HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 08191986 - 1.35 r � BOARD OF SUPERVISORS "" gS
y FROM: Mark Finucane, Health Services Dire for ComtlGl
By: Elizabeth A. Spooner , Contracts Administrator
Cx)sta
^
DATE: O
(
,SUBJECT: Approval of Facility Use Agreement 424-305-3 with v"�`^� �`J
Concord Mt.. Diablo Trail Ride Association
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
I. RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Approve and authorize the Health Services Director to execute on behalf of the
County, Facility Use Agreement 424-305-3 with Concord Mt. Diablo Trail Ride
Association for the period August 16, 1986 through August 22, 1986, at no cost to
the County, to provide facilities- for the East. County Mental Health Services'
annual Therapeutic Riding Camp for mentally disturbed children.
II. FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Approval of this agreement will require no additional County. money. County Mental
Health Treatment Specialist Staff will conduct the camp. Expenses such as food for
the campers and staff, feed for the horses, tack, and camping equipment are either
donated or covered by funds which were appropriated to the Department 's Director of
Children's Services for treatment of adolescents. Camp counselors and cooks work
without pay as volunteers.
III. REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS/BACKGROUND:
This is the fourth year for the Therapeutic Riding Camp, a project of the Children's
Staff of East County Mental Health Services and of the Concord Mt. Diablo Trail
Ride Association.
The Therapeutic Riding Camp is an extension of the County's out-patient treatment
for severely disturbed children between the ages of 9 and 15. It provides nine
weekly activity group meetings in preparation for camp and one week of residential
treatment in a setting which is highly appropriate for children in this age group,
particularly for our patients who come from poor families and do not usually go to
camp or have access to horses..
The social interaction between the children offers opportunities for therapeutic
intervention. Disciplined physical activity promotes the re-ordering and re-
structuring of the 'child's internaiizations . Animals as representations of certain
attributes of the child and of members of his/her family open a new avenue for
mastering the conflicts between the child and his/her family.
Professionals from the Mental Health Clinic conduct the weekly activity groups and
the riding camp. In both phases they are assisted by teenage and adult volunteers.
Friends in the equestrian community lend horses and tack. The Concord Mt. Diablo
Trail Ride Association lends its entire facility. Thus, an added value of the
Therapeutic Riding Camp is that it creates community involvement, understanding,
and support.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT; ,_ VES SIGNATURE,
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDAT OF BOARD CAOMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S)' �`'Q� TJ
ACTION OF BOARD ON AUG 9 IJ APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER X
The Board EXPRESSED appreciation to "" Y�e.•Association members for their
participation in the program.
VOTE OF SUPERV190RS
1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
JRIG: Health Services (Contracts)
CC: County Administrator ATTESTED __ A U G 1 5 1Q(�9.86
Auditor-Controller
Contractor PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
'q2,1-83 BY. ,DEPUTY
Board Order
Agreement 24-305-3
Page 2
Activities with horses have a somewhat higher risk of injury than our other summer
activity programs for our child patients. However, this camp has not experienced
any injuries in the previous three years of operation.
The horses, lent by members of the Concord Mt. Diablo Trail Ride Association, are
selected carefully for their reliability in the hands of inexperienced riders.
This year there will be four mental health professionals at the camp, with a
minimum of two overnight . In addition, there will be one counselor for every two
children. These counselors are excellent riders. The County treatment staff
include experienced equestrians, one of whom is a registered nurse.
Safety rules for being around and on horses are stressed in the nine preliminary
meetings of the prospective campers, as well as during camp. Staff believes _they
have done everything possible to make the experience as risk-free as possible and
that the therapeutic benefits outweigh the risks of physical injury.
The Facility Use Agreement ("Application for Use_ of Facilities") is in the same
form, containing a standard indemnification clause, that was approved by the County
Counsel's Office for the 1983 camp and was, therefore, approved by the Department's
Contracts and Grants Administrator in accordance with the guidelines approved by
the Board's Order of December 1, 1981 (Guidelines for contract preparation and pro-
cessing, Health Services Department) .
EAS:gm