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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-23-2023 Behavior Health Subcommittee Minutes MEETING MINUTES CJCC BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE January 23, 2023 10:30 AM St. Croix County Services Center -Room 172 1752 Dorset Lane, New Richmond, Wisconsin CALL TO ORDER Chair Rohret called the January 23, 2023, meeting of the Community Justice Collaborating Council (CJCC) Behavioral Health Subcommittee to order at approximately 10:32 AM. ROLL CALL Attendee OrganizationTitleStatusArrived Name Dave OstnessSt. Croix County Board SupervisorPresent County Mark RichertSt. Croix N. Hudson Police ChiefExcused County Peter St. Croix Director Clinical Counseling, Present VanDusartzCountyHudson Hospital Gordon YoungSt. Croix River Falls Police ChiefPresent County Kelli EngenSt. Croix Public Health AdministratorPresent County Selena St. Croix Health & Wellbeing Educator, Excused FreimarkCountyUW Extension Amy WalshSt. Croix Emergency Physician, Westfield's Excused CountyHospital Sharlene St. Croix Administrator, Behavioral HealthPresent LopezCounty Travis SatoriusSt. Croix Attorney Manager, State Public Excused CountyDefense Kait Breuer St. Croix Treatment Court Coordinator Present County Eilidh St. Croix CEO WWH Present Pederson County Brandie Hart St. Croix SCCSO Lt. Special Services Excused County Bob Rohret St. Croix Director, HHS, Chair Present County Other is Attendance: Director of Justice Support Services Phillip Galli, Captain Tim Kufus in attendance for Brandi Hart, Kayla Stesniak Treatment Court, Cathy Borgschatz MAT Grant Coordinator with Justice Services, Epidemiologist Elle Klasen, BH Supervisor Natalie Radich, BH Supervisor Kate Robinson, Judge Nordstrand APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. CJCC Behavioral Health Subcommittee Regular Meeting November 28, 2022 10:30 AM Chair Rohret asked if after review of the CJCC Behavioral Health Subcommittee Nov. 28, 2022 minutes if any editing was needed. With no changes requested the minutes were accepted as submitted. RESULT: ACCEPTED PUBLIC COMMENT Chair Rohret opened the meeting to Public Comment. No Public Comment today. BUSINESS ITEMS 1. American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) & Peer Recovery Support Specialist Updates Deputy Director Shar Lopez provided an update on the ARPA initiatives, Co-responder data and information regarding Peer Recovery Support Specialists. Lopez introduced the two new Behavioral Health (BH) Supervisors Natalie Radich and Kate Robinson. She then informed that a new Co-Responder has also been hired, Eric Hauge. He is working through lots of training and doing ride - alongs with law enforcement. He will job shadow in the next few weeks with the hopes of getting him on his own soon. He will be working an 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM shift due to the increase in requests for support during daytime hours. Lopez shared that additional interviews are happening to fill other vacant positions as they restructure. Lopez also reported that the Peer Support Specialists are down to 1 person. Lopez provided a referral form to the subcommittee members but informed that there needs to be a connection with the applicant and BH here at SCCSC. If not currently connected they can be opened to an outreach episode which makes them active in our HER for ongoing tracking. Send these referrals to the BH intake. We are looking to recruit additional Peer Recovery Support Specialist, so if anyone has thoughts please reach out. Treatment Court Graduates are good candidates for Peer Recovery Support Specialist and ARPA funds can pay for their training. The training and other additional requirements do create barriers, so are trying to be creative in getting the applicants we do have, through the training. Finding applicants that are WI trained in the MH area is difficult. Discussion followed. One suggestion was the Peace Corp and the Recovery Corp Volunteers as they may be another resource as this is similar to Peer Recovery. This is a federally funded program. Lopez will look into this. Also, will continue to look into having a Peer recovery person at the jail for the MAT program once they are up and running. RESULT: DISCUSSED 2. Updates from Workgroup Chair and HHS Director Bob Rohret along with other members of the workgroup shared information on their work so far. Workgroup members include Bob Rohret, Eilidh Pederson, Chief Young, Kelli Engen, Brandi Hart (Tim), Phil Galli and Elle Klasen. They are still in the planning and research phase but will hold off on any recommendations until the upcoming WI MH Summit has been held and information gathered from that. Their end goal is to develop a white paper, including research and data, to provide input and recommendations on how to improve systems of care for people with Behavioral Health issues that frequently encounter emergency departments, the jails and court systems. The hope is this white paper can then be used as a tool to implement policy change. Discussion had. Pete Vandusartz shared that he would like to be included in this workgroup, Rohret will reach out to him about the next meeting. RESULT: DISCUSSED 3. Information from the WI Mental Health Symposium Chair and HHS Director Bob Rohret talked about the upcoming WI Mental Health Summit and meetings leading up to this. Initially there was a National Judicial Task Force to examine the state courts response to mental illness, then there were regional summits held, which Bob and Chief Young attended in Vermont last year. When these regional summits concluded some national recommendations were provided and since then a WI Mental Health Summit has been planned and is being held in April. A few St. Croix County staff and other community partners will plan to attend, likely; HHS Director Bob Rohret, Director of Justice Support Services Phil Galli, Chief Young, and one of the St. Croix County Judges. They will bring information from the summit back to the workgroup and this CJCC BH Subcommittee. RESULT: