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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-24-2022 Behavioral Health Subcommittee Minutes MEETING MINUTES CJCC BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE January 24, 2022 10:30 AM St. Croix County Services Center -Room 400 1752 Dorset Lane, New Richmond, Wisconsin NOTICE Some members may be participating remotely CALL TO ORDER Chair Rohret called the Jan. 24, 2022 meeting of the Community Justice Collaborating Council (CJCC) Behavioral Health Subcommittee to order at approximately 10:35 AM. Some delays due to technology issues ROLL CALL Attendee OrganizationTitleStatusArrived Name Dave OstnessSt. Croix HHS Board ChairPresent County Mark RichertSt. Croix N. Hudson Police ChiefPresent County Peter St. Croix Director Clinical Counseling, Remote VanDusartzCountyHudson Hospital Kristin DepreySt. Croix AODA SupervisorRemote County Gordon YoungSt. Croix River Falls Police ChiefPresent County Cathy St. Croix SCCSO Chief DeputyPresent BorgschatzCounty Kelli EngenSt. Croix Public Health AdministratorRemote County Selena St. Croix Health & Wellbeing Educator, Excused Freimark County UW Extension Amy Walsh St. Croix Emergency Physician, Westfield's Absent County Hospital Sharlene St. Croix Administrator, Behavioral Health Present Lopez County Travis Satorius St. Croix Attorney Manager, State Public Absent County Defense Bob Rohret St. Croix Director, HHS, Chair Present County Others in Attendance: CEO of Western WI Health Alison Page (Remotely), Behavioral Health Technician Kimberly Kitzberger, Justice Services Director Susanne Capparelli (Remotely), Dept. Of Corrections Agent Craig Hooyman (Remotely) APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. CJCC Behavioral Health Subcommittee Regular Meeting October 25, 2021 10:30 AM Chair Rohret asked if after the review of the CJCC Behavioral Health Subcommittee Oct. 25, 2021 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 for items on or off the agenda. No public comment today. BUSINESS ITEMS 1. Discuss Behavioral Health Sub-Committee Membership Chair Rohret explained that this agenda item was brought to the subcommittee for further review of the current membership and discussion of changes. Susan Capparelli informed of work being done to update the bylaws as requested by Judge Needham. During the review they are looking at membership of the CJCC Subcommittees as well as possible work groups to be assigned based on work initiatives. The planned membership changes on this subcommittee based on position changes and retirements include: Adding Behavioral Health Administrator Shar Lopez as a voting member, Kim Kitzberger moving to a advisory member as she is no longer the Drug Court Coordinator with her replacement Kate Brewer recommended as her replacement, Alison Page is leaving due to retirement. A representative from the medical community will be appointed by Judge Needham to replace Page. This CJCC Behavioral Health Subcommittee agreed that these changes make sense and the current membership list seems to represent the areas of need for this subcommittee. Any additional recommendations for membership would come from the subcommittees and go to Judge Needham for formal appointment. Susan will provide updates on membership changes as vacancies are filled. RESULT: DISCUSSED 2. Discuss Primary Goals for this Sub-committee and Alignment with 2022-2025 Strategic Plan Chair Rohret reviewed the 2022-2025 Strategic Plan with the subcommittee members and asked for feedback on a goal that this subcommittee could use as their focus. Rohret shared that in looking at the strategic plan he feels that this subcommittee would align well with Goal #1 "Promote an all-inclusive health and public safety environment" under Community Well Being. Several of the objectives under this goal are currently initiatives and collaborations that members of this subcommittee are working on, or will begin work on as American Rescue Plan Act funds begin to be utilized. Subcommittee members agreed this goal fit well with this subcommittee and will use this as their overarching goal moving forward. RESULT: DISCUSSED 3. Review the Current Behavioral Health Initiatives Impacting Criminal Justice-involved Populations Behavioral Health Administrator Shar Lopez provided an update on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) initiatives. Lopez informed that in 2021 ARPA funds provided 1st months rent to 14 individuals in Recovery Housing through Onyx. Onyx is looking to get some incentives in place to engage individuals to continue services after the one month. They will track the services that individuals access while they are in housing such as employment services, length of stay, and progress on recovery efforts. Lopez will keep this group informed on how things progress with Sober Living in 2022. Lopez shared that today is the 1st day of orientation with four new ARPA staff that have been hired. They are currently going through orientation and training to better understand all things related to Health and Human Services . They come to us with great backgrounds that fit nicely with the work planned for these positions and also includes an intern that is looking to learn and assist however she can. New staff will train through job shadowing and ride-a-longs with law enforcement. Lopez wants to get new employees off on the right foot, be well trained, understand the philosophy of care, and set them up for positive results as they interact in the community. HHS is still recruiting for 2 FTE Peer Support Recovery Specialist positions and may contract with another provider for this need. Lopez will be looking at our recent pool of candidates to determine if any would fit for the remaining FTE Case Manger position, if not will repost. Another ARPA initiative in progress is withdrawal management services. Preliminary talks are being held with Grace Place to gauge