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>> HAVRDA: ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR FEBRUARY PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING. TODAY IS FEBRUARY THE 20TH , AND AT 9:33 WE CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MA'AM.
DID WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? >> CLERK: NO, MA'AM.
>> HAVRDA: MOVE ON TO APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR THE JANUARY 16TH MEETING.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON CONSENT. DID ANYBODY WANT TO PULL IT?
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> SO MOVED.
>> SECOND. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? POSITION PASSES.
THANK YOU. WE'LL -- MOTION PASSES. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THIRD ITEM,
A BRIEFING BY METRO HEALTH ON OUR STRATEGIC GUIDE. >>
>> VILLAGÓMEZ: GOOD MORNING. THE FIRST ITEM IS MET FROE HEALTH IS BEGINNING TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO DEVELOP A MENTAL HEALTH GUIDE THAT WILL FOCUS ON THE INTERSECTION OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND MENTAL HEALTH. SO WE HAVE JESSE HIGGINS, WHO IS ONE OF OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTORS AT METRO HEALTH, AND SHE'S ALSO OUR MENTAL HEALTH CHIEF OFFICER TO MAKE
A PREPARATION THIS MORNING. JESSE. >> GOOD MORNING.
I WILL BE GIVING YOU A BRIEFING ON MENTAL HEALTH SPENDING BUT FIRST BRIEFING YOU ON DEVELOPMENT OF A STRATEGIC GUIDE THAT LOOKS AT THE INTRODUCTION OF MENTAL HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND WE'LL HAVE TIME FOR QUESTIONS BETWEEN EACH PRESENTATION. THIS PRESENTATION WILL TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19 IN THIS AREA. THE CITY'S CURRENT PUBLIC SAFETY AND MENTAL HEALTH EFFORTS AND A STRATEGIC GUIDE THAT WILL HELP US BETTER DEFINED OUR ROLES IN THIS INTERSECTION. ON THIS SIDE, I HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF THE IMPACTS THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY FELT FROM THE PANDEMIC THAT STARTED IN 2020.
THIS IS IN NO WAY COMPREHENSIVE OF EVERYONE'S EXPERIENCE.
HEALTH DISPARITIES WERE MAGNIFIED. THERE WERE EMOTIONAL IMPACTS. PEOPLE FELT ISOLATED AND LONELY BECAUSE OF CHANGES TO OUR DAILY LIVES. PEOPLE FELT GRIEF AND LOSS FOR LOVED ONES WHO DIED.
AND PEOPLE FELT FEAR AND WORRY THAT WE WOULD GET SICK, LOSE THEIR JOBS OR THAT CHANGES WOULD BE TOO MUCH TO HANDLE. AND THERE WAS UNDOUBTEDLY AN IMPACT TO THE WAY OUR COMMUNITY WAS FEELING AS A WHOLE.
WE FELT DISCONNECTED FROM EACH OTHER. WE SAW THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD AND THERE WAS UNREST AND DISSATISFACTION WITH THE STATUS QUO.
OUR COMMUNITY CALLED FOR MORE INVOLVEMENT FROM OUR CITY GOVERNMENT AND MORE WORK TO BE DONE IN THE AREA OF MENTAL HEALTH AND CHANGES IN THE WAY THE PUBLIC WOULD RESPOND. IN APRIL OF 2022, METRO HEALTH LAUNCHED A COMMUNITY FOCUSED STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WOULD RESPOND TO THESE IMPACTS OF COVID-19.
THE MENTAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE PRIORITY AREA CALLED FOR CENTRALIZING THE CITY'S MENTAL HEALTH EFFORTS. THESE EXISTING EFFORTS INCLUDED A COLLABORATION WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, THE BEGINNING OF OUR ARPA FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH, AND JOINING THE EXISTING COLLABORATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY. I WAS HIRED AS CHIEF MENTAL HEALTH OFFICER IN JUNE OF 2022 AND STARTED WORKING ON THE PILOT OF SA-CORE AS WELL AS THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR ARPA. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HOW TO APPROACH OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT IT FROM A PAIR OF ACES FRAMEWORK. YES, THERE ARE ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES, VIOLENCE, ABUSE, DYSFUNCTION IN THE HOME, AND THAT AFFECTS PEOPLE LIVES AND THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. THERE'S ALSO ADVERSE COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTS LIKE POVERTY, DISCRIMINATION AND LACK OF OPPORTUNITY THAT CAN AFFECT PEOPLE'S RESILIENCE.
