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.
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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
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