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Regular-Law & Justice Services # 47.
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| Board of Supervisors |
Sheriff-Coroner |
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| Subject |
| Adopt resolution to recognize the Stepping Up Initiative, a national call to action for county elected officials and other policy makers to develop a plan to achieve system changes that result in a reduction of the number of people with mental illness in jails. (No general fund impact) (Prieto) |
| Recommended Action |
| Adopt resolution to recognize the Stepping Up Initiative, a national call to action for county elected officials and other policy makers to develop a plan to achieve system changes that result in a reduction of the number of people with mental illness in jails. |
| Strategic Plan Goal(s) |
Operational Excellence
Thriving Residents
Safe Communities
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| Reason for Recommended Action/Background |
Prevalence rates of serious mental illness in jails are three to six times higher than in the general population, and adults with mental illnesses tend to stay longer in jail and are at a higher risk of recidivism upon release. Yolo County routinely provides treatment services to the individuals booked into our correctional facility, however, the County will spend two to three times more resources on individuals requiring a mental health intervention when compared to inmates not requiring these treatment needs. There also exists the issue that while treatment is offered, it may be limited by the constraints of what can be provided in a correctional facility situation, i.e.: it may not be the most appropriate service suited to an individual's specific mental health care needs.
In November of 2014 Yolo County developed a Community Intervention Program (CIP) as a partnership between law enforcement and the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) to provide intervention and follow up linkage for mental health services to individuals with a mental health crisis that involved a law enforcement response. In addition, individuals already linked to mental health services at the time of the response received service coordination. The goal of CIP was to have trained clinical staff intervene and minimize the costly placement of individuals in hospitals and jails when a less restrictive, therapeutic treatment was available. Providing a more therapeutic approach may also ultimately reduce the high rate of recidivism that the mentally ill incarcerated population faces.
The National Association of Counties (NACo), the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, and the American Psychiatric Foundation (APF) have now developed a national initiative, Stepping Up, to raise awareness of the factors contributing to the over-representation of people with mental illnesses in jail, and using established practices to lower those numbers. The first part of the Stepping Up Initiative is a call to action focusing on developing a plan that can be used to achieve system changes. This complements the work already accomplished by the CIP. Specifically, county elected officials are being asked to work with other community leaders and mental health advocates on six actions:
• Create a diverse team of leaders and decision makers from multiple agencies committed to safely reducing the number of people with mental illnesses in jails.
• Collect and review prevalence numbers and assess individuals’ needs to better identify adults entering jails with mental illnesses and their recidivism risk, and use that information to guide decision making.
• Examine treatment and service capacity to determine available local programs and services available for people with mental illnesses and co-occurring substance use disorders, and identify state and local policy and funding barriers in order to minimize contact with the justice system and provide treatment and supports in the community.
• Develop a plan with measurable outcomes that considers the prevalence data and the available local treatment and service capacity, while considering identified barriers.
• Implement research-based approaches that advance the plan.
• Create a process to track progress.
The Stepping Up Initiative will offer technical assistance to counties that facilitate the successful implementation of these six steps and will notify participants of potential funding from grant programs. It is now requested that the Board adopt the resolution recognizing this initiative. |
| Collaborations (including Board advisory groups and external partner agencies) |
| The National Association of Counties (NACo), the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, and the American Psychiatric Foundation (APF) are leading this initiative and asking county elected officials, law enforcement, treatment providers, policy makers and mental health advocates to develop this action plan. County Counsel has approved the resolution as to form. |
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| Fiscal Impact |
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| Source of Funds for this Expenditure |
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Explanation (Expenditure and/or Revenue) |
| Further explanation as needed: |
| No general funds have been budgeted for this item. |
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