COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

 

Health Department

 

DATE:

May 22, 2006

BOARD MEETING DATE:

June 6, 2006

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

   

FROM:

Charlene A. Silva, Director of Health

 

Gale Bataille, Director of Mental Health Services

   

SUBJECT:

Agreement with Veterans Affairs, Palo Alto Health Care System

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution:

A) Authorizing the President of the Board to execute an Agreement with Veterans Affairs, Palo Alto Health Care System for the period March 1, 2006 through February 28, 2007, with options for each of four more years, for a maximum obligation of $968,458; and

B) Authorizing the Director of Health to execute subsequent amendments and minor modifications not to exceed an aggregate of $25,000 and to make minor changes in the type of services and activities provided under the Agreement.

 

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Ensure Basic Health and Safety for All

Goal 8: Help vulnerable people - the aged, disabled, mentally ill, at risk youth, and others - achieve a better quality of life.

 

This Agreement contributes to this commitment and goal by providing building space for the AB2034 housing and support program for homeless mentally ill adults.

 

BACKGROUND:

In 2001 the Health Services Agency negotiated and entered into an agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Palo Alto Health Care System (VA) for the use of a building on their Willow Road campus to house the AB2034 supportive/transitional housing program for 40 psychiatrically disabled clients. The 2001 agreement with the VA expired February 28, 2006. Mental Health Services contracts separately with Telecare Corporation to provide the AB2034 program services.

 

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of this agreement with the VA is to provide the building for the residential component of the AB2034 program. The AB2034 program provides supported/transitional housing for up to 40 mentally ill individuals including women and transition age youth (age 18 and older) who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness. This population also includes homeless mentally ill veterans. The residence is staffed 24 hours per day/seven days per week to provide supervision, daily living support and linkage to other mental health services.

 

Under this agreement the VA shall provide the residential facility, minor maintenance and repair services, external building and property security services, and fire protection services. Daily maintenance of the facility is the responsibility of Telecare Corporation, the AB2034 contracted service provider.

 

The building has been surveyed for accessibility and will be reviewed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance Committee of the Commission on Disabilities. A plan for improvement will be developed within the next six months. It is not expected that the facility will ever be fully compliant because of its age. The program will continue to make accommodations as needed to meet the service needs of individual clients.

 

The term of this agreement is March 1, 2006 through February 28, 2007, with options for each of the following four years. The option years of the agreement are subject to mutual agreement of the County and VA. The agreement has been reviewed and approved by Real Property, County Counsel, and Risk Management.

 

The VA is in compliance with the County Ordinance with respect to provisions of jury duty pay to employees. The County Manager has approved a waiver for the term of the Agreement to extend beyond three years to five years, and a waiver of our County’s Equal Benefits Ordinance requirements.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Agreement maximum is $968,458 for the first year and the following four option years. The maximum cost for FY 2005-06 is $180,970, which has been included in the approved FY 2005-06 Mental Health Services budget, and the maximum cost for FY 2006-07 is $187,104, which has been included in the recommended FY 2006-07 Mental Health Services Budget. This agreement is funded through Realignment revenues. There is no Net County Cost.

 

The AB2034 grant provides funding for the program components provided by Telecare.