Agenda - 09-07-2005-9c - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: September 7, 2005 Action Agenda Item No. Q`G SUBJECT: Agreement between Health Department and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools for Behavioral Counseling Services DEPARTMENT: Health PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): Agreement INFORMATION CONTACT: Rosemary Summers, ext 2411 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To approve an agreement to provide behavioral health counseling services to Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS). BACKGROUND: In the past year, Jennifer Sharpe, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at the Health Department, began providing behavioral counseling services to children and adolescents referred to her by school nurses in both school systems in the County. This was a direct outgrowth of Ms. Sharpe's work providing therapeutic counseling services to high-risk maternity clients and adolescents being seen by the Health Department. The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools system has requested additional services to be provided, primarily for students identified by student services teams in three middle schools in the system that are at-risk for or exhibiting behavioral issues. (Note: In the past, OPC has contracted with the schools for services through the Northside Child Clinic. Unfortunately, because of staff turnover and the shift to a community support model as part of mental health reform, it was not feasible to sustain. OPC will consult with the schools as needed and participate through the local system of care collaborative, but the Health Department in this proposal would be contracting to provide the therapy component.) Due to prior patient commitments both in the Health Department clinics as well as from other school referrals, the Health Department currently lacks the capacity to divert Ms. Sharpe's resources to provide the level desired by the school system. CHCCS has identified a one-time source of funds to pay for these services. The Health Department will contract with a licensed clinical social worker specifically to provide these services for the 05-06 academic year. Having the agreement managed in the Health Department will ensure that services to the schools are coordinated between Ms. Sharpe and the contract therapist. It is anticipated that the amount available will pay for approximately 600 hours of service or about 20 hours/week for 30 weeks. The Health Director discussed this project with the Social Services Director to determine whether this service should be provided through that department rather than the Health