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Extraído del Informe Consolidado
Esta investigación fue publicada originalmente como parte de un informe consolidado más amplio que contiene múltiples investigaciones. Consulte el PDF consolidado para ver el documento completo.
⚠️ Aviso de traducción: Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 10 findings
F1
Page 18
The investigators finds that Mental Health Branch employees are to be commended for their efforts in dealing with the mental health needs of this county, displayed in their passion for the work. Employees are underpaid, assigned rapidly-growing caseloads, struggle with a lack of cohesive communication between other departments and local mental health stakeholders, and are frustrated by a lack of support by their own and other Del Norte County administrators. They come to work every day hoping to make a positive impact on the mental health issues affecting the people of Del Norte County.
F2
Page 18
The investigators find that Judge William Follett is to be commended for his innovative endeavor in creating Integrated Treatment Court, bringing together mental health stakeholders, the courts and law enforcement in an unfunded, collaborative relationship that seems to be working.
F3
Page 18
Management at DHHS believes that the mental health issues of Del Norte County are being addressed successfully; however, that does not appear to be the case considering the high suicide rate for the county, and the increased number of homeless living on its streets. 18
F4
Page 19
Top-level management appears out-of-touch to Mental Health stakeholders and staff with regards to support, recognition, concerns, issues, or suggestions for program improvements.
F5
Page 19
Many people with mental health issues have ended up in the criminal justice system, because their conditions progressed to a more severe state due to lack of treatment. Some of them are in the Del Norte County jail because there is simply no other place to safely house them.
F6
Page 19
Many people with mental health issues are living homeless, are transported out of the county and away from their families and support network, or are in jail because Del Norte County lacks suitable facilities for its mentally ill.
F7
Page 19
Those in mental health crisis are at high risk of hurting themselves or others due to the time it takes to get services while in, or immediately following, crisis stabilization. A lack of sufficient staff has caused Mental Health to risk the lives of those people, and conceivably, the safety of others in the community, due to overwhelming caseloads, delay in assessing and treating clients, and failure to track those who do not show up for appointments.
F8
Page 19
Remi Vista, Inc.is jeopardizing the mental health stability and recovery time of its child clients by failing to meet its legal obligation to provide mental health services within 30 days, as required by California state law, without consequence.
F9
Page 19
There is very little productive collaboration among Mental Health stakeholders, including local medical providers, local law enforcement, tribal social service agencies, local schools, private non- profits and the community at large to maximize the limited resources available in Del Norte County for the mentally ill.
F10
Page 19
Underrepresented populations in Del Norte County cannot utilize Mental Health services due to a lack of outreach, its poor location and its centralized services.
Recommendations 9
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R1Page 19For F3, F5, F6, F7, and F10, it is recommended that Del Norte County Board of Supervisors and the people of Del Norte County recognize that mental health-related issues is among one of its most serious problems. Although mental health issues cannot be solved overnight, Del Norte County has an opportunity to make a significant impact locally, but it will require financial commitment of current general fund monies, as well as additional funding sources, including a tax levy similar to that approved for library funding or to support the fairgrounds.
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R2Page 19For F3, F4, F5, F6, F9, and F10, it is recommended that a group of mental health stakeholders consisting of representatives of Mental Health, law enforcement, courts, Probation, Del Norte County healthcare providers, Tribal health services, community non-profit and faith-based organizations, and current and former clients meet regularly to address the mental health needs of Del Norte County in a receptive and proactive collaborative effort.
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R3Page 19For F3, F4 and F9, top-level management at the Department of Health and Human Services should show more of a presence in the community to better understand the needs of those with 19 mental health issues. It is also strongly recommended that top-level management create a communication system that generates, encourages, receives and grows input from mental health stakeholders regarding those issues in Del Norte County related to mental health.
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R4Page 20For F5 and F6, it is recommended that Del Norte County agencies actively seek alternatives to criminalization and incarceration of those with mental health issues, including feasibility studies for law enforcement-social workers ride-along programs, and for suicide prevention specialists who can work alongside 911 dispatchers.
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R5Page 20For F3, F7, and F9, Del Norte County Department of Health and Human Services should begin recruitment of Mental Health therapists, both local and nationwide, focusing on incentives for retention, including paid tuition, tuition forgiveness, and pay competitive with other Del Norte County employers.
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R6Page 20For F6, Mental Health should conduct a feasibility study to determine whether a Crisis Stabilization Unit at Sutter Coast Hospital would be cost effective, taking into consideration the benefits associated with a patient’s ability to access his or her support network.
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R7Page 20For F7, Mental Health should immediately begin client tracking to follow up on clients who miss appointments, including calls to designated families or friends, to determine the reason for the missed appointments.
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R8Page 20For F8, Department of Health and Human Services should issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) prior to the next fiscal year, seeking bids for mental health services for children. Other organizations may be able to offer the same or better services, demonstrated through the bidding process, at a savings to Del Norte County taxpayers. The Department should re-seek bids every three years to keep services competitive. Beginning with the next fiscal year, financial assessments should be included in any contract for services for the failure of the contractor to comply with its statutory requirements to provide services to children. Public input should also be encouraged as part of an open and transparent evaluation process.
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R9Page 20For F3, F9 and F10, Mental Health should become more of a public presence in the community, with increased active outreach to encourage greater participation in services by the community. Mental Health should also decentralize its operations, establishing easily- accessible services in facilities in the outlying areas of Del Norte County, including Smith River, Klamath and Gasquet.