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Regular-Health & Human Services # 35.
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| Board of Supervisors |
Adult & Aging |
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| Subject |
| Receive update on the transition of the Public Guardian function to the Health & Human Services Agency and the establishment of an ombudsman program. (No general fund impact) (Larsen) |
| Recommended Action |
- Receive update on the transition of the County's Public Guardian function to the Health & Human Services Agency; and
- Receive update the establishment of an ombudsman program for Public Guardian.
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| Strategic Plan Goal(s) |
Thriving Residents
Safe Communities |
| Reason for Recommended Action/Background |
On January 1, 2017, the role and responsibility for Public Guardian transitioned from the stand alone department of Public Guardian/Public Administrator to a division of the Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA). Prior to that date, HHSA hired Laurie Haas to fill the position of Deputy Public Guardian. The Deputy Public Guardian reports to the Adult & Aging Branch Director, while the HHSA Director holds the Board-appointed title of Public Guardian. In addition, HHSA hired one new Conservatorship Officer. HHSA has assigned a fiscal supervisor familiar with Social Services budget processes to support the functioning of the office during the first quarter of transition. Support staff has also been assigned to support the first quarter set-up and interfacing with constituents who reach out to the office for assistance. Specific tasks for the first quarter transition include:
- Fiscal, bank account and inventory control transition and procedures: Staff is working closely with the Department of Financial Services and an independent firm to audit records through December of 2016. This will assist in the ongoing separation of the fiscal responsibilities between Public Guardian and Public Administrator (which is now housed with the Sheriff's Office).
- Contact with all clients and associated parties: Efforts to make timely contact with each conservatee continue. The Office has accepted more than a dozen referrals for investigation since January 1, and has established participation in standing collaborative discussions with a variety of organizations that provide services to conservatees, including HHSA mental health teams, Woodland Memorial Hospital and Safe Harbor crisis residential program.
- Coordination of On-Call system: 24-hour on-call is in place. All calls requiring decisions on a Conservatee involve a Conservatorship Officer or the Deputy Public Guardian as back up or direct response.
- Assignment to the Aging Commission and Yolo Healthy Aging Alliance: The Deputy Public Guardian is actively participating on the Aging Commission and two Healthy Aging Alliance Committees, Advocacy and Collaboration.
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| Collaborations (including Board advisory groups and external partner agencies) |
| Adult Protective Services, Health & Human Services Agency, Local Mental Health Board, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Yolo County Aging Commission, Yolo Health Aging Alliance |
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| Fiscal Impact |
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| Source of Funds for this Expenditure |
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