Agenda

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C. 61

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	William Walker, M.D., Health Services Director
Date:	September 22, 2015

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Memorandum of Understanding #74-493 with the City of Richmond for its Police Department

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 09/22/2015

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:	Cynthia Belon, (925) 957-5201
cc:	J Pigg N Rios

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: September 22, 2015
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

Approve and authorize the Health Services Director, or designee, to execute, on behalf of the County, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) #74-493 between the County’s Behavioral Health Division and the City of Richmond for its Police Department, a government Agency, to conduct the Mental Health Evaluation Team (MHET) Program, commencing on May 1, 2015 and effective for the life of the Program or until terminated by the parties. The MOU memorializes a partnership between the County and the City of Richmond to develop and implement an outreach program designed for a specific population of adult Contra Costa County residents who have serious and persistent mental illness.

FISCAL IMPACT:

None. This is a non financial agreement.

BACKGROUND:

The County’s Behavior Health Services Division (BHSD) recommends partnering with law enforcement in East, Central, and West Contra Costa County to develop the Mental Health Evaluation Team (MHET) Program. The MHET Program will make welfare checks, provide case management and linkage of mental health services. MHET’s target population is the adult Contra Costa County resident who has been identified as having a serious and persistent mental illness, and in addition is described by at least one of the following: has experienced a recent psychiatric crisis; has been placed on one or more Welfare & Institutions Code section 5150 holds, has a history of violence, has access to firearms, or has been the subject of multiple calls for service with local law enforcement. The MHET Program’s objectives include reducing the number of preventable visits to Psychiatric Emergency Services, facilitating access to BHSD’s system of care, increasing effective use of available outpatient mental health services, reducing the number of violent encounters between police officers and the mentally ill, providing support, referrals and safety planning to family members and providing a safer, better quality of life for the community.
This Agreement includes mutual indemnification.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If the Health Services Director is not authorized to enter the MOU, the County’s Behavioral Health Division will be unable to participate in the MHET Program and therefore unable to provide the level of targeted assistance contemplated for the specific population described above.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

Not applicable.