A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO THE INEQUITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY ASKED US TO LOOK AT THE ENTIRE SPECTRUM. THE STRATEGIC GUIDE FOCUSES ON THE INTERSECTION OF MENTAL HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY. ON THIS CONTINUUM, IT'S LIKELY THAT PUBLIC SAFETY BECOMES INVOLVED WHERE WE SEE RISK BEHAVIORS, DISEASE, INJURY AND MORTALITY IN THE DOWNSTREAM AREA. PUBLIC SAFETY INTERACTS
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MENTAL HEALTH WHERE THERE IS A -- SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND OTHER ISSUES HAVE ESCALATED PEOPLE'S POSITIONS TO LEVEL OF CRY CRYOPRESERVATION -- CRISIS.AND ALLEVIATING THE PAIN PEOPLE FEEL. THIS MENTAL HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY STRATEGIC GUIDE CAN BETTER DEFINE THE CITY'S ROLE AND SHOW US WAYS WE CAN ALIGN WITH THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS' WORK AND COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS TO SERVE OUR RESIDENTS THE BEST WE CAN. FOR MY PORTFOLIO OF WORK, THE GOAL IS IMPROVE COORDINATION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES BY STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY ASSETS TO ENSURE EMOTIONAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING.
MY GOAL IS EXPAND ACCESS TO YOUTH SERVICES THROUGH ARPA FUNDING, EXPAND TO CHILDREN AND AREAS WITH HIGHER NEEDS, CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE WORK ON THE SA-CORE TEAM AND INITIATING LEVEL 1 TRAUMA IN CITY DEPARTMENTS. SOUTH OUT TO SAPD AND METRO HEALTH. IT'S VERY EXCITING FOR BOTH OF US.
AS WE LOOK INTO THE INTERSECTION OF MENTAL HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY, SAPD 911 CALLS FOR MENTAL HEALTH ARE SOMETHING WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO.
THROUGH THE PANDEMIC WE'VE HAD AN INCREASE CONTINUES 2019.
I EXPECT AS WE CONTINUE TO DESTIGMATIZE MENTAL HEALTH CALLS WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE HIGH VOLUME. THIS IS NOT GOING AWAY. THE CITY HAS HAD SEVERAL LONG STANDING PUBLIC SAFETY HEALTH INITIATIVES, BOTH THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS HAVE A HISTORY OF WORKING IN THE MENTAL HEALTH ARENA. INDEPENDENTLY WITH EACH OTHER AND PARTNERSHIPS. SAPD TEACH CRISIS INTERVENTION.
WHEN THERE ARE ESCALATED MENTAL HEALTH CALLS, SAPPED HAS A PROTOCOL TO SUPPORT WITH MENTAL HEALTH OFFICERS. TO GET INDIVIDUALS IN A CRISIS TO THE RIGHT CARE AT THE RIGHT TIME, SAPPED PARTICIPATES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT NAVIGATIONS THROUGH THE SOUTHWEST TEXAS CRY LIST COLLABORATIVE, THREAT ASSESSMENT GROUPS, IDENTIFY PUBLIC SAFETY THREATS AND BEHAVIORAL THREATS.
THE PROGRAM FOR INTENSIVE CARE COORDINATION CONNECTS INDIVIDUALS TO SERVICES.
MULTI-AGENCY PARTNERSHIP FOR STABILIZATION CONNECTS PERSONS WITH CONCERNED SERVICES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS A MENTAL HEALTH NAVIGATOR WHO ASSISTS WITH COMPLEX PATIENTS AND HIGH VOLUME CALL UTILIZERS.
THE IMPACT TEAM COLLABORATES TO WORK WITH THE DOWNTOWN HOMELESS CORPORATION.
SA-CORE PROVIDES A 911 RESPONSE AND IN METRO HEALTH WE HAVE HARM REDUCTION CONTRACTS. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE CITY HAS BEEN WORKING IN THIS INTERSECTION FOR A LONG ESTABLISH THE ISSUE AREAS AT THE INTERSECTION OF MENTAL HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THE CITY. WHAT IS UNIQUE TO US IN THE CITY.
