Amador County Grand Jury • 2022-2023 • Agency Response

Board of Supervisors Response

Published: August 22, 2023 31 pages
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Findings and Recommendations 13 findings

F1 Page 1
The Veteran Services page of the Amador County website has little information. Response: The respondent agrees with the finding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
Page 2
The Grand Jury recommends the County website be updated with the most commonly used links to Veteran Services. These links would enable veterans to reach services while they wait for local staff assistance. These should include Benefit Fact Sheets- Agent Orange.pdf, Burial and Plot Interment Allowance.pdf, Burial Benefits.pdf, Calvet Fee Waiver.pdf, Calvet Home Loan.pdf and CHAMPVA Benefits.pdf, Commissary Card.pdf, DMV Registration Exempt DV Plate.pdf, Employment.pdf, Fishing and Hunting License.pdf, Honor Guard.pdf, Incarcerated Veterans.pdf, TRICARE.pdf, VA Compensation Claim.pdf, VA Debt Management.pdf, VA Dependent no Indemnity Compensation.pdf, VV Loan.pdf and VSD001.pdf. Links and information should also be provided for Clinics, Medical Facilities, Veterans Associations and CalVet services. Response: The recommendation has not been implemented but will be partially implemented in the future. The County does not have a website manager, but each department is responsible for controlling the information on its website. The VSO will assemble the information that he considers appropriate here and will work with other staff to get that information on the website. A schedule for completion is unknown.
F2 Page 1
The services that Terry Sanders provides to Veterans is invaluable, but not widely known among local veterans with whom we spoke. Response: The respondent agrees with the finding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Page 2
The Grand Jury recommends that the County consider marketing Amador County Veteran Services with regular local and social media advertising. A sample proposed advertisement follows (See Appendix H). Response: The recommendation has been implemented. The VSO will be allocated an additional $1,000 annually to spend marketing his services as he so desires.
F3 Page 1
Amador County receives funding from the California Department of Veteran Affairs for every claim that is filed and receives additional funding if the claim is accepted (See Appendix G). . Response: The respondent agrees with the finding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Page 2
The Grand Jury recommends that a portion of the funds received from the California Department of Veteran Affairs be used to market Amador County staff services. Better marketing should result in more Veterans seeking and receiving benefits, and it should result in receipt of more funds from the California Department of Veteran Services to Amador County (See Appendix F and G). Response: The recommendation has been implemented. See the response to Recommendation #2. The county does not receive more funds from the Federal Government than it spends, so the County’s General Fund must pick up the difference, which it does. Moving money from one pot to another accomplishes nothing unless it is accompanied by a spending cut, and the impact to the General Fund remains the same. The increase to the VSO Budget that is identified here will be borne by the General Fund alone. Amador County Board of Supervisors > County Administration Center > 810 Court Street Jackson, California > 95642 Telephone (209) 223-6470 ~2 FAX (209) 257-0619
F4 Page 2
The Volcano Telephone and Amador County phone directories both have a disconnected phone number listed for Veteran Services. Response: The respondent agrees with the finding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Page 3
The Grand Jury recommends that County staff coordinate with telephone directories to update the phone numbers for Veteran Services. Both the Volcano Telephone and the Amador County telephone directories have old, disconnected phone numbers listed, and both were published April 2023. Response: The recommendation has been implemented. It is unfortunate, but the Veterans Services Officer had to relocate from the Veterans Hall in Martell due to decisions made by the landlord, not a result of actions by the County or the VSO. As a result of the move to the HHS building, the phone number changed. All various phone services are aware of the change, and if you call 411 today, you will get the correct number. AMADOR COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
F5 Page 4
The Grand Jury understands that the Mental Health crisis and lack of Mental Health patient beds are national problems but believes there is room for improvement in our community to make the stay in the Emergency Room shorter, less frequent, and less traumatizing to 5150 patients. Response: Amador County agrees with the finding
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
Page 6
