Orange County NC Website
<br />maintain a service access system, evaluate regional system performance, tailor the deployment <br />of state resources to meet local identified needs, mobilize community response to meet <br />identified needs, advocate using state and other resources to meet local community needs, <br />display the results of system performance to all stakeholders, and manage a public process for <br />selecting priorities in the use of public resources for those with DD, MH, and SA issues, <br />Some of the threats brought forward by reform include disruptions in service if privatization is <br />too hasty, cost/problem shifting as state institutions are downsized, and system fragmentation <br />as private providers "cherry pick", Opportunities within reform for local communities include the <br />chance to nurture innovation, exploit synergy among agencies, and develop new, needed <br />services. <br />What OPC has heard consistently throughout Steering Committee meetings and community <br />feedback sessions is "Don't mess up things" like DD services, Club Nava, ACT (Assertive <br />Community Treatment) Teams, the system of care for children, and court related endeavors <br />such as Mental Health and Drug Court, By entering into the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement, <br />the three counties establish a process by which they agree to adopt and administer an annual <br />program budget that enables each county to share proportionately in the costs of programs <br />necessary to meet basic requirements under state reform, the programs that serve and benefit <br />all three alike, and be individually responsible for others that serve and benefit only their unique <br />needs. <br />County management from Orange, Person, and Chatham is working with OPC management to <br />clarify and coordinate consideration by their respective Boards of unique programs that, upon <br />demonstration to the state that good faith efforts have been made to divest, could be integrated <br />into county government operations (among other options, i,e.; establish a new non profit or fall <br />under the umbrella of the OPC Foundation) in order to sustain service viability. Examples of <br />programs under review in Orange include Childhood Early Intervention and Family Services of <br />Orange County/KidSCope, Adult Day Treatment, and Treatment Alternatives to Street Crimes <br />(TASC), Due diligence by the county would consist of a careful examination of revenue <br />streams, synergy among existing human service functions, and impacts on existing <br />infrastructure including management support, <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: The State has provided no financing plan for the implementation of <br />mental health reform, but has committed to full funding of the Local Management Entity, <br />Steering Committee efforts at the programmatic level are directed towards service changes and <br />improvements that they believe can be accomplished without adverse financial impact to the <br />three counties. However, budgetary specifics cannot be addressed with any accuracy at this <br />time and would have to be defined as monitoring and evaluation of the Local Business Plan <br />continue, The Steering Committee has consistently articulated to the State that it would not <br />divest vital program services prematurely, Recent rules issued by the State set forth definitions <br />under which certain services could be continued as part of the new LME or by county <br />government. State reimbursement rates far direct services are yet to be issued. <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive public comment, <br />provide any direction or feedback to staff, and schedule the Interlocal Ccoperation Agreement <br />for decision at its meeting on June 23, The proposed agreement is intended to go into effect on <br />July 1, 2004, <br />