TO PROVIDE A DEFINED VISION AND PURPOSE TO ADDRESS THIS INTERSECTION.
WHAT IS OUR WORK TO DO IN THIS AREA. TO IDENTIFY EXAMPLES OF SIMILAR WORK FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES. WHAT ARE OTHER COMMUNITIES DOING THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM. THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT AT THIS TIME AS THIS FIELD IS GROWING AND CHANGING AT A RAPID PACE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND TO ALIGN STRATEGIC GOALS ACROSS METRO HEALTH AND THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT. HOW DO WE TAKE OUR EXISTING COLLABORATION AND ENERGY AND MOVE FORWARD MUCH WE RECOGNIZE THAT INPUT FROM COMMUNITY PACKAGES IS INVALUABLE TO THIS PROCESS. INTERNALLY AND IN ADDITION TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE ALSO ENGAGED THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND MUNICIPAL COURT FOR PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENT OF THE GUIDE AND EXTERNALLY WE HAVE A LONG LIST OF PARTNERS. BEXAR COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, BRAKE PROBATE COURT, BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, NAI, STRAC. U.T. HEALTH THE OFFICE OF THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR, UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL DETENTION HEALTH CARE SERVICES, AND THE UNIVERSITY
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HOSPITAL BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE DEPARTMENT. AND FINALLY, THE TIME LINE.THESE INTERVIEWS ARE ALMOST COMPLETE. IN MARCH AND APRIL WE WILL CRAFT AND DRAFT A -- EXCUSE ME, A DRAFT OF THE STRATEGIC GUIDE, AND IN MAY WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TO YOU A REPORT AND PRESENTATION. I'LL NOW TAKE ANY QUESTIONS
YOU MAY HAVE ON THIS BRIEFING. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION, JESSE. IT WASN'T TOO LONG AGO, YOU MENTIONED IT, THE MENTION OF MENTAL HEALTH CARRIED A STIGMA THAT MADE IT DIFFICULT TO DISCUSS OPENLY SINCE BEGINNING OF MY TENURE AT A COUNCIL PERSON.
I'VE TRIED TO TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND YOU MENTIONED IT'S AN EXCITING DAY. IT IS EXCITING. IT'S KIND OF A NEW DAY IN TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH. A LOT OF THAT STEMMED FROM MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE.
I'M A DISABILITY ATTORNEY. THERE WAS -- IF I CAN'T SEE WHAT'S WRONG WITH WITH YOU, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU. I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS NOW. IT'S A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD. WITH COVID I THINK A LOT OF WHAT HAPPENED DURING COVID ALLOWED US TO BE MORE OPEN IN TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND WE CAN'T REMEMBER THAT THIS IS BORNE FROM FORMER COUNCILMEMBERS, FROM CURRENT COUNCILMEMBERS, BUT ALSO FROM COMMUNITY. OF COURSE THERE WAS A BIG, BIG PUSH IN 2020 TO TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT TYPES OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND MENTAL HEALTH IS PUBLIC SAFETY. AND YOU MENTIONED THAT. I THINK THANKFULLY THAT'S CHANGING AND WHILE WE'RE STILL PUSHING AND THERE'S A LONG WAY TO GO, WE'RE AT A PLACE WHERE I THINK MENTAL HEALTH IS A PRIORITY. IT'S BEEN MY PRIORITY SINCE I FIRST CAME TO COUNCIL. AND SO MUCH OF THAT IS REALLY JUST GETTING THROUGH THAT STIGMA. YOU SHOWED THAT BAR GRAPH OF THE NUMBER OF CALLS INCREASING. THE FIRST THOUGHT I HAD IS IT REALLY INCREASING OR WE FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE. YOU MENTIONED THAT. AND I DO WONDER IF THERE'S A WAY TO BREAK THAT DOWN. I KNOW WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY ASK WHEN THERE'S A 911 CALL, WE DIDN'T USED TO ASK IS THIS A MENTAL HEALTH CONCERN, IS THIS -- YOU KNOW, FIRE, POLICE, EMS. THAT'S WHAT WE USED TO ASK. IN A LOT OF OUR TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY ABOUT THE SA-CORE TEAMS, WE DID PRESENT, WE DID ASK FOR -- ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IS IT A MENTAL HEALTH EPISODE. DO WE KNOW IF THAT'S HAPPENING? THAT MAY BE A QUESTION FOR CHIEF.