DISCUSSED 4. Ambulatory Withdrawal Management Updates Chair and HHS Director Bob Rohret and WWH CEO Eilidh Pederson provided an update on progress made with implementation of an ambulatory withdrawal management service. Rohret shared that in 2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds were allocated for Withdrawal Management services. A variety of ideas were discussed on how to use these funds, then a grant opportunity became available that changed the focus, unfortunately we didn't receive this grant, so we are back to the original $150,000 in ARPA funds. This led back to discussions on implementing an ambulatory withdrawal management program. This program works as people present at the Emergency Room (ER) and are in withdrawal and may have other mental health needs as well. The patient would receive a screening and assessment and screening in the hospital and then hospital staff would work with an HHS behavioral health team who would respond to the consumer's individual needs and offer additional ongoing support and resources. This is a medical model with behavioral health supports, with follow- up visits by a physician and other team members. Those in severe withdrawal would hopefully see the benefits of a medical professional's involvement and engage in a consistent program of regular visits with medical staff to receive their medications, see counselors, and connect with a care coordinator to support them in their recovery efforts. Work is still being done on the details with Western Wisconsin Health (WWH) in trying to design the model, determine demand and capacity and, determine sustainability. A team of Physicians and a Psychiatrist at WWH are very interested in supporting development of this service. Discussion and questions followed on the type of screening tool and assessment to use. Also discussed the data available on this population and any corresponding data that links jail and hospital admissions. Pete Vandusartz shared that Programs for Change would be interested in collaborating on implementation of this service. RESULT: DISCUSSED 5. Updates on Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Justice Services Director Phil Galli and Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Grant Coordinator Cathy Borgschatz informed that things are in progress with this programming in the Jail. Borgschatz shared that 18 inmates have gotten the through orientation process and are waiting for medical assessment. Next, they will be getting an Alcohol and Other Drugs Assessment (AODA). They are seeing additional interest and are hoping to serve more than 30 consumers by June. Borgschatz also informed there is interest from those that are repeat bookings or coming in and being released quickly. She feels that implementing a referral process for this population would be good and likely where the ambulatory withdrawal management could be a great program as many of them could benefit from some type of assistance as well. There were approximately 465 consumers that were booked more than 3 times in a year. The DOJ can only serve those that are in house but can refer to services those that are in and out. Discussed the type of medications that will be used and what the follow up will be. Rohret informed that HHS did submit for the next release of State Opioid Response Grant settlement funds. The next round of opioid settlement funds should be arriving soon, and Health and Human Services is gathering ideas on how to best use these funds which will be presented as proposals to the County Administrator. RESULT: DISCUSSED 6. Update on County-Operated Addiction Treatment Services and Implications for Treatment Court Deputy Director Lopez provided information on the recent adjustments to services in the Substance Use program due to staffing vacancies and changes. Lopez shared that the Substance Use program staff worked together to inform and communicate with many community partners as the service adjustments at the county level were initiated. They have received support from and collaborated with state and local partners such as the Department of Corrections (DOC), to strategize creative ways to continue to meet client needs, including some that will take medical assistance and meet with clients virtually. The DOC could also help with meeting the criteria for intensive outpatient programming. The hope is to continue to utilize some of these new opportunities as they move forward, but things will return to a new normal once new staff are hired or return from leave. Questions & discussion followed on the barriers faced in providing these services and in getting people hired. Also discussed the need for a change in the way insurance and the medical field views addiction and mental health. Judge Nordstrand shared that Treatment Court is currently taking no new applicants. They are in discussions with Programs for Change for assessment and treatment but will likely begin to use a 3rd party provider. This could also lead to changes for the Treatment Court team, but they would still want to include SCC Behavioral Health on the team in some way for additional resources to support these clients. SCC has one of the largest Treatment Courts in the state so want to continue this commitment. Vandusartz shared that Programs for Change currently works with Polk County and likes the accountability that drug court provides. Discussion continued on who can do assessments, provide the treatment, the fees associated with them, and the credentials required to provide counseling. RESULT: DISCUSSED REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Chair Rohret asked for any future agenda items. Subcommittee Members are encouraged to contact Chair Rohret or Colleen Linder if any items come up prior to next meeting. ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE Chair Rohret opened the meeting for any announcements or correspondence. ADJOURN Chair Rohret called this meeting adjourned at approximately 12:05. DATE OF NEXT MEETING March 27, 2023 @ 10:30 AM, St. Croix County Services Center in New Richmond, WI