REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
July 23, 2024
FROM
GEORGINA YOSHIOKA, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT
Title
Licensing of High Desert Child Adolescent and Family Services Center, Inc. for the Driving Under the Influence Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Recommend High Desert Child Adolescent and Family Services Center, Inc., to become a licensed Driving Under the Influence program provider by the California Department of Health Care Services.
(Presenter: Georgina Yoshioka, Director, 252-5142)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) as the recommendation of the Board of Supervisors (Board) for the licensing process is non-financial in nature.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) is responsible for providing mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) services to San Bernardino County (County) residents experiencing severe mental illness and/or SUD.
The California State Legislature enacted Driving Under the Influence (DUI) programs in 1982, utilizing required education and counseling services for first time and repeat offenders in order to prevent the detrimental effects that drinking and driving have on the individual, family and community. DUI programs are licensed by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and provide improved public health and safety on California highways by reducing the number of incidents while operating a motor vehicle that are caused by alcohol and drug use. The programs also assist in reducing the number of repeat DUI offenses by persons who complete a state-licensed DUI program while providing participants an opportunity to address problems related to the use of alcohol and/or other drugs.
Although DHCS is responsible for licensing all DUI programs statewide, the licensing process begins with the Board, in conjunction with the County Alcohol and Drug Program Administrator (the DBH Director), by recommending DUI Providers, to DHCS for licensure. Title 9, California Code of Regulations Chapter 3: Program for Alcohol and Drug-Impaired Drivers, §9805, specifies that applicants must demonstrate a local need for a new DUI program; administrative, fiscal, and operational capabilities to operate a DUI program; provide programs that are clean, safe, and free of alcohol or illicit drug use; and adhere to all applicable statutes and regulations. One of DBH’s current certified providers, Mental Health Systems, Inc. ended operations in the Yucca Valley region on December 31, 2023. Upon conducting an outreach within DBH’s current provider network to replace services in this area, High Desert Child Adolescent and Family Services Center, Inc. (High Desert) was determined to meet all required criterion.
Upon Board approval as a recommended DUI provider, High Desert must apply and receive DHCS licensing and provide documentation to DBH for certification. DBH will return to the Board to complete the certification process. As the DHCS approval and licensing process can take several months, there is not a projected start date. Approval of this item will allow High Desert to apply to become a certified provider of the DUI program services. The recommendation of the Board is a requirement for an applicant to apply for licensing with DHCS as a DUI provider.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Behavioral Health Contracts (Lisa Rivas-Ordaz, Contract Supervisor, 386-8264) on July 2, 2024; County Counsel (Charles Phan, Supervising Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on July 2, 2024; Finance (Christopher Lange, Deputy Director, 386-8393) on July 5, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0238) on July 8, 2024.