Humboldt County Sheriff's Offic,e 0*

R1

The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends Humboldt County Sheriff's Department use outside, for-profit contractors to fill vacant staff positions for mental health services only when exhaustive efforts of recruitment have failed. Such contracts should be well- scrutinized to assure quality, cost-effectiveness, adequate oversight, and accountability, effective October 1, 2020. Response Even though our Correctional Facility Mental Health has been understaffed for years, the personnel that are currently assigned have done an outstanding job with meeting the needs of the facility. I do recognize that this pace cannot last forever, and things need to be changed. The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office Correctional Facility is currently under contract with the Wellpath corporation to provide medical care. This medical contract expires on September of 2021. County Mental Health has been attempting to fill Mental Health positions in both the correctional facility and in the county clinics. We have been unable to recruit and retain quality personnel for these key positions. I agree that the County needs to address this concern as soon as possible. I am recommending that when the medical contract for the Correctional Facility expires, the County advertise a competitive bidding process for both Medical and MH Services for the Humboldt County Correctional Facility. A private company can ensure that both medical and the mental health needs of our inmates are addressed, and that continuity of care exists within the facility. I am recommending that the RFP clearly requires the awarded company to ensure that the quality of MH care as well as the requirement for sufficient staffing is prioritized at all times. Recommendations