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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-20-2024 Behavioral Health Minutes MEETING MINUTES CJCC BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE May 20, 2024 10:30 AM St. Croix County Services Center -Room 172 1752 Dorset Lane, New Richmond, Wisconsin CALL TO ORDER Chair Rohret called the May 20, 2024 meeting of the Community Justice Collaborating Council (CJCC) Behavioral Health Subcommittee to order at approximately 10:30 AM. ROLL CALL Attendee OrganizationTitleStatusArrived Name Dave OstnessSt. Croix County Board SupervisorPresent County Mark RichertSt. Croix N. Hudson Police ChiefPresent County Peter St. Croix Director Clinical Counseling, Present VanDusartzCountyHudson Hospital Gordon YoungSt. Croix River Falls Police ChiefPresent County Selena St. Croix Health & Wellbeing Educator, Present FreimarkCountyUW Extension Amy WalshSt. Croix Emergency Physician, Excused CountyWestfield's Hospital Sharlene LopezSt. Croix Administrator, Behavioral Present CountyHealth Kait BreuerSt. Croix Treatment Court CoordinatorRemote County Eilidh PedersonSt. Croix CEO @ WWHExcused County Brandie Hart St. Croix SCCSO Lt. Special Services Present County Stephanie St. Croix Attorney Manager Present Schmidt County Elle Klasen St. Croix Public Health Admin/Health Present County Officer Bob Rohret St. Croix Director, HHS, Chair Present County Others In Attendance: Justice Support Service Director Phil Galli, Western Wisconsin Health Chief Administrative Officer Charlie Forbush for Eilidh Pederson APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. CJCC Behavioral Health Subcommittee Regular Meeting January 22, 2024 10:30 AM Chair Rohret asked if after review of the minutes from the CJCC Behavioral Health Subcommittee Jan. 22, 2024 meeting 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 for items on or off the agenda. No public comment today. BUSINESS ITEMS 1. Updates from Hospital Partners on Regulatory Challenges Affecting Behavioral Health Care Service Development Pete Vandusartz from Hudson Hospital informed that their 3 clinics have always had both the original Chapter 35 & 75 licenses for many years, so are able to keep both as they are pre-existing. When the new Rule 75 came about, they chose to not go with it. He shared they have not faced any of the struggles that those with the new 75 have. The audit they recently had with the new 75 ruling in place, went well, as they are doing things as they always have. They are not experiencing any noncompliance with the new 75. Charlie Forbush with Western WI Health (WWH) shared that they are currently Chapter 35 certified and were informed they cannot have both rules (35 & 75) in place. They have worked with Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) to submit a waiver/variance to the state to ask to be grand fathered in to allow them to be 75 certified until things at the state level are straightened out. They were told they should hear from the state by June 10th, so are just waiting at this point. WWH is cautiously optimistic that things will work out or they will run into restrictions on providing services with just a 35 license. They are getting things in place, and have the staff, so they can begin programs as soon as they get approval. The 35 certification is a larger scope and WWH is concerned with the limitations that just the 75 license would provide,, so would like to have both so they can provide a broader array of behavioral health services, including substance use services. WWH is one of 3 hospitals trying to get this variance, but if they are told no, they are unsure what the next step will be. Vandusartz stated the integrated model was intended to help things, but the state didn't realize the unintended restrictions it would cause. He feels the state is trying to react and is pausing until they figure it out. Vandusartz also shared that in conversation at the site visit in Amery the assessor shared that Black River Falls & Lutheran Social Services had applied for and received licenses to provide detoxification services. He hasn't heard any more on what their plans are or what that would look like, and reiterated that this is not confirmed. RESULT: DISCUSSED 2. 988 Grant Opportunity Pete Vandusartz shared information about the 988 grant opportunity that he recently applied for. The 988 crisis line has been around for about 1.5 years as the National Suicide Crisis Call line and in that time, they have determined that 98% of their crisis calls are resolvable by their operators in real time. The intent of the grant is to provide funding for better coordination locally for the 2% of calls that were not resolvable by their operators. Currently 988 ends up calling local services from emergency rooms to law enforcement to handle these 2% of calls but would like a better and more coordinated hand off to these services to be sure of good outcomes with linkage and follow up. This Federal grant money will allow for WI to spread the funding into 5 areas of WI, with $200,000 per area, to assist County Health and Human Services (HHS) to build a program that would manage the connection between 988, local resources, and for better tracking across other entities involved. They also hope to better promote 988 in this process as well. This grant appears to be set up for County HHS, or a private entity that is a non-profit and has contracts with counties to provide crisis services that is in compliance with Rule 34 and serve as a pass through of Medicaid funding back to that provider. That's the programming that is already in place with telehealth and does touch 3 counties as well as 7 hospitals. Vandusartz feels what this grant is asking for could be done with what they already have in place. The collaboration has been built and implemented 6 yrs. ago. Currently hospitals have been covering the costs of these emergencies, except those clients with WI Medicaid. Those with Medicaid are billed through the county and passed through to the hospital. The cost of the current program is $282,000, with annual revenue back from Medicaid to the counties amounting to $12,000, so the hospitals are paying the difference. This grant could help sustain services for clients in all these counties. He has heard many good things about what is in place, so the hospitals benefit from having a content expert in the ED and the help to hand off to licensed professionals. The communication and follow up goes pretty well, but questions have come up from some hospital CFO's/ CEO's regarding the cost. The hope is the grant could help pay down the costs to the hospitals and provide sustainability. Vandusartz attended the question answer meeting about the grant and confirmed it could be an existing program, so wrote the grant