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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05211996 - C75 -75 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS F&HS-04 Contra FROM: FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE Costa r.. js County DATE: May 13, 1996 SUBJECT: REPORT ON THE STATUS OF THE SERVICE INTEGRATION PROJECTS SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. ACCEPT the attached report from Sara Hoffman, Senior Deputy County Administrator, on the status of the Service Integration Projects. 2. REQUEST the County Administrator's Office to provide the Family and. Human Services Committee with a timeline for the implementation of the Healthy Start grant at the Cambridge Community Center so our Committee will be aware of what to expect in this area. 3. REQUEST the County Administrator's Office to provide the Family and Human Services Committee with additional background information on the Synergy MIS System noted in the attached report, following the meeting later in May and report this issue back to our Committee on July 8, 1996. BACKGROUND: On February 26, 1996, our Committee received a report from the County Administrator's Office on the status of Service Integration. At that time, staff was asked to report back to our Committee in three months. On May 13, 1996, our Committee received the attached report from Sara Hoffman. Ms. Hoffman reviewed the attached report with our Committee and expanded on it in her oral comments. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BVCITE APPROVE „ OTHE�MARK DESAULNIER TH SIGNATURE(S): MaY 2i, 99 ACTION OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X 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. ATTESTED May 21, 1996 Contact: PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF CC: ERVI AND COUNTY AD TRATOR See Page 2 B 7� F&HS-04 Ms. Hoffman noted the mid-course review of the Service Integration Teams which was conducted by Kathy Armstrong. It was noted that the clients seems to be very pleased with the Service Integration Teams. On the other hand, there remains some confusion about the role of the various parties in the structure of the Service Integration Teams. It was also noted that in terms of case management the various professionals are still approaching Service Integration from the perspective of their individual profession. It is also necessary to strengthen our linkages with the outside community. Finally, while we are beginning to track outcomes, they are only one part of the feedback into the system and we need better communication among all parts of the system. Ms. Hoffman emphasized the meeting which was held May 1 of the Service Integration Management Team, including staff from all of the involved departments, the employee organizations, education representatives and representatives from the Greater Bay Area Family Network. The consensus at this meeting was that we need to make some changes in service integration. As a result of this meeting three task forces have been appointed as are outlined in Ms. Hoffman's report. Ms. Hoffman also commented on some of the other activities which are outlined in her report. In this regard, we are asking for a timeline on the development of the Healthy Start Grant for Cambridge Community Center so we can follow the progress on this grant. We are also asking for additional background information on the Synergy MIS system. We understand that there will be a meeting at the end of May, following which staff expects to be able to provide additional information on this subject. cc: County Administrator Health Services Director Social Service Director County Probation Officer Community Services Director Public Health Director Mental Health Services Sara Hoffman, Senior Deputy County Administrator -2- CONTRA COSTA COUNTY OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR 651 Pine Street, 10th Floor Martinez, California 94553 Telephone: 646-1390 DATE: May 8, 1996 TO: Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier Supervisor Jeff Smith Family& Human Services Committee FROM: Sara Hoffmadr�� Senior Deputy Administrator SUBJECT: Status Report on Service Integration The last report to the Family & Human Services Committee (FHS) noted that Kathy Armstrong, the new executive director of the Zellerbach Family Fund and formerly the County's consultant on Service Integration, was conducting a mid-course review of the Service Integration Teams (SIT) at the request of the Service Integration Management Team (SIMT). Ms. Armstrong conducted interviews with 10 SIT staff, 5 functional supervisors and 9 SIT clients. The questions that Ms. Armstrong asked were based on a list of issues developed by the SIMT. The mid-course review results were discussed with the SIMT at its March 19, 1996 meeting, including: Client Support and Satisfaction -Clients were very positive about SIT. They felt they were getting concrete help in the areas they needed, for example, getting a job, counseling, resolving problems with utilities. The families also felt that they received better and more accurate information and that the workers really cared about them. The families said they felt comfortable and at home at the SIT sites whereas they did not at the district offices. They also liked the proximity of the Centers to their homes, where they could easily walk or have a very short