their interest and ability in operating a small withdrawal management service out of their shelter. This would be a lower level of care than a hospital, but where consumers could receive assistance with safe withdrawal. The county wouldn't operate this program, but support as needed with ARPA funds. Withdrawal management would be a new service with the goal of reducing emergency department admissions while providing person-centered care for safe withdrawal from substances. Public Health Administrator Kelli Engen shared information about Healthier Together and the work they are doing. Healthier Together is a collaborative effort between St. Croix County and Pierce County Public Health Departments. In the current Community Health Needs Assessment, substance use and mental health concerns are being addressed in various ways with their Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). 2022 is the final year with the current CHIP. A new Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) will be drafted for the next 3 years 2023-2026, based on results of the new Community Health Needs Assessment. This is required of hospitals every 3 years and Public Health Departments every 5 years. The Community Health Needs Assessment is one of the tools used to determine priorities, and again mental health and substance use were identified as top priorities based on surveys. On Feb. 17th there is a meeting for stakeholders to help shape the implementation plan for the next cycle. It is good for this subcommittee to continue to be informed of the Public Health efforts as they do overlap with the work this subcommittee is focusing on. Chair Rohret shared that there are also monthly regional stakeholder meetings, including a variety of partners, with the intention of creating a regional discussion on the system of care to approach addiction as a chronic disease and health concern and how we work together to respond to these changes. Kimberly Kitzberger informed that the Substance Use Survey has had no recent developments, but feels it could gain some traction moving forward. They hope to regroup soon and look at ways to get survey into the hands of more people and get Ipads in the healthcare settings. Kimberly shared that her new position is a BH Technician with the intent of being a clinical substance use counselor once her licensing is renewed. Chair Rohret provided a brief update on the State Opioid Response grant. This grant is earmarked to improve access to medication assisted treatment for uninsured or under insured persons in need of support for opioid and methamphetamine use. Kristin DePrey will report more at the next meeting. Shar Lopez informed about the Narcan Direct program, making Narcan available to Sheriff's Dept., the Medical Examiner's office and others. Currently 31 HHS staff have been trained and 209 doses of Narcan have been distributed to utilize as needed in their work or to provide to clients they consider high risk. The obligation we have is a 15 min. training on how to recognize an overdose and how to respond to anyone we provide Narcan to. Several staff are able to provide this training when needed. Pete VanDusartz shared that the Emergency Dept. Telehealth team continues to be staffed with reduce hours but are orienting new staff now and hope to get to full strength soon. Chair Rohret then thanked Alison Page for all of her work and involvement as she retires. She shared some information of the expanded services at Western WI Health and thanked this group for the continued work and will support however she can in her retirement. RESULT: DISCUSSED 4. Explore Future Opportunities Chair Rohret informed that St. Croix County is anticipating receiving Opioid Settlement dollars, t he State gets 30 % and Counties receive 70% of the allocation. We are reviewing the guidance provided in the settlement document to determine how best to use these funds but also to determine how funding can be used towards addressing addiction more broadly. We should receive the funds around the 2nd quarter of 2022. Discussion had on thoughts or ideas in addressing the needs in the area and in using these funds. Rohret shared that as we get closer to spending these funds he will reach out to get a workgroup implemented to continue brainstorming on where to focus the funds to get the best outcomes. Kim Kitzberger provided a couple of updates from the state . She shared that there is work being done on the language in the Treatment Alternatives Diversion Grant. Currently to qualify for a diversion or treatment court, substance use has to be a contributing factor for the consumers criminal activity, but things are moving to include mental health needs or concerns as a qualifier . This will likely lead to a shift in Treatment Alternatives and Diversion (TAD) grant funding and we may see more Mental Health Treatment Courts popping up. Secondly, the State of Wisconsin Association of Treatment Court Professionals is working with the State of Michigan and their work on long term community housing, to build a housing recovery community. In WI it would be more of a regional model that towns and counties could access for recovery housing. She will keep everyone informed on this as it may be something St. Croix County would want to take a lead in and push for in this area. RESULT: DISCUSSED REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS * Updates on potential crisis beds in Eau Claire and the use of the funding ear marked for regional crisis centers ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE * Pete VanDusartz informed that the Amery Hospital Behavioral Health Unit is now open with 10 beds available for mental health crisis. ADJOURN Chair Rohret called this Jan. 24, 2022 meeting of the CJCC Behavioral Health Subcommittee adjourned at approximately 11:50 AM. DATE OF NEXT MEETING March 28, 2022 @ 10:30 AM in the St. Croix County Services Center, New Richmond