Final Report 2015–2016

Conclusions 15

• CL1 Page 42
  Probate the estates of decedents who die without a will and where there is no family living in California willing or able to do so.
• CL2 Page 49
  It is recommended that the Imperial County Board of Supervisors take note that agencies under its umbrella have a serious lack of cohesion and agreement. While this jury does not fault the Board of Supervisors directly or at all, it is believed that they can ensure that the needed meetings take place with the heads of the individual agencies.
• CL3 Page 42
  Act as the legally appointed Conservator/Guardian of individuals in the County when appointment by the court when the Superior Court finds the person is unable to properly care for themselves or their finances or who cannot resist undue influence or fraud. Such persons usually suffer from severe mental illness or are older, frail and vulnerable adults.
• CL4 Page 49
  It is recommended that the county hire a Psychiatric Social Worker III for the jail, and do so soon. That person needs to be accountable to jail administration and not just another arm of BH.
• CL5 Page 42
  The Representative Payee Program manages the financial need of persons unable to handle their own funds due to age, illness or disability. It is the only agency within Imperial County approved by the Social Security Administration to offer this service. This is a voluntary based program where the person elects to participate.
• CL6 Page 49
  It is recommended that there be a single uniform HIPAA release form that all relevant local agencies use within this county. Critical information must be shared when needed.
• CL7 Page 42
  The Area Agency on Aging, Planning and Service Area (PSA) directly provides contracts with third parties to provide services pursuant to Title 22 of the Older Americans Act and AB 2800 of the Older Californians Act. Program services target seniors 60 years and older and include meals, transportation, long term care ombudsman services, legal assistance, health clinics and elder abuse prevention training. The CGJ committee chose to focus on the three programs, The Conservator/Guardian, the Representative Payee Program and the Area Agency on Aging. Overview: On March 24, 2016 a committee of the Imperial County CGJ met with the Public Administrators Department. They provided an overview of the department programs and discussed their goals and progress meeting these goals. The department is currently serving as Conservator to 28 seniors; all but five of these seniors are in facilities located outside of Imperial County. They are in nursing homes in Riverside, San Diego and Yuma, AZ. There are two Deputy Case Managers assigned to visiting these individuals and making medical decisions. There is a third Deputy Case Manager position they hope to have filled later this year to help with the overall workload. The conservatees are seen once every quarter. Most visits are unannounced, unless the Deputy Case Manager needs to see a specific member of the facility’s staff. The visit includes a review of the nurses and doctor’s notes, including all medications prescribed. A face-to-face meeting takes place with the conservatee in their living quarters. All interviews take place with conservatees that are able to communicate. For clients with advanced dementia that are completely bedbound and unresponsive, the Deputy will check to see that client has not developed bedsores and/or treatment has been ordered if any exist. If bedsores are found, they are measured and photographed for comparison at future visits. Facility staff is interviewed and asked for feedback on any visitors, problems or needs noted. An assessment report is completed and put into client’s file, which also includes a picture of the client. The Staff assists approximately 300 individuals in the Representative Payee Program. Their goal is to visit these individuals once a year. Social Security also visits them annually.
• CL8 Page 49
  It is recommended that there be training for all relevant (custody/arrest/mental and medical health care) local agencies on just what HIPAA means and what may be released, including under exigent circumstances. If needed, request clarification and/or training from the federal agency that created and implements HIPAA, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
• CL9 Page 49
  It is recommended that if there is a lack of cooperation due to believed HIPAA rules, then the local agency needing important health information should pursue it further and even have subpoenas issued through the court if needed.
• CL10 Page 49
  It is recommended that persons with behavioral health info, and specifically within BH, attend court sessions when there are people with mental health issues there, particularly if there are questions as to the mental condition of such persons. The court may make orders concerning persons under BH care and direct that records be provided as deemed necessary.
• CL11 Page 49
  It is recommended that all of the named agencies and others in this county ensure they are doing all they can to see that the general public is safe from harm in general. Attention should also be paid to persons that may need to be placed or remain in custody, where the jail may not always be the best option. The jury acknowledges that there is not always a better option immediately available.
• CL12 Page 49
  It is recommended that county personnel contact staff at the CDCR diagnostics program and also contact staff at Patton State Hospital. Based on information provided by persons the jury spoke with during the interviews of this inquiry, these may be good models for learning.
• CL13 Page 49
  It is recommended that a larger and/or more secure place for persons with mental health issues that cannot otherwise be released from custody be found or created. As jail personnel correctly stated, jail is not in itself a cure-all, and it should not be.
• CL14 Page 49
  It is recommended that better arrangements should be made to send persons in custody with severe mental issues to places outside the county in the meantime until a larger and/or more secure place can be established locally.
• CL15 Page 35
  In Conclusion, IVC has been a vital part of the overall success and progress of the Imperial Valley Community – as the Valley has grown, so has IVC. The CGJ is impressed with the advances IVC has made. Allocated monies have been spent with a mindset to improve the community by providing students with opportunities to achieve goals such as Transfers, Degrees, and Certificates, as well as the acquisition of skills in specific vocational work areas. There has been a commitment to serve the community by improving the quality of education and providing students with resources to meet their individual goals. IVC growth and improvement has placed the campus on a par with campuses located in larger metropolitan cities. However, as is the case with most community colleges, excellent facilities and programs do not in and of themselves guarantee student success. The CGJ and IVC both recognize the need for support programs to assist student success in the process of setting and completion of college goals.

No Responses Found 3

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