Subject:
Title
First Amendment to the contract with Suncoast Center, Inc. for the Behavioral Health High Utilizer Pilot Program.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the First Amendment to the contract with Suncoast Center, Inc. (Suncoast) for the Behavioral Health High Utilizer Pilot Program (Program).
Contract No. 156-0045-P(JA) in the amount of $964,442.00 for a term of twelve (12) months through May 8, 2018.
Body
Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.2 Be a facilitator, convener, and purchaser of services for those in need
2.3 Provide comprehensive services to connect our veterans and dependents to the benefits they have earned
2.4 Support programs that seek to prevent and remedy the causes of homelessness and move individuals and families from homelessness to permanent housing
Summary:
This Amendment exercises the first term extension for twelve (12) months for the Program. In addition, modified and added services are being incorporated based upon the results of the initial program year; the added services however are provided within the financial obligation of the original award. These include action items to take on system issues, encourage cost savings with external supportive services, and apply lessons learned with up to nine (9) additional individuals. The vendor’s services have been satisfactory; therefore it is recommended the first term extension be exercised.
The goal of the Program is to better serve individuals with serious behavioral health disorders who are identified as “high utilizers.” The Program seeks to greatly reduce the costly cycle of recidivism in jails, hospitals and public Baker Act facilities while identifying critical system gaps to improve future service delivery.
Background/Explanation:
The Program was initially approved by the Board of County Commissioners on May 10, 2016.
Initially, the target population for the Program was a pre-identified subset of thirty-three (33) individuals who were the most chronic users of the identified systems in 2014 and had not seen success with being stabilized by providers. Collectively, these individuals spent an estimated 891 days in the hospital, a total of 925 bed-days in the public Baker Act facility, and 3,851 days in jail. Seventy-three percent (73%) of these individuals are homeless. The estimated hospital, behavioral health, and jail costs for these individuals exceeded $2.4 million in 2014. This list was updated at the beginning of the pilot and as needed.
Suncoast has successfully coordinated the pilot model in the first year in cooperation with other community provider agencies. As of March 29, 2017, thirty-one (31) individuals have been engaged in services under the Program.
Services include counseling, ongoing engagement, trauma informed care, supportive housing, detox/substance abuse treatment, and a range of additional services designed to aid in stabilization. Partners meet on a regular basis to discuss system coordination and needs surrounding the Program.
The engagement seen in the first year has been highly successful with individuals agreeing to participate in the Program. Initial indications show a reduction in deeper end crisis care and jail involvement. The University of South Florida, who is a partner in the pilot, is expected to report on the baseline information for the pilot by the end of April.
Phase 2 is intended to build on the initial success of the Program to continue to address the stabilization needs of the top thirty three (33) and assist those ready to transition and step down from the pilot as to not interrupt the significant process they have made. The transitioning will be done concurrently while leveraging the lessons learned to take on system issues, encourage cost savings with external supportive services, and apply lessons learned with up to nine (9) additional individuals added to the Program.
Fiscal Impact:
Estimated 12-month personnel costs $ 474,005.00
Estimated 12- month incidental costs $ 355,823.00
Estimated 12-month operating costs $ 46,937.00
Estimated 12- month administrative costs $ 87,677.00
Estimated 12-month total costs $ 964,442.00
Funding is derived from the Human Services General Fund Budget.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to approve and execute this First Amendment is granted under Code Section 2-62(a)(2).
Staff Member Responsible:
Lourdes Benedict, Director, Human Services Department
Joe Lauro, Director, Purchasing Department
Partners:
Suncoast Center, Inc.
Boley Centers
Directions for Living
Sixth Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s Office
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Central Florida Behavioral Health
Westcare Gulfcoast-Florida, Inc.
Operation PAR
Baycare Health Systems
Personal Enrichment Mental Health Services
Vincent House
University of South Florida
Municipal Law Enforcement
Various Community Partners
Attachments:
First Amendment