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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTIONS - 10261982 - 82/1271THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA . October 26 1982 . Adopted this Order on ' , by the following vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: SUBJECT: Supervisors Powers, Fahden, Schroder, Torlakson, Mc Peak None None None Health & Safety Code ) §1442.5 Hearing Findings ) RESOLUTION NO. 82/1271 _____________________ ) Pursuant to Health and Safety Code §1442.5, the Board con- ducted a public hearing on October 19, 1982 on proposed closure of county facilities, reductions or elimination of the level of ser- vices, and transfer of management of programs in the County's Health Services Department. I. The Board received written and oral evidence, as follows: A. Written documents consisting of the following were received into the record: 1. County Administrator's Budget Message for 1982-1983. 2. Health Services Department Budget Presentation to the Board of Supervisors' Finance Committee June 30, 1982. 3. Health Services Department Program Budget for 1982-1983 as presented to County Administrator's Office -Spring, 1982. 4. Finance Committee report on the Budget dated July 12, 1982. 5. Letter from Mr. Wingett to Board of Supervisors dated July 26, 1982 on Revisions to 1982-1983 Budget. 6. Board Order dated July 27, 1982 adopting the 1982-1983 Budget, with attachments. 7. Board Order dated September 7, 1982 fixing date and time for Beilenson Hearing on October 19, 1982. 8. Memo from Mr. Wingett to Department Heads dated August 23, 1982 transmitting Board Order adopting 1982-1983 Budget. 9. Memo from Dr. Leff to Mr. Wingett dated September 1, 1982 detailing proposed Mental health program changes. RESOLUTION NO. 82/1271 11 ). Memo from Jonna Stratton to C.L. Van Marter dated September 3, 1982 providing additional details on proposed Mental Health program changes. 11. Letter from State Department of Mental Health dated September 24, 1982 transmitting State Allocations for 1982-1983. 12. Memo from Mr. Wingett to the Board, re: "Beilen~on" He~ring, dated October 19, 1982. 13. Position Paper on the Mental Health Program cuts, presented by Contra Costa County Employees Association, Local No. 1, dated October 19, 1982. 14. Letter from Phyllis Maslan, dated October 19, 1982. 15. Letter from the Contra Costa County Mental Health Advisory Board, dated October 19, 1982. 16. Letter from Shelby Morgan raising concerns over the impact of the proposed changes on minority Mental Health staff. 17. Resolution No. 82/1264. B. Oral testimony received is summarized as follows: 1. Terry Kupers, M.D., a former staff psychiatrist who now works as a· private consultant, cautioned that the proposed change will result in less effective treatment. 2. Henry Clark, representing Contra Costa County Employees Association, Local 1, indicated that the actual lay-offs would affect approximately 25 employees and questioned the ratio of administrative staff to workers within the Mental Health Division. 3. John Allen, member of the Professional Ethics · Committee, Contra Costa County Employee Association, Local 1, indicated that the proposed cuts will cause a reduction in the quality of care, that implemen- tation of the 24 hour crisis beds in-west and central County will not take place until 1983, and that the noticed proposal does not further service to the community or to families in the community. 4 . Stanley Hunter, Mental Health Treatment Specialist and Chairperson, Professional Ethics Committee, Local 1, indicated that numerous studies have found the benefits of family therapy an psychotherapy are greater than those based on medication alone, including reduction in the need for acute psychiatric inpatient care. 5. W. Greg Briodi, Recreational Therapist on I Ward, indicated that recreational therapy is of great benefit to the mentally ill and that the elimination of such services on the psychiatric wards will be detrimental to the psychiatric patients. ,~1,~,,1 6 . Ray Neuman, Mental Health Treatment Specialist, indicated the changes will damage the treatment pro- vided to the County's patients. 7. Belle Lipscott read the letter from Phyllis Maslan, received as written item 14. 8. David Shaw, staff person on I Ward, in~icated that the closure of inpatient facilities without adequate community based services will result in a lower · le~el of service. He also asked the Board to con- sider the effect on families in this county from the proposed actions. 