MEETING DATE: 8/18/2020
DEPARTMENT: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
DEPT HEAD/DIRECTOR: Alan Yamamoto
AGENDA ITEM PREPARER:
SBC DEPT FILE NUMBER: 810
SUBJECT:
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT - A. YAMAMOTO
Approve MOU Agreement for MHSA (Mental Health Services Act) Funded Hollister Police Department Position and Partnership with Behavioral Health for Crisis Response Team Project.
SBC FILE NUMBER: 810
AGENDA SECTION:
CONSENT AGENDA
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:
On July 21, 2020 the County Board of Supervisors approved the County Behavioral Health Dept.’s Three (3) Year Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Plan. A new service program introduced in the plan is the implementation of a Crisis Response Team that would allow for mobile response team capability for interface and intervention with individuals in the community that may be showing signs and symptoms of escalating to a potential level of acute mental health crisis. This project is a pilot program and as such a service that has never existed in the County of San Benito. The team would consist of a Hollister Police Officer (HPD) who will be designated as and receive training as a Community Liaison Officer who will work in tandem with County Behavioral Health, assigned Mental Health staff. The intent overall is to intervene and provide therapeutic focused support to assist individuals to become mentally stable and avoid the escalation of psychological and emotional behaviors that could if otherwise left unaddressed, advance to a level necessitating implementation of involuntary 5150 detention and possible restrictive care, such as hospitalization.
The City Council of Holister has reviewed this project proposal and approved the project and acceptance of MHSA funding for the purpose of allocating a HPD position to be dedicated to this Crisis Response Team Project.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Hollister Police Dept.
The Sheriff’s Dept. also responds to situations where individuals who may be considered as escalating to the level of mentally ill behaviors that involuntary 5150 detention may be warranted.
BUDGETED:
Yes