Mendocino County Grand Jury
• 2008-2009
Another Look at the Health and Human Services Agency
⚠️ 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 45 findings
F1
Restructuring of the Agency required the development of an administrative management unit.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
The management unit for the Agency has been put in place through the creation of newly funded positions.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
A permanent Director of the Agency has been appointed.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
The Director goes before the BOS through the office of the County Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This is the only avenue of communication between the BOS and the Health and Human Services Agency.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
the Administrative Director maintain and further strengthen communication with line managers and other employees. (Findings 4, 7-9)
F5
Differences in hiring practices, salary scales and benefits that existed between Social Service employees hired under the State Merit System and County Civil Service employees have been resolved.
No recommendations for this finding
F6
The Agency structure allows for the transfer of funds and personnel from one division to another except for Welfare-to-Work/CalWORKs.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
The Agency has instituted a linear system of communication through most of the divisions.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
the Administrative Director maintain and further strengthen communication with line managers and other employees. (Findings 4, 7-9)
R2
the Agency Director discuss with line management any policy changes that affect division budgets before decisions are finalized. (Findings 7-8, 32)
F8
Line management testimony indicated the linear system reduced the ability to directly communicate their concerns and suggestions to the head of the Agency.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
the Administrative Director maintain and further strengthen communication with line managers and other employees. (Findings 4, 7-9)
R2
the Agency Director discuss with line management any policy changes that affect division budgets before decisions are finalized. (Findings 7-8, 32)
F9
The Director of the Agency has stated that there is an open door policy. An Agency newsletter for the public is available on-line. In addition, the director has an open telephone line one time per month for any HHSA employees to talk to the director. Weekly e-letters are sent to staff to answer questions asked either by phone or e-mail and inform them of Agency policies and procedure changes.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
the Administrative Director maintain and further strengthen communication with line managers and other employees. (Findings 4, 7-9)
F10
The Mental Health, Social Service and Public Health Departments have been reorganized into an Adult and Older Adult System of Care, a Children and Family System of Care, and Community Health. Mental Health
No recommendations for this finding
F11
Mental Health is designated by Mendocino County as an enterprise entity. As such, it is expected to generate its own income. This continues to create budgeting complications.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
the Board of Supervisors eliminate the enterprise designation for Mental Health. (Finding 11)
F12
The transferring of employees between Mental Health and Social Service began in 2007. Administrators reported the transfers went well, however, line workers reported the transfers created less productive units of service.
No recommendations for this finding
F13
The number of budgeted positions declined in Mental Health.
No recommendations for this finding
F14
Cross training of employees has provided flexibility of staffing.
No recommendations for this finding
F15
In the previous structure there was some duplication of services. Elimination of this duplication is in process.
No recommendations for this finding
F16
The mandate for the Mental Health Services Act funds received by Mendocino County is to provide for new and innovative Mental Health Services. These funds have been used in part for peer counseling and social rehabilitation services in Ukiah, Willits and Fort Bragg. The State has made the use of these funds more flexible. Some of these funds are now used for previously existing programs.
No recommendations for this finding
F17
Mendocino County has not been to able to provide for all mandated services due to budgetary constraints. The current federal, state and county budget crises have further exacerbated the problem.
No recommendations for this finding
F18
Due to lack of County Mental Health facilities for mental health hospitalization, residential care and transitional housing approximately 47% of County Mental Health funds are spent out of County.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
the Agency accelerate the development of county residential care facilities as well as transitional housing in order to reduce out of County placements. (Findings 18-20)
F19
Mental Health has contracted with Anka Behavioral Health, Inc. (Anka) for 10 beds in a licensed board and care facility in Redwood Valley and for social rehabilitation and group services. The County is paying $2,900 per month per bed ($29,000 per month). Part of this money is reimbursed to the County by residents’ payments from government benefits. The board and care facility is appropriate and adequate for housing the population served but does not include spaces suitable for counseling and rehabilitation services.
Related Recommendations (2)
R5
the Agency accelerate the development of county residential care facilities as well as transitional housing in order to reduce out of County placements. (Findings 18-20)
R6
the Agency Director review and revise the contract with Anka to reflect the services actually provided and the true costs and quality of these services. (Findings 19-20)
F20
Anka is not providing all the social rehabilitation and group services that are included in the contract with the County, instead they are sending residents to Ukiah to participate in Health and Human Services Act funded programs.
Related Recommendations (2)
R5
the Agency accelerate the development of county residential care facilities as well as transitional housing in order to reduce out of County placements. (Findings 18-20)
R6
the Agency Director review and revise the contract with Anka to reflect the services actually provided and the true costs and quality of these services. (Findings 19-20)
F21
Medi-CAL funding requires the provision of extensive documentation, logging of time and the preparation of reports to justify payment. This impacts the amount of time available for client care.
No recommendations for this finding
F22
A shortage of general funding and constraints on how available funding may be used have resulted in services being directed primarily to homeless persons and Medi-CAL recipients. Alcohol and Other Drug Programs
No recommendations for this finding
F23
The plan for integration of AODP into the Adult and Older Adult System of Care, Children and Family System of Care or Community Health was distributed on December 11, 2008.
