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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.
Mendocino County Grand Jury
• 1998-1999
Mendocino County Mental Health Board 1997–1998
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 3 findings
F1
Page 60
The stated goals of the MH Board are: • To promote quality care and attention for people with emotional problems. • To obtain community input regarding mental health needs. • To shape, in collaboration with County MH Department staff, the long term values and goals for the mental health care in the County. • To monitor changes in County, State and Federal law, regulations and funding that can affect mental health care in the County. • To educate the community about emotional problems and mental health services. There is a specific educational goal regarding the reduction of the stigma associated with mental health problems and care. The Grand Jury failed to find any evidence that any of the MH Board goals were realized or that any effort was made to achieve its stated goals.
F2
Page 61
Between January 1997 and July 1998, MH Board members did not regularly attend meetings. • Only four meetings had a quorum (nine members). • Overall average MH Board attendance was 34%. • Only three of 15 MH Board members were present at the January 1998 meeting. January is the month for the election of officers.
F3
Page 61
Under new leadership between September 1998 and December 1998, members of the MH Board regularly attended board meetings. Meetings were conducted in a business-like manner and conformed to the published agenda. • All MH Board meetings had a quorum. • Overall average MH Board attendance was 77%. Board Autonomy The MH Board has a history of being manipulated and intimidated by the MH Department. There were attempts to manipulate and mislead the Grand Jury’s oversight investigation. The MH Department provided fabricated documents to the Grand Jury and failed to fully disclose essential information relating to this investigation.
Recommendations 8
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R1Page 60The BOS should provide a modest annual budget for the MH Board. A budget at a minimum level of independence will provide many of the resources needed in order for the MH Board to function: outside transcription services to insure the timeliness and accuracy of MH Board meeting minutes, post office box for the exclusive use of the MH Board, letterhead stationary, and postal expenses.
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R2Page 60The MH Department has access to numerous Departmental as well as County resources and has an ethical responsibility to share these resources. The BOS should insist that the MH Department provide an office for the exclusive use of the MH Board. This office should be secure and furnished as is customary for the MH Department. It should be equipped, at a minimum, with a telephone and computer with e-mail and internet capability.
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R3Page 61The MH Board should take a proactive stance towards the review and evaluation of the community’s mental health needs, services, facilities, and special problems. A focused approach in conducting public outreach events utilizing resources of the media, schools, and community-based organizations will allow leveraging of limited MH Board resources. Outreach events are mandatory if the MH Board’s stated goals and philosophies are to be realized. Committee Responsibilities and Functioning The MH Board cannot be effective if it endeavors to handle everything by the MH Board as a whole. Therefore, the accomplishments of the MH Board depend, for the most part, upon the work of its committees. MH Board bylaws provide for the establishment and functioning of committees, established to reflect program elements within the MH Department: Administrative Support, Acute Services, Adult Services, and Children’s Services. In addition there is a Legislative Committee which is not actively involved with the MH Department. Each committee plays a vital and necessary role in ensuring citizen participation and oversight in the delivery of mental health services to insure that community needs are being met. Each committee is charged with meeting on a regular basis and providing written progress reports annually to the MH Board Chair. In addition, each committee is charged with presenting interim progress reports at each MH Board meeting.
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R4Page 63The MH Board in collaboration with the MH Department must establish formal policies and procedures to ensure the annual evaluation of MH Department programs as mandated by MH Board bylaws.
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R5Page 63Outreach activities are essential if the mandate requiring community input is to be achieved. These must be part of a much broader program to facilitate mutually beneficial communications, information and education.
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R6Page 63The MH Board must implement training programs to ensure that MH Board members are aware of their individual responsibilities as well as of MH Board responsibilities to the community.
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R7Page 63The BOS must establish safeguards to assure that MH Board oversight of the MH Department is free from manipulation and interference in any form.
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R8Page 63The BOS must provide a sufficient annual budget in addition to directing the MH Department to provide secure administrative facilities to the MH Board. Response Required Board of Supervisors