REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
May 19, 2020
FROM
VERONICA KELLEY, Director, Behavioral Health
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Application to the California Department of Health Care Services for the Federal McKinney Project for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness Program 2020-21
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve and authorize the submission of a grant application to the California Department of Health Care Services for continued funding, in the amount of $507,750, for the Federal McKinney Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness program for the provision of services to individuals who have a serious mental illness, or who have co-occurring serious mental illness and substance use disorders, and who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless, for the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021.
2. Designate the Director of the Department of Behavioral Health, as the County Mental Health Director, to sign and submit the grant application documents, including any subsequent non-substantive amendments for the Federal McKinney Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness program, as required by the California Department of Health Care Services, on behalf of the County, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Director of the Department of Behavioral Health, as the County Mental Health Director, to transmit all grant application documents in relation to the Federal McKinney Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness program to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Veronica Kelley, Director, 388-0801)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The Federal McKinney Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) program grant application in the amount of $507,750 requires a match of $1 for each $3 of PATH program funding received. The Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) will provide the $169,250 match through in-kind services provided by staff whose positions are financed by Mental Health Services Act funds. The total program cost is $677,000 (PATH program funding + match). The staff associated with the match provide services that include targeted outreach, planning and coordination to housing situations, linkage to behavioral health services in community settings, referrals for mental health medication support services, integration with health services, job training and education services. If successful, DBH will return to the Board of Supervisors (Board) to request acceptance of the PATH program grant award, and any necessary budget adjustments.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
PATH is a formula grant program, which provides funding for the provision of services to individuals who are suffering from a severe mental illness or from a co-occurring severe mental illness and substance use disorder and are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless. DBH will use the PATH program funding to provide outreach, planning and coordination to housing situations, linkage to behavioral health services including medication support, job training, education services, and case management services to an estimated 225 unduplicated clients at an annual estimated total program cost of $3,008 per individual.
The federal government provides the funds for the PATH grant; while the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is responsible for the administration of the entire program for California including the distribution of PATH funds. In California, only county mental health departments are eligible to receive PATH funds from DHCS. DBH has received PATH funding since the inception of the PATH grant program in 1990.
On April 17, 2020, DHCS released instructions for completion of the grant application documents. DHCS has directed the DBH Director, as the County Mental Health Director and responsible for the administration of the County’s mental health services, to execute and submit the PATH grant application. The full grant application package, which includes assurances, Provider Intended Use Plan, and budget documents, were originally due to DHCS on May 1, 2020. DBH requested an extension in order to have sufficient time to present the item to the Board, which DHCS granted. The new due date to submit the application electronically to DHCS is May 20, 2020.
DBH is requesting approval for the DBH Director, as the County Mental Health Director, to execute and submit the grant award documents including any subsequent non-substantive revisions and/or amendments to the grant documents, as required by the State, on behalf of the County, subject to review by County Counsel.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Behavioral Health Contracts (Natalie Kessee, Contracts Manager, 388-0869) on April 29, 2020; County Counsel (Dawn Martin, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on April 29, 2020; Finance (Christopher Lange, Administrative Analyst, 386-8393) on April 29, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Tanya Bratton, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0332) on April 29, 2020.