Agenda

Return

C. 35

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Anna Roth, Health Services Director
Date:	May 21, 2019

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Appointment of Dr. Suzanne Tavano as Behavioral Health Director

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 05/21/2019

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:	Anna Roth, 925-957-5403
cc:	Marcy Wilhelm

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: May 21, 2019
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPOINT Suzanne Tavano, PHN, Ph.D., as the Director of Behavioral Health/Mental Health and local director of mental health services for Contra Costa County as required by Welfare and Institutions Code section 5607 and Contra Costa County Ordinance Code section 33-5.313, subdivision(a)(4), as recommended by the Health Services Director, effective June 1, 2019.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Department has budgeted the cost of the behavioral health director position, as well as the cost for contracting out mental health consultation services in the current and FY 2019-20 budgets. This action would be cost neutral as it would fill the budgeted vacancy. Additionally, the Department is requesting a separate aciton in this agenda to cancel the contractual agreement between Ms. Tavano and the County, which could result in cost savings.

BACKGROUND:

Through an open process which involved extensive community input, Dr. Tavano, was selected based on her qualifications and experience, including employment as a Behavioral Health Director in other counties. Since April 2018, Dr. Matthew White has been the Acting Director of Behavioral Health. In February 2019, the vacant position was announced. The Health Services Department received more than 20 applications and narrowed down the pool to the top six candidates. In March 2019, two panels interviewed the candidates. The first panel was composed of community members (representatives from NAMI, Mental Health Commission, Alcohol and Other Drugs Advisory Board) as well as those with lived experience. The second panel included Health Services Department staff and a representative from a community-based organization that contracts with Behavioral Health. The panels agreed on the top four candidates and forwarded those to the final panel. In April 2019, the four candidates interviewed with the Health Services Director, Behavioral Health Medical Director and Acting Director of Behavioral Health. With the permanent appointment of Dr. Tavano, Dr. White will remain the Psychiatric Medical Director and will continue to oversee psychiatric services across the Department, and will partner with Dr. Tavano to oversee the Behavioral Health Division.

As required by Welfare and Institutions Code section 5607 and Contra Costa County Ordinance Code section 33-5.313, subdivision(a)(4), the Health Services Director is requesting the appointment of Suzanne Tavano, PHN, Ph.D., as the Director of Behavioral Health/Mental Health and local director of mental health services for Contra Costa County. Additionally, it is recommended that the appointment be at Step 20, $14,530/month, of the salary range effective June 1, 2019.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If this appointment is not approved the County will not have a permanent Director of Behavioral/Mental Health.