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Extracted from Consolidated Report

This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.

Santa Cruz County Grand Jury • 2015-2016

DVC Main Jail

Published: June 30, 2016 48 pages
View PDF View Full Original

Findings and Recommendations 8 findings

F1 Page 25
The public has not received a clear, understandable accounting of the County of Santa Cruz’s total annual retirement costs and obligations in a single summary document.
No recommendations for this finding
F2 Page 33
The Mental Health Advisory Board is not meeting the requirements of the Mental Health Services Act or achieving its own goals to advocate for persons with mental illness and to increase community awareness on issues related to mental health.
No recommendations for this finding
F3 Page 33
The Board of Supervisors is providing little or no direction, no specific goals and objectives, and no comprehensive training on how to be an effective advisory board.
No recommendations for this finding
F4 Page 29
The apparent lapses of direct communication between the Advisory Board, HSA[Health Services Agency], and the Board of Supervisors impedes the Advisory Board’s goals of effective advocacy for clients and advising HSA concerning Prop 63 funded mental health programs.
Related Recommendations (3)
R3
Page 34
The chair of the Mental Health Advisory Board should immediately notify the Board of Supervisors and the Clerk of the Board of vacancies. (F4)
R4
Page 29
HSA should regularly attend the Mental Health Advisory Board meetings and should respond directly to the concerns raised. (F4)
R5
Page 29
The Mental Health Advisory Board should quickly and clearly Published April 19, 2016 30 Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury communicate to HSA all issues that come before the Board. (F4)
F5 Page 33
The Mental Health Advisory Board takes no responsibility for investigation or possible action on issues raised at their meetings, and there is no general process available for the public to raise concerns.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
Page 34
Monthly meetings of the Mental Health Advisory Board should be conducted according to County Code Chapter 2.104. In addition, they should be scheduled well in advance with times and locations made available to the public, conducted according to parliamentary procedure, physically arranged to invite public participation, and recorded in complete and accurate minutes that include discussion, decisions, actions, and public comments. (F5, F7, F8)
F6 Page 29
Five vacancies on the 11- member Advisory Board left it ineffective for months during our investigation. 2013–2014 Recommendations
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
Page 30
The Board of Supervisors should fill all Advisory Board vacancies in a timely manner. (F6) The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors (BOS) and the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency (HSA) responded to that Grand Jury report, but the Mental Health Advisory Board (MHAB) did not. The California Welfare and Institutions Code § 5604.2[3] and Santa Cruz County Code Title 2, Chapter 2.104[4] provide for the establishment of a local mental health board as the advisory body to the local Mental Health Director and BOS for county mental health programs and policies. The following is a description of the MHAB on the County of Santa Cruz HSA website:[5] SCCMHB [Santa Cruz County Mental Health Advisory Board] provides advice to the governing body (Board of Supervisors) and the local mental health director. They provide oversight and monitoring of the local mental health system as well as advocate for persons with mental illness. A primary responsibility of the Local Mental Health Board (LMHB) is to review and evaluate the community’s mental health needs, services, facilities, and special problems. Printed on each MHAB Meeting Agenda[6] is a mission statement and list of goals: Mission Statement: To obtain the highest quality and most effective mental health services for the county. SCCMHB Goals: 1) Advise the Mental Health Department on Current and ongoing Issues as they relate to the Quality and Effectiveness Of Mental Health Services for the County 2) Develop skills and procedures to maximize the effectiveness of the SCCMHB 3) Increase community awareness on issues related to mental health to Ensure Inclusion and Dissemination of Accurate Information Scope The 2015–2016 Grand Jury inquired into whether the prior jury recommendations concerning the MHAB were implemented, and examined the board’s current functioning and effectiveness. Investigation We began our investigation by reviewing related documents and published literature, including text of the original Proposition 63 passed in 2004,[7] and subsequent amendments to the law now known as the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA).[8] The MHSA requires that mental health consumers and community members participate Santa Cruz County Mental Health Advisory Board Revisited 2015-2016 Final Report 31 in the local advisory board. In Santa Cruz County the BOS appoints eleven members, one of whom is a County Supervisor. The other ten members are to include current or former clients of mental health services, their relatives, and others with relevant knowledge and experience. Jurors observed four of the monthly public MHAB meetings held between August and December, 2015. During this period at least three of the ten appointed positions were vacant, which combined with member absences prevented a quorum. According to MHAB attendance records, the Supervisor did not attend four of the eleven meetings in 2015, and sent an assistant as a representative. Two of the eleven meetings had no attendance record in the 2014–2015 MHAB biennial report; see
F7 Page 33
The Mental Health Advisory Board receives a great deal of information from local mental health agencies and professionals on available programs and services, but there is no mechanism to circulate and share the information with the community and to keep local mental health professionals up to date.
Related Recommendations (2)
R6
Page 34
Monthly meetings of the Mental Health Advisory Board should be conducted according to County Code Chapter 2.104. In addition, they should be scheduled well in advance with times and locations made available to the public, conducted according to parliamentary procedure, physically arranged to invite public participation, and recorded in complete and accurate minutes that include discussion, decisions, actions, and public comments. (F5, F7, F8)
R8
Page 34
The Mental Health Advisory Board should increase efforts to raise community awareness of mental health issues through public announcements, publications, speaking engagements, and other forms of community outreach. (F7)
F8 Page 33
The Grand Jury’s involvement has resulted in an increased recognition that an effective Mental Health Advisory Board is important to the community and that more positive steps are needed for continuing improvement.
Related Recommendations (2)
R6
Page 34
Monthly meetings of the Mental Health Advisory Board should be conducted according to County Code Chapter 2.104. In addition, they should be scheduled well in advance with times and locations made available to the public, conducted according to parliamentary procedure, physically arranged to invite public participation, and recorded in complete and accurate minutes that include discussion, decisions, actions, and public comments. (F5, F7, F8)
R9
Page 51
The District should assume all responsibility for funding and managing teacher supply accounts and/or define a clear donation policy for contributions to teacher accounts. (F8) Published April 26, 2016 52 Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury

Additional Recommendations 2

These recommendations are not explicitly linked to specific findings.

Commendations 17

Observations 1