HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12201994 - 1.87 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS L
FROM: Mark Finucane, Health Services Director ,' Contra
Costa
DATE: December 13, 1994 '' 3
--------- County
SUBJECT: Mental Health Community Center
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S) &BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Accept report from Health Services Director regarding the operation of the Contra Costa
Community Center.
2. Authorize removal of the limitation on the Community Center operating hours which had
restricted operation to 4 hours per day, Monday - Friday.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
BACKGROUND:
On August 16, 1994, the Board of Supervisors approved Contract # 24-360-7 with Mental Health
Consumer Concerns for the period from September 1, 1994 through February 28, 1995. In response
to concerns of Martinez merchants, the contract included a provision for evaluation of the Community
Center Program by the Health Services Director and the Mental Health Director and directed a report
be presented to the Board of Supervisors with regard to the findings and recommendations for continued
operation of the Community Center.
Under the terms of the contract, Mental Health Consumer Concerns agreed to utilize members of the
Contra Costa Network of Mental Health Clients and other volunteers to (1) operate a Self-Help Program
for clients with mental disabilities and for clients with both mental disabilities and problems with
substance abuse; and (2) operate a Community Center for the purpose of convening self-help/peer
support groups and social and recreational activities to serve former or current recipients of mental
health services who live and/or work in Contra Costa County and other individuals who meet
membership requirements. During the term of the 6 month contract, the Community Center operating
hours were limited to Monday through Friday, noon to five.
As specified in the contract, an Operations Committee and an Advisory Committee were established to
oversee and approve all Community Center activities. The Operations Committee, which meets twice
a month, consists of five. individuals, including a community resident and a downtown Martinez
merchant. The Advisory Committee meets monthly and is comprised of representatives of community
groups, agencies and businesses. _j
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOARD ON DEC 2 ® APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED ✓ OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
/ I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
t/ 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.
Contact Person: Lorna Bastian, 313-6411 Cy
CC: Health Services Director ATTE TED DEC 2
Mental Health Director, 595 Center #200 BY DEPUTY
County Administrator
2 2—
In
In accordance with its mission, the Community Center has provided a location to convene a wide variety
of self-help/peer support groups for mental health consumers, including groups such as: substance abuse
and co-dependency, survivors of incest, self-empowerment, meditation, reading, creative arts and
poetry. Training sessions have been offered on topics such as durable power of attorney, conflict
resolution techniques, survival skills and employment options. Information and referral resources have
been provided to approximately 200 individuals who made telephone inquiries to the Center. Currently
under development is a telephone support network for mental health clients. Once operational, clients
who call the Community Center after 5 p.m. will be patched through to a volunteer on duty via a
telephone line which will be sent up through the Crisis and Suicide Intervention. In its first few months
of operation, the Community Center has demonstrated its success and value in serving as an important
link in supporting self-help and peer support for mental health consumers in our community.
No complaints have been received from the community or from Martinez merchants during this period
regarding activities that have taken place at the Community Center. There were two incidents reported
to the Mental Health Director in which the Community Center Coordinator requested a person leave
the Center because they were under the influence of illegal drugs and/or alcohol. In each instance, the
individuals involved left the Community Center without incident.
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