Santa Cruz County Grand Jury
• 2024-2025
• Agency Response
County Behavioral Health Services – a State of Mind
⚠️ 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 and Recommendations 7 findings
F1
Page 12
The County budget website lacks HSA Financial data visible to the public to ensure transparency of programs and funding efficacy.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
Page 12
The County has limited staff to analyze the data for identifying trends which would allow focusing resources more effectively. Findings on Out-of-County Transfers and 95076 Zip Code
No recommendations for this finding
F3
Page 12
Zip code data can pinpoint areas of “High Need,” which can direct data-driven funding for better health outcomes and give a better “Return on Investment.”
No recommendations for this finding
F4
Page 12
The 95076 zip code has an extraordinarily high number of patient transfers to outside the county compared to other zip codes of Santa Cruz county. This indicates a major lack of healthcare facilities and services to serve the community.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
Page 12
A study of socioeconomic indicators of the 95076 zip code, compared to other zip codes of Santa Cruz county, reveal a dire need to improve the following: ● Homelessness ● Low Preschool Enrollment ● Poor Health Care Access ● Unemployment ● Support for Single Parent Households County Behavioral Health Services published June 11, 2024 Findings about Case Management
No recommendations for this finding
F6
Page 13
The ECM programs are currently at capacity and have waiting lists. More providers are needed to expand the program further to transition more residents to independent living.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
Page 13
Though there is evidence that managed care programs like ECM are effective, lack of data leaves doubt in the public’s mind. Data supporting the success rate of ECM programs would ensure stronger public support.
No recommendations for this finding
Conclusions 1
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CL1 Page 3Santa Cruz has more homeless people per capita than anywhere else in California. A majority of these homeless residents are in need of behavioral health services. Compounding the problem is that the County’s general budget is limited. Santa Cruz County is also an expensive place to live and therefore recruitment of health care providers is a challenge. Given these facts, Santa Cruz County is facing an uphill battle to provide adequate Behavioral Health Services both in terms of dollars and not having enough personnel. The Behavioral Health Services owes it to taxpayers to rigorously apply outcome-based metrics to determine which programs give the biggest bang for the buck. The Grand Jury’s preliminary analysis of regional service levels indicates South County residents have limited access to healthcare and lag other areas in socioeconomic indicators. Programs that improve socioeconomic indicators in South County will reduce behavioral healthcare and mental services costs in the long run.
Commendations 1
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CM1 Page 13C1. County Behavioral Health Services are to be commended for their dedicated service to the community. They provide compassionate care with limited resources, all while being understaffed. Given the Behavioral Health Services high job vacancy rate, existing resource providers continue to provide exemplary services. County Behavioral Health Services published June 11, 2024 Page 13 of 20