Date: September 28, 2021
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Todd Metcalf, Director Lake County Behavioral Health Services
Subject: Adopt Resolution Authorizing the Standard Agreement between the County of Lake and the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC) for the period beginning upon Contract Execution through September 30, 2026 and authorize the Behavioral Health Services Director to sign the Standard Agreement and Grant Award Claim Form.
Executive Summary:
In early 2020, Lake County Behavioral Health Services (LCBHS), in partnership with the Lake County Office of Education (LCOE), applied for a Mental Health Student Services Act (MHSSA) grant, which was offered by the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC). The competitive, four-year grant was designed to incentivize partnerships between behavioral health departments and education agencies for the purpose of increasing access to mental health services in locations that are easily accessible to students and their families. The grant was designed to provide support services that include, at a minimum, services provided on school campuses, suicide prevention services, drop-out prevention services, placement assistance and service plans for students in need of ongoing services, and outreach to high-risk youth, including foster youth, youth who identify as LGBTQ, and youth who have been expelled or suspended from school. LCBHS and LCOE designed a proposal that would include additional mental health staff for LCOE to provide services and increase access to mental health interventions. Unfortunately, due to the competitive nature of the grant, Lake County was not awarded the grant.
However, one pandemic later, in April of 2021, the MHSOAC contacted Lake County about revising the grant for Lake County. The State of California was budgeting funding to assist youth and students returning to school with mental health needs brought about or exacerbated by the pandemic and using this grant as a means to distribute that funding. As Lake County barely missed out on their first round of funding, it was now at the top of the list for additional funding. LCBHS and LCOE agreed they were still interested in the grant, recognizing the need due to the pandemic. Following the passage of the State Budget in late June, MHSOAC was able to initiate the agreement before the Board of Supervisors now. The grant is for four (4) years and is $2.5 million total, a quarter of which will be distributed by MHSOAC annually.
Due to the requirements of the MHSSA grant, the funding will come to LCBHS, who will in turn distribute to LCOE. An agreement is forthcoming to the Board for that partnership. Both LCBHS and LCOE believe this is a great opportunity for the County and its students, bringing in funding to address the mental health needs of youth.
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Recommended Action:
Adopt Resolution Authorizing the Standard Agreement between the County of Lake and the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC) for the period beginning upon Contract Execution through September 30, 2026 and authorize the Behavioral Health Services Director to sign the Standard Agreement and Grant Award Claim Form.