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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05151990 - 1.43 1-043 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS �......... s L Contra FROM: Costa Phil Batchelor, County Administrator g ' ,s x'. .�..;,::: - -� County DATE: May 8, 1990 SUBJECT: LEGISLATION: SB 2669 (Presley) SPECIFIC REOUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION: Adopt a position in SUPPORT of SB 2669 by Senator Robert Presley which would enact the Perinatal Substance Abuse Services Act, permitting a County to develop a comprehensive plan for the delivery of services to women, their infants and families where substance abuse is involved. BACKGROUND- Existing law establishes various substance abuse programs , many of which are administered , by the counties and the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs. , Existing law also establishes various programs which provide services to pregnant women and infants, many of which are administered by each county and the State Department of Health Services. Senator Presley has introduced SB 2669 in an effort to encourage the development of a comprehensive service delivery system to pregnant women who are abusing drugs and alcohol, their infant children and their families. The bill makes findings and declarations concerning problems related to substance abuse among pregnant women, and the need for services to these women, their infant children and their families. Specifically, SB 2669 indicates that the intent of the Legislature in enacting this bill is to: CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT fe.8--YES SIGNATURE: 2L RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON May 15 , 1990 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE X 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. CC: ATTESTED MAY 15 1990 PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BY DEPUTY M382 (10/88) ' ' Y * Encourage -the development of policies that recognize and respond to the problem of substance exposed infants and the underlying problem of maternal substance abuse. * Encourage the development of a comprehensive. delivery system of services to the, mother, child and family. * Protect the child from abuse or neglect and promote, maintain and support healthy family systems. * Develop policies which recognize that the incidence of substance exposed infants and maternal substance abuse is fundamentally a health problem which is driven by addictive behavior and that a substantially expanded substance abuse treatment, health care and social services support system is required to deal with the problem effectively. * Develop and provide for a comprehensive continuum of substance abuse treatment, health. care and social services at the local levelwhich includes preventive and early intervention services , that support the family unit and maximize the healthy development of mother, child and family, thus minimizing the long-term need for public resources " to support substance impaired children throughout their lives. * Identify gaps in services to the target population. * Provide case management .services to children and families, with multiple needs. * Allow for flexibility of expenditures in public funds by emphasizing local decision making and providing for greater flexibility to local government in designing policies and delivery systems SB 2669 authorizes each county or consortium of counties wishing to participate in this program to develop a single comprehensive plan and system of services for the prevention-, early intervention and treatment of perinatal substance abuse and substance exposed infants and their families which includes, but is not limited to, the services specified in this bill. The bill specifies ' the elements which must be included in the comprehensive plan. The bill also requires an individual needs assessment both prenatally, as a prevention and early intervention tool, and postnatally, immediately following the birth of a substance exposed newborn before the infant is released from the hospital. The bill defines the purpose of the needs assessment. SB 2669 indicates that the comprehensive plan is also to include the development of a substance abuse treatment system to provide appropriate treatment, upon demand, to the extent practicable and feasible. This treatment system is to provide outreach, prevention and early intervention services. Priorities for services under this provision are included in the bill. The bill also requires that public health nursing services be provided and provides the reasons for such a requirement. 'The bill also requires that the plan be developed through a cooperative process including such agencies as child welfare, county health services, county mental health ' services, public health nursing, county substance abuse services, hospitals, local educational agencies, regional centers, for-profit and nonprofit substance abuse, health care and mental health providers. An annual report to the state is required to identify the extent to which the target population is being served. Counties may request waivers of existing state regulations pertaining to single agency operations and auditing and accounting requirements which hinder coordination of perinatal substance abuse services. An unspecified amount .of money is appropriated for allocation to counties in order to provide drug and alcohol treatment services and public health' nursing services under this provisions of the bill. SB 2669 appears to be entirely consistent with many elements of the Board of Supervisors ' Drug and Alcohol Action Plan in regard to the need for additional comprehensive services to mothers who are abusing alcohol and other drugs and their infants and families. It is ' therefore recommended that the Board of Supervisors indicate its support for SB 2669. CC: Senator Robert Presley. County Administrator. Health Services Director Public Health Director Drug Program Administrator Alcohol Program Administrator Social Services Director Mental Health Director , Chair, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Advisory Board Chair, Drug Abuse Advisory Board Chair, Alcohol Advisory Board Les Spahnn, SRJ. Jackson, Barish & Associates '