|
Back to Calendar
Return
|
| |
Regular-Health & Human Services # 38.
|
| Board of Supervisors |
Adult & Aging |
|
|
|
| Subject |
| Receive update on the implementation of the Assisted Outpatient Treatment program (Laura’s Law). (No general fund impact) (Larsen) |
| Recommended Action |
| Receive update on the implementation of the Assisted Outpatient Treatment program (Laura’s Law). |
| Strategic Plan Goal(s) |
Thriving Residents
Safe Communities |
| Reason for Recommended Action/Background |
Assembly Bill 1421 was signed into state law in 2002 and became effective January 1, 2003. Known as Laura’s Law, this statute allows community-based, assisted outpatient treatment for a small population of individuals who meet strict legal criteria and who – as a result of their mental illness – are unable to voluntarily access community mental health services. These individuals often revolve in and out of jails, hospitals and homelessness. The law is named after Laura Wilcox, who was shot and killed at the age of 19 by a man with untreated serious mental illness. Laura’s Law is fashioned after New York’s Kendra’s Law. The process schematic included in Attachment A displays how a person might move through the Assembly Bill 1421 process.
On October 22, 2013, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors adopted a budget resolution to increase the then Department of Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health’s fiscal year 13-14 budget by $64,523 to fund the implementation of a local Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) pilot project. The AOT Pilot is paired with the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program, and contracted to Turning Point Community Programs. Through the AOT program, Turning Point is able to add approximately five (5) additional slots for intensive outpatient treatment for the population targeted by Laura’s Law.
The AOT program is currently being offered on a voluntary basis, with services being provided to those with serious mental illness whose condition is deteriorating, and/or who are unlikely to survive safely in the community without supervision. Those who can request AOT for a person with a serious mental illness include:
- The person’s parent, spouse, sibling or child who is 18 or over;
- Adults residing with the individual;
- Director of the treating agency, organization, facility or hospital;
- Treating licensed mental health professional; and/or
- Peace Officer, Parole or Probation Officer supervising the individual.
HHSA determines the appropriateness and eligibility of the referral. Accepted referrals are forwarded to the appropriate staff to engage the client and initiate services.
A summary of the current AOT participants and outcomes is provided below.
- Six (6) participants have been engaged in AOT since 2014.
- Three (3) cases were added in 2014, and three (3) cases were added in 2016.
- Four (4) of the six (6) participants accepted services when offered, and do not currently have an active court-order to participate in services. Two (2) out of the six (6) participants initially refused services when offered. Turning Point went through the petition process with the court to seek court ordered AOT treatment. One (1) of these individuals signed a settlement agreement without a court order. The other was moved to a hearing due to refusal to sign for services, which resulted in court ordered AOT treatment.
- Three (3) participants are currently actively engaging in voluntary services with Turning Point AOT.
- Two (2) participants have successfully moved into their own apartment
- Three (3) participants are not currently actively engaged in services.
- One (1) participant is incarcerated.
- One (1) participant was in the engagement phase when psychiatrically hospitalized.
One (1) participant dis- engaged from services during substance use treatment and is in the process of re-engagement. |
| Collaborations (including Board advisory groups and external partner agencies) |
County Counsel
District Attorney
Public Defender
Turning Point Community Programs
Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency
Yolo County Superior Court |
|
| Fiscal Impact |
|
|
| Source of Funds for this Expenditure |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|