bus commute. SIT Structure -Among both the functional supervisors and the workers, there is uncertainty as to the roles and responsibilities between the departments and SIT and within SIT itself. There was greatest clarity with regard to the functional supervisors who were seen as "keeper" of the department regulations and provider of technical direction and support. Case Management - There is still confusion about how best to work with the families through multi disciplinary case management. There are still tendencies to view case management from the perspective of the individual disciplines. SIT needs to develop its own case management system and culture that integrates the multi-disciplinary perspectives. Linkages -The Service Integration Teams do not have a systematic method of increasing involvement with community based organizations, churches and others. At times, there is mistrust of other organizations, rather than leveraging of their resources. Feedback - Feedback is beginning to occur with tracking of outcomes; however, that is only part of the feedback system which also needs to incorporate progress, development of new approaches, behaviors and successes. The feedback has to be within a team, with functional supervisors, the departments, the community and the clients. The SIMT used Kathy Armstrong's mid-course review as the beginning point for discussion at its May 1 meeting, which included 20 representatives from the County Administrator's Office, functional supervisors, Social Service, Probation, Health Services, SIT Facilitators, Local 1, 535, 512, 2700 , Mt. Diablo School District, County Office of Education and the Greater Bay Area Family Network. Meeting attendees shared their own experiences and observations on SIT. The discussion was frank on both positives and negatives of service integration, concluding with concurrence that SIT was a valuable model which would benefit from a "mid-course correction." The SIMT established three task forces, defined their charges and directed each to develop a set of expected outcomes and work plans for the task force. The task forces and their charges and membership are: (1) Management Structure of SIT: This task force will focus on creating greater clarity and structure in the organization of SIT, including definition of the roles and responsibilities of all involved in SIT, from the CAO's office down to line staff. The Chairperson is Bill Weidinger. Members include: Evie Carlock, Mary Foran, Nina Goldman, Beverly Jacobs, Shirley Kalinowski, Deborah Polk, Rich Heyne, Billie Jo Wilson. (2) SIT Operations and Intervention Strategies: This task force will focus on the operational structures and systems necessary to make SIT effective, including case management systems, intervention strategies, etc. The Chairperson is Ted Scott. Members include: Gerrie Dekker, Nina Goldman, Sandy Marsh, Carol Nixon, Deborah Polk, Bill Weidinger. 2 3) Outcome Priorities: This task force will identify the most important outcomes that SIT is trying to achieve, refine those outcomes if necessary, examine data availability and comparability between SIT and the departments and ensure that the outcomes are being tracked and that the SITs receive needed feedback. The Chairperson in Nina Goldman. Members include: Rich Clark, Mary Foran, Barbara Murfin, Grace Schmidt, Ted Scott. Other events and activities of note in Service Integration include: • Self Sufficiency Workshop - The Hercules district office is putting on Self Sufficiency Workshop for its clients. The workshop format was developed by the SIT (an example of positive impact on the larger system!). In addition, SIT workers are being interviewed as part of the IM/GAIN redesign since they are seen as a "prototype" for the larger system. • Healthy Start Grant- The Mt. Diablo Unified School District has received a Healthy Start planning grant for the Cambridge Community in Concord, which is slated for a future SIT site. The planning grant will support the community needs assessment and community involvement. • One Stop Career Center Grant- PIC is in the process of submitting a grant application that would link SIT to the One Stop Centers electronically, as well as provide staff support. • Synergy MIS - Contra Costa has been selected as one of two sites in California to test the new system which is an integrated multi disciplinary case management system, with linkages to the larger data system. As part of the grant, Data Processing would develop the software to link our Social Service, Health Services and Probation systems to the case management system (or determine that it cannot be done). We are currently in negotiation on terms and conditions, including the number of linkages which could be developed with available funding. • CCN Program- SIT has received funding from CCTV to produce a half hour documentary on service integration, focusing on what it is, how it is different from the larger system and clients thoughts about SIT. • Mental Health Counselors- Beginning in April, the Family Service Centers are each staffed with 1 FTE Mental Health Counselor, which will increase our capacity to support family stability. • Community Garden- North Richmond SIT is in the process of developing a community garden in the (formerly) weed infested area in front of their building. It is being supported through donations of both supplies and labor. 3