No recommendations for this finding
F24
Adult Services include: • Drug Court • Pre-Trial release • Proposition 36 Programs • Peri-natal Program • Men’s Alternative to Violence • Childcare/Community Health • Federal Probation Children’s Services include: • grants with Ukiah Unified School District • Probation Alternatives with Counseling Education (PACE) • Clean & Sober Classrooms
No recommendations for this finding
F25
Staff members have expressed concerns about the continued funding of Youth Services under Community Health Services. The use of alcohol and other drugs is higher in Mendocino County Middle schools than the state-wide average.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
the Agency should continue to pursue grant support for alcohol and other drug programs for adolescents and children. (Findings 25-26)
F26
AODP is largely dependent on receipt of various grant funds. Under the Agency structure the grant writer’s contract with AODP is in place until the end of this fiscal year. The Agency plans to increase the scope of the contract to serve all divisions. Staff members have expressed concern that the merger may lessen the ability to acquire grants for adolescent programs.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
the Agency should continue to pursue grant support for alcohol and other drug programs for adolescents and children. (Findings 25-26)
F27
AODP staff members remain reluctant about being integrated into the Agency and being split into Systems of Care as defined by the Agency.
No recommendations for this finding
F28
AODP staff reported that they have philosophical differences and work under different legal requirements than those that apply to Mental Health staff. Animal Care and Control
No recommendations for this finding
F29
AC&C is mandated to provide the following services: • enforcement of state laws & county codes by Field Service Officers • shelter services, including outreach, adoption programs, volunteer service, feral cat-trap/neuter-release programs and licensing programs • clinic services, including the mobile unit, animal health education to local groups, vaccine clinic and spay & neuter options for the pets of low-income individuals
No recommendations for this finding
F30
AC&C was the first formerly independent department transferred to the Agency in 2005.
No recommendations for this finding
F31
AC&C is currently managed under the Agency’s Community Health division.
No recommendations for this finding
F32
The four positions of Animal Control Officers and the funds to support these positions were transferred to the Sheriff’s Office on February 8, 2009. This transfer was made by BOS from recommendations made by the Agency in cooperation of the Sheriff’s Office. The transfer was planned without prior discussion with AC&C line management concerning budget line items.
No recommendations for this finding
F33
One goal in 2008-09 for AC&C was to collaborate with all Tribal Governments in Mendocino County to continue providing field services on tribal land.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
the Sheriff’s Office continue the collaborative efforts for animal control on Tribal land. (Finding 33)
F34
AC&C is an enterprise entity and raises more than one-half of budgeted costs from fees adopted by the BOS. New fees were approved by the BOS on April 20, 2009. AC&C also receive grants, donations and funds from other inconsistent sources.
No recommendations for this finding
F35
The primary facility is in Ukiah and there is a satellite shelter in Fort Bragg. An estimated 17% of the county’s domestic animal population is served by the coast shelter; the rest of the animals are served through the Ukiah facility.
No recommendations for this finding
F36
Both shelters are clean, sanitary and well maintained. The final section of the access road to the Fort Bragg shelter is rutted and unpaved. The Fort Bragg shelter provides limited medical care for animals.
No recommendations for this finding
F37
The AC&C provides spay and neuter services in Ukiah and through a mobile unit at approximately one-half the cost of private veterinarians. AC&C fees as mandated by state law must not exceed costs of the actual service provided. Animals are also being transferred to private and public animal rescue and care agencies in the counties of Mendocino, Lake, Marin and San Francisco.
No recommendations for this finding
F38
The AC&C has developed a special training and socializing program for ‘bull breed’ dogs to be successfully placed in homes.
No recommendations for this finding
F39
Grief counseling is arranged for staff who euthanize animals at the Ukiah Shelter and for pet owners whose animals are “put down.”
No recommendations for this finding
F40
Unsupervised dogs (unleashed, uncontrolled or abandoned) continue to be a major problem throughout Mendocino County. Welfare-to-Work/CalWORKs
No recommendations for this finding
F41
Welfare-to-Work/CalWORKs, a federally funded program, provides cash assistance to families with dependent children and serves all 58 counties. It is operated locally by the Agency.
No recommendations for this finding
F42
In Mendocino County this program is not fully integrated into the Agency but is staffed by county employees.
No recommendations for this finding
F43
This program entitles families to multiple services and is federally limited to a total of five years (60 months). All services are targeted to improve the parents’ ability to leave the welfare system. If parents are unwilling or continue to be unable to work after the five-year period, they will be sanctioned by losing funding, except to support their children.
No recommendations for this finding
F44
The program includes an advocate that assists disabled parents unable to work to apply for and receive Supplemental Social Security Insurance (SSI).
No recommendations for this finding
F45
Resource centers that provide multiple services are located in Ukiah, Fort Bragg, Willits and Covelo.
No recommendations for this finding
No Responses Found 2
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Mendocino County Board of Supervisors
Elected County Office
Mendocino County Sheriff
Elected County Office