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⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 10 findings
F1
Since July 1, 2000, California Insurance Code mandates parity between mental health and medical condition insurance coverage.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Anyone who finds disparities between medical and mental health insurance coverage should report them to the California Insurance Commissioner, Department of Managed Health Care, and the Department of Corporations. California Department of Insurance Department of Managed Health Care Consumer Communication Bureau 980 North Street, Suite 500 300 Spring Street, South Tower Sacramento, CA 95814-2725 Los Angeles, CA 90013 California Department of Corporations 1515 K Street, Suite 200 Sacramento, CA 95814-2677
F2
Mental health services available for adolescents in Sonoma County are not as comprehensive as those for adults.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
Hospitals in Marin, Mendocino, Napa, and Sonoma counties do not provide inpatient treatment for adolescents in crisis. Sonoma County adolescents who require crisis care (inpatient observation and stabilization) must be transported to a hospital outside of the county. The closest facilities are in San Francisco, Vallejo, and Sacramento.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
Two nearby hospitals that provided crisis care (North Coast/CPC in Sonoma County, Ross in Marin County) have discontinued adolescent care within the last 10 years.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
When beds are not immediately available in San Francisco, Vallejo, or Sacramento, adolescents are temporarily housed in the Psychiatric Emergency Services (Norton Center) facility. 33
No recommendations for this finding
F6
The Psychiatric Emergency Services facility is not appropriate for housing and/or treatment of adolescents in crisis because they cannot be separated from adult clients. The available isolation rooms are dark and dingy, and there are no beds.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The Psychiatric Emergency Services facility should be modified to provide a clean, pleasant area where minors can be housed while awaiting transportation to a psychiatric hospital. 34
F7
There are approximately 1300 licensed Mental Health therapists in Sonoma County, the second highest per capita concentration in the state after Marin County. Many are reluctant to accept adolescent patients.
No recommendations for this finding
F8
The number of Sonoma County adolescents who require hospitalization for mental health reasons is not sufficient to support a facility for this county alone. Significantly fewer adolescents require crisis care than adults. Also, over the past 20 years advances in therapy and medication have reduced the number and length of mental health-related hospitalizations.
No recommendations for this finding
F9
The Sonoma County Mental Health Services inpatient facility is not currently licensed or staffed to treat adolescents.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
Sonoma County Department of Health Services should explore with public and private counterparts in neighboring counties the operation of a shared facility that would provide inpatient care for adolescents.
F10
In times of crisis, it is frequently difficult, frustrating, expensive, and very time consuming for families to find competent and comprehensive mental health care for their children. Conclusions In Sonoma County, mental health care for adults is more comprehensive and accessible than it is for minors. This disparity in mental health care for minors is caused, in part, by the large difference between the number of adult and minor patients. Due to the small number of Sonoma County adolescents who require mental health hospitalization, it is not financially feasible for a hospital to provide such service. Families with children in need of mental health therapy frequently require help in finding and coordinating care. County Mental Health Services provides this assistance for Medi-Cal recipients, but private insurers may not.
No recommendations for this finding
Additional Recommendations 2
These recommendations are not explicitly linked to specific findings.
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R2Sonoma County Mental Health Services should provide an ombudsman to guide residents in the acquisition and coordination of mental health services.
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R5The 2002-2003 Grand Jury should continue the analysis of mental health care for minors. Required Responses to Findings None Required Responses to Recommendations County Board of Supervisors: R1 through R3 Director, Department of Health Services: R1 Division Director, Mental Health Services: R1 through R3 35
Conclusions 1
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CL1 Page 3In Sonoma County, mental health care for adults is more comprehensive and accessible than it is for minors. This disparity in mental health care for minors is caused, in part, by the large difference between the number of adult and minor patients. Due to the small number of Sonoma County adolescents who require mental health hospitalization, it is not financially feasible for a hospital to provide such service. Families with children in need of mental health therapy frequently require help in finding and coordinating care. County Mental Health Services provides this assistance for Medi-Cal recipients, but private insurers may not.
No Responses Found 1
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Elected County Office