Subject:
Title
Agreement with BayCare Behavioral Health, Inc. for mental health services to clients of the Healthcare for the Homeless Program.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approve the Agreement with BayCare Behavioral Health, Inc. (BayCare) for behavioral health assessment and brief intervention services to homeless clients served by the County’s Healthcare for the Homeless (HCH) Program at Bayside Health Clinic and other community sites.
Body
Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
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 relationship and public outreach
5.2 Be responsible stewards of the public’s resources
Summary:
This Agreement will allow BayCare to continue to provide critical crisis intervention and prevention services to help stabilize vulnerable Healthcare for Homeless clients in the Community. Currently, a licensed mental health counselor at Bayside Health Clinic and two master’s level behavioral health staff co-locate at community sites served by the County’s Healthcare for the Homeless Program. BayCare staff will provide immediate assessments and brief interventions which may include multiple visits to resolve short-term concerns to clients identified through behavioral health screening conducted by primary care staff. BayCare will refer clients requiring longer-term treatment as appropriate.
This agreement is in effect from October 1, 2017 until March 31, 2018. It allows for current services to continue while Human Services explores sustainability of the program.
Background/Explanation:
Immediate access to behavioral health support has the potential to reduce non-urgent emergency room visits and hospitalizations caused by untreated mental illness or substance abuse. The agreement with BayCare provides on-site behavioral health services that are fully integrated with the primary care health services offered by the HCH Program. BayCare will provide staff on-site at the Bayside Health Clinic and co-located in community locations.
The previous Agreement with BayCare Behavioral Health commenced on July 2016 and ended on June 2017 when the grant ended. It allowed BayCare staff to assess 785 clients, 44 of which were connected with crisis stabilization services. The remainder were referred to their primary care provider, Directions for Living, or treated on-site.
Fiscal Impact:
Funding to support this contract in the amount of $150,000.00 has been included in the Human Services General Fund appropriation in the FY18 Adopted Budget as a result of a decision package titled "Closing the Gaps: Supporting Proven Human Services Programs to Improve Community Outcomes".
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign this agreement is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Lourdes Benedict, Director, Human Services
Partners:
BayCare Behavioral Health, Inc.
Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County
Attachments:
Agreement with BayCare Behavioral Health, Inc.
Data Sharing Attachment
Insurance Requirements