Previously Released Sections of the Report:
2015-2016 Mariposa County Grand Jury Investigated a Complaint Concerning the John C. Fremont Healthcare District
And
2015-2016 Mariposa County Grand Jury Investigated Problems at the Mariposa County Health Department
And
2015-2016 Mariposa County Grand Jury Report Asks For Cooperation Between County Department Heads and Employees With the Grand Jury Requests
July 5, 2016 - The 2015-2016 Mariposa Grand Jury looked into a complaint about problems at Mariposa County Behavioral Health.
The following is the grand jury report on Mariposa County Behavioral Health:
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ACT AND UNLICENSED COUNSELORS
INTRODUCTION:
The Grand Jury responded to a complaint alleging that:
1. The Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) funds are not being directed toward the severely mentally ill for which those funds are designated, and;
2. That the mentally ill are being co-mingled with the homeless, alcohol and drug population and that those with mental illness are not receiving the services they need.
3. Where the mentally ill receive services there are no licensed clinicians available and they are being treated by counselors who do not have the education and licensing required to treat such patients, and;
4. That the Roadhouse, located in the town of Mariposa, which originally began as a place for the severely mentally ill to gather, socialize and speak with a case manager was now also being used to accommodate the drug, alcohol and homeless population. This was upsetting to the mentally ill as well as the mental health clinicians who continued to treat their clientele in this environment.
APPROACH:
The Grand Jury interviewed the complainant and the Director of Human Services. The Grand Jury reviewed documentation provided by the complainant, Mariposa County Administrative Officer, the official Mariposa County Department of Human Services - Behavioral Health website, and Board of Supervisors Resolutions 2013-142, 2013-471, 2014-281 and 2015-90 all relating to agreements with the Alliance for Community Transformations to provide services at the Heritage House for substance abuse clients. The Grand Jury reviewed Request for Proposals (2015) seeking a nonprofit organization to operate a wellness center that would provide supportive services for adults with mental health issues including the homeless and those in alcohol/drug recovery, Mariposa County Drug Court Enhancement Project, Contract for Services between Mariposa County Behavioral Health and Alliance for Community Transformations and Drug Court Enhancement Budget and Justification.
DISCUSSION:
Behavioral Health offers short term counseling to children, families and adults. Case management and medication services are provided to the severely mentally ill. Alcohol and drug recovery services include prevention, intervention and treatment through individual, family and group counseling.
The Roadhouse, which was operated under the auspices of the Human Services Department, was changed to the Heritage House and moved to a location on Highway 49 North just outside of town under an agreement with the Alliance for Community Transformations to operate the wellness center.
Board of Supervisors Resolution 2015-90 on February 24, 2015 approves an agreement with the Alliance for Community Transformations for the operation of the Heritage House, to include wellness, drug and alcohol services which are paid for by a grant for the Mariposa County Drug Court Enhancement Project. This grant is not part of the Mental Health Services Act.
As a result of the agreement with the Alliance for Community Transformations to operate Heritage House, the Mariposa County Department of Human Services is no longer directly responsible for the day to day operation of the wellness center. The Mariposa County Human Services department head reviews the activities and performance of the contractor.
During the Grand Jury investigation it was revealed that the Department of Human Services, Behavioral Health, was understaffed and that recruiting was underway to secure more licensed mental health clinicians as quickly as possible.
Our investigation also revealed that only licensed mental health clinicians were treating the mentally ill and the counselors that are staffed at the Alliance wellness center only advise the mentally ill on non- treatment issues. Further, some of the mentally ill were being treated at the Department of Human Services with scheduled appointments.
FINDINGS:
It is increasingly difficult for the County, through the Human Services Department, to manage an ever growing problem in Mariposa County with drug and alcohol dependency and the mentally ill with the limited resources available.
The Drug Court Enhancement Project funds are being used for the drug and alcohol population which is authorized by the grant and is not part of the Mental Health Services Act.
Because of the nature of the Heritage House wellness center it might appear that some of the counselors are treating the mentally ill without a license. However, only licensed mental health clinicians from the Human Services Department are treating the mentally ill either at the Heritage House or at the Department of Human Services.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
None.
REQUEST FOR RESPONSE:
None.
Source: 2015-2016 Mariposa County Grand Jury Report
