Subject:
Title
First Amendment to the Crisis Stabilization Unit and Pinellas Integrated Care Team Agreement with Personal Enrichment Through Mental Health Services, Inc. d/b/a Eleos to include Care Connect funding.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the first Amendment (Amendment) to include Care Connect funding to the agreement with Personal Enrichment Through Mental Health Services, Inc. d/b/a Eleos (Eleos) that supports the County’s public Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU), and the Pinellas Integrated Care Team (PIC Team).
• Care Connect was previously funded under a separate agreement, under file number 23-1035D, which expires on September 30, 2026. This amendment consolidates the funds previously allocated to that agreement into the current CSU and PIC Team agreement
• The amendment adds funding for Care Connect, an electronic information-exchange platform that enables secure clinical and administrative data sharing between participating agencies via direct secure messaging. Through this amendment, Eleos will continue to work collaboratively with the County and other community organizations to support the efficient electronic exchange of shared client health information for more effective care coordination and service referrals.
• In 2016, the Board of County Commissioners approved a decision package to fund an innovative electronic health record solution for local behavioral health and community service agencies, and over the past ten years the referral system has supported greater collaboration and efficiency through the use of Care Connect.
• Funding in an amount not to exceed $12,740.00 for Care Connect has been identified in the Human Services proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 General Fund appropriation. The original Agreement is an amount not to exceed $2,302,719.00, and with the addition of funding for Care Connect, this amendment increases the FY27 not to exceed amount to $2,315,459.00.
• Funding for this amendment is included in the FY27 requested budget for Human Services in the General Fund. Funding for future years is dependent on approval in the annual County Operating Budget.
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Strategic Priorities:
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.1 Improve public health.
2.2 Enhance community safety.
Smart Service Delivery
4.2 Achieve and maintain a high level of customer satisfaction.
4.4 Pursue continuous improvement.
Summary:
Summary
The amendment adds funding for Care Connect, an electronic information exchange platform that enables secure clinical and administrative data sharing between participating agencies via direct secure messaging. The agency will continue to work collaboratively with the County and other community organizations to support the efficient electronic exchange of shared client health information for more effective care coordination and service referrals.
The Board previously approved the following items related to the program: original CSU & PIC Team agreement under file 25-1055A.
Care Connect was previously funded under a separate agreement, under file number 23-1035D, which expires on September 30, 2026. This amendment consolidates the funds previously allocated to that agreement into the current CSU & PIC Team agreement.
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Background Information:
Coordinating services among providers can be challenging and time-consuming when real-time clinical information cannot be shared electronically. Lost or incomplete medical data can delay appropriate care and treatment. To address these barriers, the Board of County Commissioners approved a 2016 decision package to fund an innovative electronic health record solution for local behavioral health and community service agencies.
Over the past (10) years, the referral system has assisted in furthering efforts for collaboration and improved efficiencies for these providers through the utilization of Care Connect.
Fiscal Impact:
Funding in an amount not to exceed $12,740.00 for Care Connect has been identified in the Human Services proposed Fiscal Year 2027 General Fund appropriation. The original Agreement totals $2,302,719.00 for FY26, and with the addition of funding for Care Connect, this amendment increases the FY27 not to exceed amount to $2,315,459.00.
Funding for this amendment is included in the FY27 proposed budget for Human Services withing the General Fund. Funding for future years is dependent on approval in the annual County Operating Budget.
The agreement has a fiscal non-funding clause, should this portion of the budget not be approved.
Staff Member Responsible:
Karen Yatchum, Director, Human Services.
Partners:
Eleos
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Central Florida Behavioral Health Network
Juvenile Welfare Board
Department of Health Pinellas
Attachments:
Amendment