for a three year term project; continuance to be contingent upon demonstration of the efficacy of court ordered out-patient treatment. Board Resolution No. 2015/9 directs the Health Services Department to develop an evaluation design that determines the difference, if any, in program impact and cost savings to the county for individuals who are ordered to participate in services versus those individuals who voluntarily participate in the same level and type of services. Board Resolution No. 2015/9 further directed the Health Services Department to develop a program design with stakeholder participation, and to come back to the Board for final approval.
On behalf of the Health Services Department, Contra Costa Behavioral Health Services (CCBHS) convened an Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) Workgroup consisting of stakeholders, to include representatives of consumers, family members, the Mental Health Commission, the MHSA Consolidated Planning Advisory Workgroup (CPAW), and representatives from County Counsel, Superior Court, Public Defender’s Office, and the Sheriff’s Department. Brown Act protocol was followed, with the public invited to attend and provide public comment. The AOT Workgroup met on April 23, April 30, and May 19 to consider and draft a program design that included a section addressing the evaluation of the AOT program.
On June 16, 2015 the Board approved and ordered the implementation of the AOT Program Design. This approved AOT Program Design included contracting with a Principal Investigator via competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) to apply an independent, objective social research design… to address whether voluntary versus involuntary participation makes a difference, and whether the newly implemented service delivery has a better program impact and cost savings to the County than existing Full Service Partnership (FSP) programs in the County who are currently serving persons with serious and persistent mental illness. California Welfare and Institutions Code section 5348 also sets forth requirements for annual evaluation of County AOT programs.
CCBHS staff developed a Scope of Work with fair market value (up to $100,000 annually) needed to construct an evaluation plan with quantitative and qualitative program and fiscal data to be gathered and analyzed, with reports to inform Board of Supervisors decision-making with regard to continuance of the AOT Program as currently designed, and appropriate funding level going forward. CCBHS staff drew upon past experience in developing similar consultant RFPs, and coordinated with colleague counties for determining fair market value for consultant all-inclusive hourly rates and number of hours to support scope of work deliverables.
On August 5, 2015, CCBHS published an RFP with specifications, to include responsibility to provide an annual report to Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) that complied with statutory reporting requirements. The RFP was shared with all interested stakeholders, and posted on the CCBHS web site.
On October 9, 2015, a panel of subject matter experts, including a Mental Health Commission member and a cultural competency expert, considered and scored three submitted proposals, and recommended Resource Development Associates (RDA) to the CCBHS Director to provide the evaluation functions as authorized by the Board of Supervisors.
Upon notification of award, RDA participated in the AOT Workgroup meeting of November 10, 2015, and shared with stakeholders and the public their Scope of Work. RDA then proceeded to develop a detailed Evaluation Plan which is encompassed in the attached Service Work Plan.
If this contract is not approved, provisions specified for an evaluation of the AOT Program in Board Resolution No. 2015/9 will not occur, and compliance with statutory reporting requirements to DHCS will be at risk.
Speakers: Margaret L. Netherby, NAMI; Susan Norwick Horocks, resident of Orinda; Duane Chapman, resident of Contra Costa; Douglas Dunn, resident of Antioch (handout attached); Lauren Rettagliata, resident of Danville.