>> OKAY. WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MOMENT, CHIEF, BUT THE PLAN TO GET THERE. AND I DO RECOGNIZE THAT NOT EVERY LAY PERSON CALLING ABOUT A LOVED ONE OR A NEIGHBOR THAT'S HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH EPISODE KNOWS THAT THEY ARE HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH EPISODE, BUT IF THEY DO HAVE THAT HISTORY MAYBE THERE'S A WAY TO IDENTIFY IT EARLY AND MAYBE GET A DIFFERENT RESPONSE.
THE COLLABORATION, JESSE, THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND, OF COURSE, CLAUDE PUT TOGETHER, THE PLAN AND THE STRATEGIC GUIDE ARE A FIRST IN THIS CITY.
I REALLY AM GRATEFUL, I'M PROUD THAT YOU ARE FOCUSING ON YOUTH, BUT ALSO THE TRAUMA INFORMED CERTIFICATION. THAT'S A BIG DEAL.
THAT IS -- I THINK WE CAN'T UNDER STATE WHAT A BIG DEAL THAT IS.
THE GUIDE IS FOLKING US ON DOING GOOD WHERE MOST NEEDED AND GIVES US THAT MAP.
I WANT TO PERSONALLY PUT IN THAT I THINK AS FAR AS WE'VE COME WITH HELPING WITH MENTAL HEALTH IN OUR COMMUNITY, SPECIFICALLY OUR FIRST RESPONDERS I THINK WE CAN DO A LOT MORE. POLICE, FIRE, AIRPORT, PARK POLICE, ALL THE OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS, I THINK THAT JUST THE PRESSURE AND THE -- SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY SEE EVERY DAY CAN'T BE EASY ON THEM AND SO WE HAVE TO FIGURE A WAY TO HELP THEM, GIVE THEM A MORE WELL-ROUNDED MENTAL HEALTH APPROACH.
THAT'S SOMETHING I'LL BE WORKING TOWARDS. SO WITH THAT, I THINK I'VE -- THAT WAS MY MAIN QUESTION WAS ABOUT THE 911 CALLS.
CHIEF, MAYBE YOU COULDN'T MIND TALKING ABOUT HOW WE GET TO THAT?
>> IT'S ACTUALLY A CLINICIAN ISSUE RIGHT NOW. WE'RE HAVING I GUESS CHALLENGES GETTING CLINICIANSING AT THE 911 CALL CENTER.
SO AS YOU WORK THROUGH THAT AND GET THAT RESOLVED, WE'LL PROBABLY MOVE IN THAT
DIRECTION. >> HAVRDA: WHY CAN'T IT BE A REGULAR 911 DISPATCH OFFICER -- I MEAN OPERATOR? LET ME MAKE MYSELF CLEAR. THE QUESTION I'M ASKING, WHEN SOMEBODY SAYS, SOMEBODY CALLS 911 AND TYPICALLY THEY GET ASKED FIRE, POLICE, EMS,
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CORRECT? CAN THEY ASK FIRE, POLICE, EMS OR MENTAL HEALTHEPISODE? >> CHIEF MCMANUS: WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO TRAIN THAT
YET. >> HAVRDA: OKAY. >> CHIEF MCMANUS: ASIDE FROM -- ASIDE FROM DEALING WITH THE INITIAL CALL INFORMATION, THE IDEA WOULD HAVE BEEN IS TO PUSH THAT INFORMATION TO A CLINICIAN THAT WOULD BE AT
COMMUNICATIONS AND WE HAVE NOT HIRED THAT PERSON YET. >> HAVRDA: OKAY.
SO ASKING THE QUESTION UP FRONT WOULD JUST BE ASKING A QUESTION, IT WOULDN'T BE
ABLE TO GO ANYWHERE YET, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. >> CHIEF MCMANUS: YES.
