Minutes - 20050526 - Laserfiche WebLink

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pertaining to the future of Club Nova and those programs under the umbrella of ChildScope (KidScope, Early Family Intervention & Family Services, Children's Learning Center, and PACT} • Continuing to be kept apprised of legislation introduced by Representative Insko affecting the funding and delivery of community-based mental health programs and their supportive services • Continuing to be kept informed on the proposed rollout of the new State service definitions, projected to go into effect on July 1, 2005 (date recently pushed back to October 7, 2005) Chair Carey said that he, John Link, and Representative Insko had a meeting with Mr. Moseley, Director of QMHIDDlSAS. He feels that Mr. Moseley understands their needs but he does not have control over some situations. The service definitions currently are not planned to go into effect until October 1, 2005, and Mr. Moseley said that he wants to have 90 days notification before the service definitions are implemented. He said that this transition has generated a lot of stress, but he feels confident that the three county areas are dealing with this the best that they can. The State has not put enough money into this transition and he does not think they are going to. Representative Insko is working to try and get OPC some transition money. Same County funds may have to be used. Commissioner Halkiotis said that this Board of County Commissioners has always been a very hands-on Board. He thinks the Board should stay hands-on and always stay involved. He said that the representatives here tonight from the mental health organizations are here because they are concerned and worried about what is going to happen. He said that he would like to have an on-going report coming back to the Board about mental health reform and this transition. He agreed with Chair Carey that the $1 million would not be enough. He said that the citizens need their help. Commissioner Jacobs asked what happens if Representative Insko's bill does not get passed in the legislature. He asked about any contingency plans for funding. John Link said that, based on service definitions, the State will fund those that have the highest priority and the Board of County Commissioners can appropriate the entire amount set aside for mental health. He said that at the OPC-LME meetings, he has asked them to let the County know ahead of time if there will not be sufficient funding to bridge the process before the State figures out the service definitions and the cash flow. If the Board is not satisfied during the budget process, then it can set aside a reserve. He said that Judy Truitt and her staff are trying very hard to keep things together and try to address the service provisions in place now and try to take care of the mental health organizations. Gwen Harvey said that Judy Truitt would have been here tonight but she had a long- standing commitment with her family. She agreed with John Link that they have asked at the OPC-LME meetings about the availability of funds, and the response has been that the amount of the County contribution that was already submitted as a part of the Manager's recommended budget would keep every program intact through 2005-06. Commissioner Jacobs said that having the undesignated fund to hold past June 30t" is a good idea, but he would think that the organizations represented here tonight think about this process the way the Board feels about the legislature -that people of good heart assure that they will try to do their best. However, he thinks there should be a fallback position. Chair Carey said that there are no guarantees and the OPC-LME Board needs $1.2 million just to deal with the personnel transition issues. This is because of the correction in the audit that deals with unpaid annual leave. He does not know where this money will come from.