HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/15/2021 03B Discussion of Councilmember Funk's draft American Rescue Plan Project Proposal to address Mental Health Challenges in Yakima ti i..asxntntj kd
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BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. 3.B.
For Meeting of: June 15, 2021
ITEM TITLE: Discussion of Councilmember Funk's draft American Rescue Plan
Project Proposal to address Mental Health Challenges in Yakima
SUBMITTED BY: Robert Harrison, City Manager
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
At the June 1, 2021 Council meeting, staff was directed to add this issue to the June 15 agenda.
ITEM BUDGETED:
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL BY THE CITY MANAGER
RECOMMENDATION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date Type
ci pro sal 1212021 r Memo
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American Rescue Plan Project Proposal for
Mental Health Challenges in Yakima
Kay Funk, MD
June 1st, 2021
Specific Problems
• "Dumping" of a homeless man who already had trespass orders and outstanding warrants
• Death of Tiffany Eubanks and other incidents with impaired and/or intoxicated individuals
• Persistent Camping and problem behavior on Naches Parkway
• The new requirement that individuals in possession of a controlled substance must be offered
diversion to substance use disorder assessment and treatment services at least twice will require
increased longitudinal record keeping
Background Problems which often result in cross-over of criminal justice and
mental health issues
• ACEs, dysfunctional parenting, trauma, PTSD
• Criminal behavior, eg domestic violence, theft, assault, driving while intoxicated
• Possession, sale, and use of illegal intoxicants (stimulants cause more problems)
• Addiction/Substance Use Disorder w/legal substances, eg alcohol, MJ, prescription drugs,
computer games
• Cognitive disability eg developmental delay, encephalopathy, brain injury
• Mental health detention criteria (danger to self or others, grave disability) with inadequate
resources for detention
• Incompetence for self-care (eg dementia) which does not meet criteria for detention
Program
• Staff a "human services" department for the City of Yakima. This will allow the City to manage
homeless funds. This individual will also manage liaison to Medication Assistance Treatment
(MAT) for Substance Use Disorder in City Jail.
• Financially support additional Crisis Response Mental Health Professionals to provide needed
24/7 coverage and additional YPD patrol coverage
• MAT for Substance Use Disorder in City Jail and referrals to follow-up
• Yakima Fire Department to consider purchase and staffing of 2 paramedic-led emergency
response vehicles
• Home detention options
Funding Opportunities/References
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American Rescue Plan Provides More Relief to Local Governments. Eric Lowell. Municipal
Research News. Spring 2021.
https:ii mrsc.orq!Home!Stay-Informed!M RSC-Insight/March-2021/America n-Rescue-Plan-
Provides-Relief.aspx
"ARRA fonds can be used by Local governments:
• To respond to the public health emergency caused by CO1,40-19...
The ARPA legislation is over six hundred pages long, and this article only covers areas most
pertinent to local governments. Also included in ARRA are several other potential grant
opportunities for local governments. vox agency may want to pursue funding available in these
areas, such as:
• floe grants for comm unity mental health services (Section 2701)
• flock grants for prevention and treatment of substance abuse(Section 2702)
• Grants for local substance use disorder services Section 2706)
• Grants for focal behavioral health needs (Section 2707)
• Homelessness assistance and supportive services (Section 3205)-
Legislature agrees on approach to address Blake
https: !wacities.orgtadvocacy/Newsiadvocacy-news12021!04'26/legislature-agrees-on-approach-
to-a dd ress-e m-bla ke-e m
"The legislation requires law enforcement officers who encounter an individual in possession of a
controlled substance to offer a diversion to seek substance use disorder assessment and treatment
services. The first two interactions by law enforcement must result in such a diversion. Further
contacts allow the officer to offer diversion but does not mandate that the officer do so. If an officer
arrests and pursues a misdemeanor charge, the prosecutor is not required to prosecute. The
prosecutor may offer diversion or move forward with a charge.
The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA)is charged with establishing a recovery services
advisory committee to create a substance use recovery services plan. The purpose of the plan is to
implement measures to assist those with a substance use disorder in accessing outreach, treatment,
and recovery support services that are low-barrier, person-centered, informed by people with lived
experience, and culturally and linguistically appropriate. Additionally, the committee must make
recommendations regarding the appropriate criminal legal system response, if any, to possession of
controlled substances. It must also make recommendations regarding the collection and reporting of
data that identifies the number of people law enforcement officers and prosecutors engage with
regarding drug possession, and the design of a mechanism for referring people with a substance use
disorder, or who display problematic behaviors resulting from substance use, to supportive services. A
final plan is due to the Legislature by December 1, 2022.
The HCA will also establish several other plans and programs, including:
• A comprehensive statewide substance misuse prevention plan. As a part of this plan,
the HCA must administer a competitive grant process for existing local community
efforts to prevent substance misuse. The plan must be completed by January 1,
2024.
• A grant program to provide treatment for low-income individuals with substance use
disorder who are not eligible for Medicaid. Grant distribution must begin by March 1,
2022.
• A grant-based homeless outreach stabilization transition program. Grant distribution
must begin by March 1, 2022.
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• Funding for behavioral health administration services organizations to establish
recovery navigator programs. These programs will provide community-based
outreach, intake, assessment, connection to services, and, as needed, long-term
intensive case management and recovery coaching services to individuals with
substance use disorders.
• An expanded recovery support services program that increases regional access to
recovery services for substance use disorder such as housing, employment training,
recovery coaching, and legal support.
By July 1, 2022, the Criminal Justice Training Commission must develop new training for law
enforcement officers on how to manage interactions with people they encounter with substance use
disorders, including referral to treatment and recovery services. The training will be incorporated into
the curriculum at the Basic Law Enforcement Academy.
In addition to the$83.5 million in the state's budget to help the state and counties manage the legal
impacts of the Blake decision, SB 5476 includes another$88.4 million to help establish the new
programs outlined above. Of that$88.4 million, $4.5 million will go to the Administrative Office of the
Courts to help enhance municipal and district therapeutic courts. There are no direct appropriations to
cities to offset the costs of diversion and prosecution."