>> VILLAGÓMEZ: I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO WHAT THE CHIEF MENTIONED.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING INTERNALLY AS WE DO MORE WORK WITH SA-CORE AND HOW WE'RE EXPERIENCED WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE FACING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE EVALUATING IS THE ADDITION OF CLINICIANS TO THE 911 FLOOR WHICH IS WHAT THE CHIEF IS REFERENCING.
THE IDEA IS SOMEBODY CALLS AND NEEDS ASSISTANCE TO BE TRANSFERRED TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT THAT PERHAPS CAN PROVIDE SOME ASSISTANCE TO THAT INDIVIDUAL AND PERHAPS NOT NECESSITY A NEED FOR US TO SEND SA-CORE TEAM OR POLICE OFFICER. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE EVALUATING.
WE WOULD LIKE TO COME BACK AND PRESENT WHERE WE ARE ON THE SA-CORE EXPANSION AND I THINK AT THAT POINT WE CAN DIVE MORE INTO THE DETAILS OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE.
ANOTHER THING THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS DOING RIGHT NOW IS ADDING INFORMATION INTO OUR CAD SYSTEM FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THAT ARE -- HAVE HAD A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IN THE PAST SO THAT WAY OUR OFFICERS ARE BETTER INFORMED WHEN WE SEND THEM OUT TO ADDRESS THAT CALL.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER IMPROVEMENT THAT WE'RE MAKING IN THE 911 SYSTEM.
BUT WHEN WE COME BACK AND PRESENT ON THE STATUS OF THE SA-CORE IMPLEMENTATION, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO DIVE INTO THE DETAILS OF SOME OF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE
MAKING. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MARIA.
THAT CLEARS IT UP FOR ME. IT'S KIND OF A TRIAGE ISSUE. BUT WE DO WANT TO HAVE THE HELP TO BACK IT UP SO I UNDERSTAND THOSE. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM --
COUNCILMEMBER GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, CHAIR.
REALLY QUICK TO, TIE THAT UP, WHAT IS THE TIME LINE FOR TRAINING CLINICIANS? I KNOW YOU SAID WE WOULD COME BACK AND PRESENT, BUT DO WE HAVE ANY SORT OF TIME
LINE FOR THAT? >> SURE. AND I'LL ALSO TALK IN THE NEXT PRESENTATION, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE IN THE LANDSCAPE RIGHT NOW IS THAT THERE IS A LOT OF FUNDING OUT FOR MENTAL HEALTH.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT ARPA IN JUST A MINUTE. THE COUNTY HAS ARPA FUNDING THEY PUT OUT FOR MENTAL HEALTH. THERE'S A HUGE NEED FOR WORKFORCE IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE THERE'S MORE FUNDING AND MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORK THAN EVER HAS BEEN BEFORE. SO THAT'S PART OF WHY A STRATEGIC GUIDE WILL BE REALLY HELPFUL IS LOOKING AT DOES IT NEED TO BE WHAT LEVEL OF CLINICIANS. THERE'S ALL DIFFERENT LEVELS OF TRAINING AND LICENSING FOR THE CLINICIAN. COULD IT BE B A TRAINED CIVILIAN WHO IS ANSWERING THE CALL. SUPERVISED BY A CLINICIAN. THAT'S PART OF THE RESEARCH IN THE STRATEGIC GUIDE IS LOOKING AT WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING WITH THE RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE, WITH THE TEAMS THAT I ALREADY MENTIONED.
WE HAVE A TON OF WORK BEING DONE. WHAT DO WE NEED TO ADD TO IT TO MAXIMIZE IT. AND SO TRAINING FOR CLINICIANS, ON BOARDING THEM IS -- TAKES A LONG TIME. WE'RE NOT JUST TAKING A THINK ABOUT A PRIVATE PRACTICE THERAPIST AND NOW LET'S PUT THEM IN DISPATCH OR RESPONSE.
IT'S A DIFFERENT CALLING AND LEVEL OF TRAINING. IT DOES TAKE SOME TIME.
>> GAVITO: I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITIES. I WONDER IF WE AS A CITY COULD SET A GOAL BY Q3 WE WOULD LOVE IT IF THEY ASKED FOR FIRE, POLICE, MENTAL HEALTH, EMS AND MENTAL HEALTH. IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD DRAW A LINE IN THE SAND FOR US TO WORK TOWARDS A GOAL, A TIME FRAME WHICH TO DO IT BY. I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND ALL THE COMPLEXITIES THAT GO WITH IT, BUT I THINK IF WE'RE DRIVEN BY A DEADLINE, YOU KNOW, IT PUTS FIRE UNDER OUR BUTTS. I HAD SOME OTHER COMMENTS TOO.
