Agenda

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FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

Meeting Date:	09/23/2019
Subject: Public Mental Health Care Systems; Child and Teen Psychiatric Services; and Grand Jury Report No. 1703
Submitted For:	Anna Roth, Health Services Director
Department:	Health Services
Referral No.:	115/116
Referral Name:	Public Mental Health Care System
Presenter:	Matthew P. White, M.D.; Suzanne Tavano, PH.D; Barbara Serwin, Chair, Mental Health Commission	Contact:	Warren Hayes (925) 957-2616

Information

Referral History:

On October 30, 2017 the Family and Human Services Committee (FHS) accepted the report from the Health Services Department addressing various mental health service issues and concerns raised by the FHS, the Board of Supervisors, the Mental Health Commission’s White Paper, the Civil Grand Jury, and members of the public. These issues and concerns centered upon the difficulty in accessing mental health care, particularly for children and youth experiencing serious emotional disturbances. Indicative to this lack of access was the 1) increase in Psychiatric Emergency Services visits, 2) long wait times to access care, and 3) shortage of clinical staff, especially psychiatrists. The Health Services Department report addressed these issues and concerns, and reported upon the initiatives and progress made to date.

The FHS asked the Department to provide an update to the Mental Health Commission in six months, and to the FHS annually thereafter. The last status report made to FHS was on September 24, 2018.

Referral Update:

The attached report represents current updates to issues identified in the report entitled, "Contra Costa County Mental Health Commission Response to Behavioral Health Services Update to Grand Jury Report No. 1703 and Referrals 115 and 116".

Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):

ACCEPT the joint update report from Behavioral Health Services and the Mental Health Commission on the public mental health care system, child and teen psychiatric services.

Fiscal Impact (if any):

There is no fiscal impact.

Attachments
Joint Behavioral Health Services and Mental Health Commission Status Report