While Yolo County HHSA, Probation, the Sheriff’s Office and local law enforcement agencies currently operate a co-responder model, a broader conceptualization of crisis response should include crisis prevention, early intervention, post-crisis services and on-going supports.
The Crisis Now model is directed by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) and was developed in conjunction with the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the National Council for Behavioral Health, and RI International. The core elements of Crisis Now include an advanced crisis call center, 24/7 mobile crisis support, crisis stabilization programs and training in the essential principles and practices of Crisis Now. HHSA Staff and many local partners have been participating in the Crisis Now collaborative and learning sessions, which include 13 seminars involving multiple counties. Crisis Now’s national program also provides weekly technical assistance alongside ongoing training and support after implementation. Comprehensive crisis care as described in Crisis Now model, reduces and prevents suicides while providing more immediate and targeted help for the person in distress. In addition, it cuts cost of care substantially by reducing the need for psychiatric hospital bed usage, emergency department visits, and law enforcement overuse.
The anticipated expenditures of Yolo County’s Crisis Now pilot program include the crisis call center, mobile crisis support, the crisis receiving center and short-term beds for clients in transition. Total program expenditures for the pilot program are estimated at $47,335,387 over the first four fiscal years with the average annual operational cost of $11,833,847. HHSA continues to investigate and pursue potential revenue streams for startup and ongoing program costs including contributions from UC Davis, 988 legislation, CalAIM, opiate settlement, a Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) grant, private insurers and American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds. Partial funding has been obtained from Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG), along with approved funding from Medi-Cal, MHSA, and AB109 and existing contracts including City contributions for existing co-responder clinicians. The Cities of Woodland, Davis and West Sacramento are being asked to contribute additional funding based on estimated usage. Additionally, the health systems have been asked to contribute funding at a rate commensurate with their projected savings. Current funding is projected at $5,660,00 with a gap of $5,685,845 to begin operations. The ARP funding request for Crisis Now will come before the Board of Supervisor in September when the Finance Department presents ARP budget items. |