9. Nutse Cornwall, Treatment Coordinator on I Ward, indicated that the premature release of overly- medicated patients will result in increased suicides, homicides, and malpractice liability. 10. Victoria Cleveland, Mental Health Treatment Specialist, expressed concern over the lay-off process and over the loss of continuity of care by the patients and the lack of residential treatment faci- lities now available. 11. Anita Sapin spoke on behalf of David Post indi- cating that layoffs will primarily affect outpatient staff, thereby disrupting relationships between out- patient staff and patients and between staff and community facilities. 12. Ann Adler, speaking for the Family and Children's Services Advisory Committee, indicated the proposal will reduce services to children, will place adults and children in a mere "maintenance" setting, and that it represents generally a step backward in the County's treatment of people in crisis. 13. Barbara Bender, speaking for the Mental Health Advisory Board presented the letter entered into the written record as item 15. 1 4 . Dr. Marne Trevisano, Mental Health Treatment Specialistt expressed concern over the effect the pr~posed changes will have on the quality of care the patients receive at County facilities. 15. Dr. Jeri Rubin, Psychiatric Intern on I Ward, indi- cated that staff input should have been solicited regarding the proposed reductions in mental health services. 16. Denise Lareuxr Psychiatric Resident, indicated that the County Mental Health Division would loose high quality staff because of these changes. 17. Meg. W. Green~ Mental Health Treatment Specialist, indicated that Contra Costa County has operated highly innovative and effective Mental Health programs for many years and that the proposed changes threaten to destroy the effectiveness of those County programs. 811./1~'11 II. Findings. On the basis of the foregoing evidence the Board makes the following findings: III. 1. Notices of Public Hearing were posted on or before September 19, 1982 and such posting was in compliance with Health and Safety Code §1442.5. 2. "Indigents" are those persons defined as indigent by Resolution #82/1264. 3. Pursuant to Health and Safety Code §1442.5, all, interested persons were allowed to spe~k at the hearing on October 19, 1982. 4. The program reductions or changes considered at the public hearing were those contained in the September 7, 1982 Notice. 5. Notice Item 1 (close "E" Ward holding unit), Item 2 (reduce Treatment Staff on Psychiatric Inpatient Wards ["I" & "J" Wards]), Item 3 (eliminate Occupational/Recreational therapy on "I" and "E" Wards) affect Mental Health Services. The proposed changes will alter the ways in which Inpatient Mental Health services are provided and will have some detrimental impact on the mental health care needs of the indigents of Contra Costa County. 6. Item 4 (eliminate implementation of Primary Care Team in Chldren's and Adolescents Program), involves a program which is not yet operational. Thus, this change does not reduce the level of services currently provided. While implementation of the program would have benefited children in the County, and to a lesser degree their families, there will be no detrimental impact on the health care needs of indigents by not implementing this program. If any finding as to an Item herein is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect findings as to other Items which can be given effect without the invalid provision, and to this end, the invalid finding as to an Item is severable. IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that neither inclusion of a pro- posed change in a _-program in the Notice of Hearing, the holding of a hearing with respect to a change in a program included in the Notice of Hearing, nor the making of a finding as to such a chnge is to be construed as an admission by the County of Contra Costa or the Board that any of the program changes covered by the Notice are subject to the hearing provisions of Health and Safety Code Section 1442.5. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that tbis resolution be included as a part of the official public hearing record and that the Health Services Director is directed to implement, as soon as possible, the changes covered by Finding Numbers 5 and 6 above. cc: Health Services Director Me nt al Health Director Personnel Dipector Auditor-Controller County Counsel County Administrator I t,e,el>y certify that tl>ls is a true and correct copy of' an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Soard of Supervisoo CT t~e taf §§~own. ATTESTED:---~ _, _______ _ J .R. OLSrD '., r.:,:;ur,,;T"I CLERK and ex officio Cierk of t he Board 'I~/ 1-11