Mendocino County Jail

R3

Response (Mental Health): This recommendation will not be implemented because the law (W&I Code 5530 & 5550) is clear that the PRA has unlimited and unrestricted access to clients and Mental Health facilities. No MOU is required because the law supercedes any possible MOU. There was only one unit that needed keyed access, the Psychiatric Health Facility. This unit is now closed. The PRA determines all her own contacts with clients, and has full access to records as allowed by law. Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board agrees with the response prepared by the Mental health Department and will not recommend implementation of this recommendation. Patients Rights Advocate access issues are covered in State law. C. To eliminate any client discomfort about visiting the PRA, the PRA relocate to a site other than the Mental Health buildings. (Finding 4) Response (Mental Health): This recommendation requires further study and has been referred to the Mental Health Board for their comments. The Department will include their comments in the review of Departmental space needs which is currently underway with the architectural firm of Ross-Drulis Associates. Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board supports the response of the Mental Health Department and would like the input of the Mental health Advisory Board regarding location of the PRA office. The current location is right in the lobby and is easily accessible at this time. D. Mental Health develop a procedure to inform all parents, staff, school counselors, that there is a PRA for children. (Finding 6) Response (Mental Health): The Department agrees to implement this to the degree practicable. Children’s Services staff will meet with the Patients’ Rights Advocate no later than October 31 to receive information of PRA services. They will be given supplies of brochures and posters to distribute to school sites and to each family they work with. Mailings of these materials will be made to each school in the County, no later than January 1, 2002. School sites are not under 2000-2001 Mendocino County Grand Jury Final Report 33 the jurisdiction of the Mental Health Department, and each school site principal will individually determine appropriate distribution of this information. Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board agrees with this recommendation and supports the response and timeline presented by the Mental health Department. E. Mental Health design a better system to inform verbally of the PRA services, location, and phone number. Pamphlets and posters alone are not adequate. (Finding 6) Response (Mental Health): This recommendation is in the process of being implemented. The Mental Health Director will remind staff that they should speak to consumers about the availability of PRA services at the Department All-Staff meeting August 10, 2001. In addition, the Department has produced an audiotape outlining all services provided by the Department, including the availability of the Patients’ Rights Advocate. The tape is currently being translated into Spanish, and will be mass-produced with English on one side and Spanish on the reverse. These will be distributed to all clinic sites and to all providers on contract to the Department by January 1, 2002. Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board supports this recommendation and the implementation timeline as presented by the Mental Health Department. Response required Mendocino County Board of Supervisors Response requested Mendocino County Mental Health Services Director Mendocino County Patients Rights Advocate 2000-2001 Mendocino County Grand Jury Final Report 34 Juvenile Hall Update The Mendocino County Juvenile Hall (Hall) has implemented several recommendations from Grand Jury Final Reports for the two previous years; however, the Hall still needs additional mental health staff support, action on various maintenance deficiencies, completion of the recreation yard, and more planning and programs to prevent recidivism. Method of Investigation The Grand Jury inspected the Hall in October 2000. In April 2001, the Grand Jury visited again and spoke with incarcerated youth during lunch. The Grand Jury interviewed the Hall Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent and reviewed written information given to parents of incarcerated youth, the Hall’s daily schedule, and the public Juvenile Justice Delinquency and Prevention Commission (Commission) annual Facility Inspection Report (Facility Inspection Report).