The Grand Jury recommends Mental Health staff target specific groups of beneficiaries for improved 7-day and 30-day post-hospitalization follow-up to determine whether this improves patient well-being and decreases rate of readmission to psychiatric facilities. The most recent data shows that the Amador County 7-day follow-up rate is 49.09% and the 30-day follow-up rate is 67.27%. It should be noted that the follow-up rates were better in the prior year with 7-day at 66% and 30-day at 76% Response: The recommendation has already been implemented Summary regarding implementation action: Amador County Behavioral Health has been tracking and continues to track post hospitalization follow up within 7 and 30 days. One of the functions of the mobile support team is to follow up with all beneficiaries that are seen in the Emergency Department for a behavioral health crisis by our crisis team. The goal is to follow up same day or next day. The mobile support team also follows up with beneficiaries when they are released from an inpatient hospital stay. The goal is also same day or next day upon release. Unfortunately, there may be gaps in time for follow up due to the facilities not informing Amador County Behavioral Health when the beneficiary has been released. In an effort to ensure timely follow up, the mobile support team begins attempting phone follow up with a beneficiary after the third day from when they were placed, in case the facility did not inform the department of their release. Amador County Behavioral Health has also implemented a Peer Meet Up Group that all beneficiaries who have been seen in the Emergency Department or released from an inpatient facility are invited to attend to provide additional peer supportive services to assist in reducing hospitalization and re- hospitalization. This Peer Support Group was part of a Performance Improvement Project (PIP) that is reviewed by the External Quality Review Organization (EQRO). Amador County Board of Supervisors > County Administration Center > 810 Court Street >Jackson, California > 95642 Telephone (209) 223-6470 ~2 FAX (209) 257-0619 AMADOR COUNTY JAIL
F6 Page 7
In 2007, three years after it was estimated the Jail would need more cells, AB 900 was introduced. This was Amador County’s first attempt to secure funding for an expansion project. Response: The respondent agrees with the finding.
No recommendations for this finding
F7 Page 7
Due to CEQA lawsuits, there was an eight-year delay of the expansion project from SB 863. The County has since saved the funds necessary to make up the $7-8 million dollar difference in funding that resulted from the delays. Amador County Board of Supervisors > County Administration Center > 810 Court Street >Jackson, California > 95642 Telephone (209) 223-6470 +2 FAX (209) 257-0619 Response: The respondent agrees with the finding, although it should also be pointed out that the County had adequate funding to proceed with construction and operation in 2016, had the project not been delayed needlessly by CEQA challenges and a subsequent failure to approve the project documents in a timely fashion by the numerous State agencies.
No recommendations for this finding
F8 Page 8
The Grand Jury has been making suggestions to expand the Jail for over 20 years. In recent years, the Grand Jury recommended the County consider planning for a new Jail facility when the expansion meets capacity. These recommendations were met with discouraging responses about the future from the Sheriff's Office, with its focus being on the current expansion. Response: The respondent agrees with the finding.
No recommendations for this finding
F9 Page 8
The Jail has already had days when capacity exceeded 116 (which is the capacity with the expansion) even with some inmates released early, while others who committed low-level crimes were not booked at all. Response: The respondent agrees with the finding.
No recommendations for this finding
F10 Page 8
After the current Jail expansion plan from SB 863, there will be no more room for future expansion on this location. Response: The respondent agrees with the finding.
No recommendations for this finding
F11 Page 8
Staff refused to say anything bad about their jobs, even when prompted. We observed during the tour that staff seem to like their jobs but are approaching burn out due to understaffing and expanded job duties such as janitorial tasks. It was noted in several prior Grand Jury reports that staff had a morale boost during the time of the AB 900 talk and the SB 863 expansion. However, as time passed with no expansion construction, staff vacancies have increased. Response: The respondent agrees with the finding.
No recommendations for this finding
F12 Page 8
The roof is over 20 years old and in need of replacement. There is a plan to get the roof fixed before the expansion project begins. Response: The respondent agrees with the finding.
No recommendations for this finding
F13 Page 8
The staff have been very knowledgeable and accommodating during the tour and with all of our follow-up questions. Amador County Board of Supervisors > County Administration Center > 810 Court Street >Jackson, California > 95642 Telephone (209) 223-6470 FAX (209) 257-0619 Response: The respondent agrees with the finding.
No recommendations for this finding