REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
October 26, 2021
FROM
VERONICA KELLEY, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT
Title
Contract Amendments for Non-Residential Drug Court Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 1, effective October 26, 2021, to the following contracts for the provision of Non-Residential Drug Court Program services, updating contract language in accordance with California State Assembly Bill 1950, with no change to the total combined amount of $7,915,479 or the contract period of July 1, 2020 through September 30, 2024:
1. Clare|Matrix, Contract No. 20-487, with no change to the amount of $1,940,974.
2. High Desert Child, Adolescent and Family Services Center, Inc., Contract No. 20-488, with no change to the amount of $1,657,559.
3. Mental Health Systems, Inc., Contract No. 20-490, with no change to the amount of $4,316,946.
(Presenter: Veronica Kelley, Director, 388-0801)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The cost for Non-Residential Drug Court Program services of $7,915,479 is funded by 2011 realignment, Federal Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SABG) and Drug Medi-Cal. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Department of Behavioral Health’s (DBH) 2021-22 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Drug court districts identify and then refer adult drug defendants with non-violent, felony drug violations, and juvenile offenders to the County’s comprehensive Non-Residential Drug Court Program, which provides a highly structured and strictly monitored treatment alternative to prosecution. The agencies in the Recommendation provide Non-Residential Drug Court Program services to the San Bernardino, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Victorville, and Joshua Tree Drug Court districts.
The amendments to the contracts providing Non-Residential Drug Court Program services are necessary in order to comply with California State Assembly Bill 1950 (AB 1950), which decreased the length of probation terms for most criminal offenses. Pursuant to AB 1950, the time allowed for completion of the adult drug court program is reduced from a mandatory 18 months to a minimum of 12 months and up to a maximum of 18 months. This change will have minimal impact as clients needing treatment for a longer period of time will be referred to other appropriate DBH treatment programs. The agencies provide countywide Non-Residential Adult Drug Court Program services to approximately 295 clients annually at an estimated cost of $5,643 per client.
DBH is responsible for providing mental health and substance use disorder services to San Bernardino County residents who are experiencing mental illness and/or substance use disorders. An integral part of the service delivery system consists of Non-Residential Drug Court Program services. DBH has been providing Drug Court Program services through contracted providers since 1994. Drug Court Programs work by bringing multiple sectors of the community together to address criminal offenders needs, ensuring consistency in judicial decision making, and enhancing the coordination of agencies and resources.
Adult drug courts employ a program designed to reduce drug relapse and criminal recidivism among defendants and offenders through risk and needs assessment, judicial interaction, monitoring and supervision, graduated sanctions and incentives, treatment and various rehabilitation services.
PROCUREMENT
On June 23, 2020 (Item No. 35), as a result of a formal procurement, the Board of Supervisors approved the contracts in the Recommendation for the combined amount of $7,915,479 for the provision of Non-Residential Drug Court Services for the period of July 1, 2020 through September 30, 2024.
DBH will continue to monitor the contracts on a regular basis to ensure compliance standards are met.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Behavioral Health (Ellayna Hoatson, Contracts Supervisor, 388-0858) on September 20, 2021; County Counsel (Dawn Martin, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on September 27, 2021; Finance (Christopher Lange, Administrative Analyst, 386-8393) on October 1, 2021; and County Finance and Administration (Tanya Bratton, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0332) on October 5, 2021.