based on current programming, and had the counties and Health Partners staff review it. He submitted the grant application and should be notified by July 7th. Checks come out in Sept. and if all goals are met in the first year, a grantee may qualify for another $200,000 for the next year. He is not sure how many counties already applied, but he is hopeful. He will keep us posted. If he doesn't get the grant funding, things will continue as they are, but could be more financial struggles to maintain the service. RESULT: DISCUSSED 3. Charlie Forbush with Western WI Health (WWH) provided an update on the Recovery Support Solutions program, a medication assisted option for withdrawal. He informed that it started slowly but referrals have picked up recently. It is run by Dr. Schwartz one of the primary care physicians with WWH, with other staff from the hospital and county providing support. Dr. Schwartz shares great success stories as he has seen people become successful, they get their kids back, and start working. Overall things are going well, and they appreciate the partnership with the county. Clients can enter this program via an external referral, internal referral, or the emergency room. There is a referral process in place and resources available. He also shared that the Peer Recovery Support providers have been a positive addition for consumers in this program. This program is an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funded program so there is concern in how to sustain after 2024. Discussions with the state have been scheduled around options to sustain this program, as well as considering other funding sources or tax levy dollars. The Peer Recovery Support providers with Northwest Passage are also funded with ARPA funds, but hopeful to extend these positions into 2025. This is a cost-effective way to support people through recovery. Rohret shared information about the Recovering Together Cafe's that are held monthly in partnership with Family Resource Center, this is a curriculum-based program. Cafe's have been quite successful in engaging the public, especially young families that might not engage in other ways. Meetings have been well attended, they provide a free meal, childcare, and other incentives. ARPA funding for this will end in 2024. The Peer Recovery Support Specialists are contracted with Northwest Passage and are funded with ARPA funds which ends in 2024 but are hoping to extend these positions with some leftover funding into 2025. This is a cost-effective way to support people through recovery. RESULT: DISCUSSED 4. HHS Deputy Director Shar Lopez provided an update on the Abuse in Later life grant that she is working with Fon Du Lac County Assistant DA, Amber Hahn on. This is being provided by the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) to provide training services to respond to and end abuse in later life. The target population is victims of abuse, domestic violence, stalking, neglect, or economic abuse to those over 50. The grant submission is due June 18th, and they should know if they are awarded the grant by Oct 1st. It is in the amount of $400,000 for 48 months with possible additional funds to address equity and tribal sovereignty. A project manager is required of the grant which they hope to recruit as a new position, as well as partnering with law enforcement, the DA's office, victim services and likely someone involved in adult protection. There is a lot of required training involving staff and the partners. Also, there are 2 phases, the planning phase for 12-18 months and the implementation phase where the outreach and services finally begin. They are hopeful in receiving this. It is a renewable grant, but not guaranteed. RESULT: DISCUSSED 5. Discuss the Public Safety Referendum, HHS Board Resolution & Legislative Actions HHS Director Rohret brought this to the agenda to provide awareness. With the Public Safety referendum for SCC being passed in the spring election, our Mental Health co- responder positions were part of this, and approved to be funded through tax levy, which is good news for sustainability. The HHS Board brought forward a resolution to state the urgent need for regional crisis stabilization centers. Wisconsin Legislators released 10 million for this effort, but it will take a couple of years for DHS to write Rule language around this new services area. This is concerning as the need exists now for these services. Our HHS Board and the County Board are trying to show support for a more timely solution. Questions remain about how many regional facilities may be eligible for this $10 million in funding. The facility would likely be for a short-term stay for persons in crisis from mental health or addiction, followed by connections to ongoing care with local providers/resources. There is also questions about sustainability of such facilities. Questions and discussion followed. RESULT: DISCUSSED 6. Mental Health Symposium Recap Deputy Director Shar Lopez shared that on May 1st the 3rd annual Mental Health symposium was held. They had wonderful presenters, a great panel, as well as a video on peer support specialists. There was also lots of resources made available by community partners. They feel the attendance was good but would always like more. Links to the recording are on the county website. RESULT: DISCUSSED 7. Updates on Substance Testing Justice Services Director Phil Galli informed that they have expanded testing to 2 days a week in the New Richmond location. They are in New Richmond on Tuesdays and Fridays and currently with the hours of 8-4. Things are going well, though temporarily short on staff. RESULT: DISCUSSED 8. White Paper Updates HHS Director Rohret shared that it has been a bit of a challenge to move forward with work on the paper since one of their members, Elle Klasen, transitioned to the PH Administrator position. They are planning to regroup and get a final product in place in time to give to legislatures and board members that would describe a more effective system when working with people with criminal justice involvement and Mental Health conditions. RESULT: DISCUSSED REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Chair Rohret asked if there any future agenda item requests. If other agenda items arise, please email Chair Rohret or Colleen Linder to get the item on the agenda. * Updates on Grants * Updates on movement with DHS 35 & 75 * EMS clearance for Emergency Detentions from Chief Young ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE Chair Rohret asked if anyone has announcements today. Nothing today DATE OF NEXT MEETING July 22, 2024 @ 10:30 AM in the SCCSC, New Richmond, WI ADJOURN Chair Rohret called this May 20, 2024 meeting of the CJCC Behavioral Health Subcommittee adjourned at approximately 11:45