I REALLY LIKE SLIDE 5, THANKS FOR SHARING THAT. WE KNOW THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS OBVIOUSLY A CRUCIAL COMPONENT TO ACHIEVING PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE HAVE A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHOSE MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS ARE MET, BUT THAT THEY CAN HAVE UNDENIABLE INFLUENCE ON THE REDUCTION OF PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES. WE ALSO KNOW THAT A VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE AFFECTED
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BY MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES DO NOT GO OUT AND COMMIT CRIMES.WE KNOW THAT TOO. WE KNOW THAT MENTAL HEALTH TRULY TIES INTO EVERYTHING WE DO AND HAS A CLEAR IMPACT ON SAFETY. I'M FULLY ON BOARD WITH TAKING THIS PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO MENTAL HEALTH AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON THAT. I DID HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION.
THERE WAS A RECENT ARTICLE AND I JUST WOULD LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CHIEF TO CLARIFY, THAT SOME SA-CORE RESOURCES WERE BEING DIVERTED TO OTHER TYPES OF CALLS. WHICH DOESN'T MAKE SENSE ON SLIDE 8 BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING THE INCREASE IN NUMBER OF CALLS SO I DIDN'T KNOW -- IF ONE OF YOU ALL COULD CLARIFY
THAT FOR THE RECORD. >> CHIEF MCMANUS: I'LL GIVE YOU A SIMPLE NO.
KAREN MAY BE ABLE TO EXPOUND ON THAT. THE SIMPLE ANSWER IS NO,
WE'RE NOT DIVERTING SA-CORE TO OTHER AREAS. >> GAVITO: OKAY.
>> CHIEF MCMANUS: THOSE RESOURCES ARE MENTAL HEALTH, PERIOD.
>> GAVITO: OKAY. IT'S GOOD TO KNOW. AND I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT TOO. JUST KIND OF SQUASH THAT RUMOR.
>> VILLAGÓMEZ: COUNCILWOMAN, VERY QUICKLY, THE COUNCIL APPROVED FOR THIS YEAR'S BUDGET TO EXPAND THE TEAMS FROM ONE TO THREE. STILL UNDER 16 HOURS A DAY.
THAT EXPANSION TOOK PLACE JANUARY 1, SO WE HAVE THESE ALREADY OUT THERE.
COUNCIL THOSE WHO APPROVE THAT WE MOVE THOSE TEAMS TO PROVIDE SERVICES 24 HOURS A DAY AND WE'RE IN SCHEDULED TO THAT BY MAY-JUNE OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR.
>> GAVITO: PERFECT. THANK YOU. TO THE LAST SLIDE, I'M GLAD TO SEE THIS TIME LINE FOR THE STRATEGIC GUIDE. SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE'LL SEE THE FINAL REPORT HERE IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE IN MAY?
>> THAT WOULD BE MY HOPE. I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT. MAY IS ALSO MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH, A GOOD TIME TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO WITH THE
GUIDE, SO THAT'S MY DREAM. >> GAVITO: AWESOME. NO, I LOVE THIS TIME LINE.
THANKS FOR PUTTING IT TOGETHER AND HOWEVER WE CAN HELP SUPPORT, THEN LET US KNOW. I DID ALSO WANT TO CHECK IN PART OF THE DATA COLLECTION AND INPUT WOULD BE FROM COUNCIL OFFICES. WE HAVE BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND WE KNOW WHAT OUR CAUSES OF CONCERN FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND SO WE WOULD LOVE TO AT LEAST I'M OFFERING OUR OFFICE TO UTILIZE US IF YOU ALL NEED HELP AND INPUT INTO
THIS. >> ABSOLUTELY. ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED.
