Subject:
Title
Funding Agreement with Directions for Mental Health, Inc. d.b.a. Directions for Living under the Grant Award for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Cooperative Agreement to Benefit Homeless Individuals.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the Funding Agreement with Directions for Living (Directions) to enhance mental health and substance use treatment services through the Cooperative Agreement to Benefit Homeless Individuals (CABHI) Grant Award from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Body
Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety and Welfare
2.1 Provide planning, coordination, prevention, and protective services to ensure a safe and secure community.
2.2 Be a facilitator, convener and purchaser of services for those in need.
2.4 Support programs that seek to prevent and remedy the causes of homelessness and move individuals and families from homelessness to permanent housing.
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.1 Maximize partner relationships and public outreach.
5.2 Be responsible stewards of the public’s resources.
Summary:
This Agreement provides funding to Directions for client services such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), an evidence-based practice to improve depression, anxiety, behavior problems, sexualized behaviors, interpersonal trust and social competence issues among individuals, youth and families that have experienced multiple traumas.TF-CBT is aimed at increasing awareness and understanding of the impact of trauma on an individual’s mental health.
Additionally, a full-time SSI/SSDI Outreach and Recovery (SOAR) Specialist will provide case management and direct assistance to homeless individuals to acquire income, health insurance and other benefits to stabilize their lives, health and living situations, including providing assistance in applying for Social Security Administration disability programs.
This Agreement is effective retroactive to October 1, 2016, and expires on September 29, 2019.
Background/Explanation:
In August 2016, the County was awarded a Cooperative Agreement Grant from SAMHSA to provide critical health care needs to the County’s homeless population. Funding from this grant is expected to provide evidence-based mental health and substance abuse treatment services for individuals who experience homelessness and have serious mental illness, substance use disorder, serious emotional disturbance, and/or co-occurring disorder.
The award of the CABHI grant at $800,000.00 per year for three (3) years, establishes a new initiative designed to reduce service gaps for homeless residents. The program has a strong housing link with partnering agencies and provides for a cross-discipline approach to connect supportive services. With expanded focus on rapid rehousing, the link to supportive behavioral health services is critical for stability. Directions for Living is one of the program partners and will deliver mental health and SOAR services to referred clients.
Directions has operated as a Community Mental Health Center since its inception in 1982. They currently maintain 14 programs in three distinct locations throughout Pinellas County. Directions is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). The agency is licensed to offer substance abuse treatment services and has offered a range of interventions to the homeless in Pinellas County since 1987.
The Homeless Services department now provides outreach, treatment and case management to approximately 445 homeless individuals annually. In addition, in 2015 Directions served 8,400 adults and 4,350 children with mental illness or co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse disorder. At intake, 38% of clients reported experiencing homelessness at least three times in their lifetime, with 21% reporting having been homeless in the past 12 months. Likewise, 28% of the individuals served by the homeless outreach teams reported a mental health disability as the number one reason for their chronic housing instability.
Fiscal Impact:
Directions will receive an amount not to exceed $247,733.00 per contract year for up to three years, for a total award not to exceed $743,199.00. Funding for this contract will be allocated from the federal grant award received from SAMHSA, which is $800,000.00 per year for three years for a total award of $2,400,000.00. No cost sharing/match is required. The Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) Budget for the Human Services Department includes the additional $800,000 in grant revenue and expense, with a net $0 impact on the General Fund.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign these Amendments is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(2).
Staff Member Responsible:
Lourdes Benedict, Director, Human Services
Partners:
Boley Centers, Inc.
Catholic Charities/Pinellas Hope
Directions for Living
Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County
Homeless Empowerment Program
Mobile Medical Unit Advisory Council
Operation PAR
Pinellas County Housing Authority
Ready for Life
WestCare Gulf Coast Florida, Inc.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Attachments:
Funding Agreement
Program Governance
Program Outcomes Report
Data Sharing Agreement
Agreement Modification
HIPAA Business Associate Agreement
Insurance Requirements
Appendix A Grant Application
Appendix B Project Budget
Appendix C Notice of Award
Appendix D Grant Funding Conditions
Appendix E Certifications