THAT'S PART OF THE BRIEFINGIST IF YOU ARE SEEING ANY OTHER AUDIO]. AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT PHASE,
BUT ABSOLUTELY. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON
THIS. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. IF YOU CAN GO TO SLIDE 5, I THINK WE WERE JUST THERE. I'LL START BY SAYING SEEING SLIDE 5 AND 6 MAKES ME VERY HAPPY AND I KNOW WE'VE SEEN THESE SLIDES BEFORE AND THEY'VE BEEN IN DIFFERENT CONTEXTS. WHAT I'M READING OR LOOKING AT, AND I WANT MY COLLEAGUES TO ALSO BE THINKING VERY STRONGLY ABOUT IS ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE TOUCH ON THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN PLAY A ROLE IN EITHER PER PET YOU ATING AND MAKING WORSE OR THAT WE CAN PLAY A ROLE IN MITIGATING OR REDUCING. I'M LOOKING AT SOME VERY DIRECT TIES TO SOME OF OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS AND SERVICES INCLUDING HOMELESSNESS, INCARCERATION, MATERNAL DEPRESSION, POVERTY, LACK OF SOCIAL CAPITAL, POOR HOUSING, QUALITY AND AFFORDABILITY. WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING TO PUBLIC COMMUNITY TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF THESE VERY ISSUES.
I'LL GET INTO THIS AGAIN IN A LITTLE BIT, BUT SOMETIMES IT'S EASY FOR US TO TAKE WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE THE SIMPLEST SOLUTION THAT DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE COMPLEX NATURE OF ALL OF THESE ISSUES. AND SO MANY COUNCILMEMBERS AND SO MANY [INAUDIBLE] BEFORE DID WHAT WAS SIMPLE. I WOULD IMPLORE MY COLLEAGUES TO MAKE THE DIFFICULT DECISIONS THAT ARE GOING TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF A LOT OF THESE ISSUES. IF WE GO TO SLIDE 6, WHAT I'M READING, ESPECIALLY UNDER LIVING CONDITIONS, IS SO MANY IF NOT ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS TOUCH ON THAT EXACTLY AND IT MAKES ME REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THIS SLIDE IN THIS CONTEXT. I HAVE FRIENDS ELECTED TO OTHER CITIES THAT I'VE MET WHO HAVE TO WORK INCREDIBLY HARD TO GET THROUGH COLLEAGUES AND CITY STAFF TO VIEW PROBLEMS THROUGH THIS LENS. FOR US TO BE HERE AND VIEW PROBLEM SOLVING THROUGH THIS LENS AND ACCEPTING ALL OF THIS AS REALITY REALLY SETS US APART AND THAT'S EXCITING. WHAT I BELIEVE AND WHAT I
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JUST MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT AGO, THE NEXT STEP IS FOR US AS COUNCILMEMBERS TO COMMIT TO VIEWING OUR OWN ACTIONS, POLICIES AND BUDGET THROUGH THIS LENS.IT'S REALLY EASY TO REVERT TO WHAT FEELS SIMPLE AND EASY AND TRADITIONAL, BUT THAT'S WHAT PERPETUATES THOSE INEQUITIES THAT MAKES LIFE HARDER FOR MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS. CAN YOU GO TO SLIDE 8 FOR ME? THIS IS REALLY QUITE DISTRESSING. I'M GLAD WE'RE WORKING TO GET THE 24/7 SA-CORE OPERATIONS UP BY MAY, BUT I THINK THIS SLIDE IS A HUMBLING REMINDER THAT THOUGH OUR BUDGET DISCUSSION IS CONDENSED TO A FEW MONTHS AND WE VOTE IN SEPTEMBER, IT DOES TAKE MONTHS, SOMETIMES A YEAR TO ACTUALIZE WHAT WE WERE FIGHTING FOR. AND SO I THINK WE SHOULD KEEP THIS IN MIND GOING INTO OUR UPCOMING BUDGET DISCUSSIONS. I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARD EXPAND AND STRENGTHEN OUR SA-CORE TEAM. I THINK WE ALSO PROBABLY NEED TO LOOK AT MORE CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE THE ARPA PRESENTATION THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO RECEIVE AND I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE MORE THAT WE CAN DO AND WE'LL REALLY HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS LONG TERM BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S DECREASING.
EVEN IF WE GOT BACK TO 2019 NUMBERS, THAT'S STILL AND SO I JUST WANT US TO KEEP THIS IN MIND AND MAINTAIN THIS LEVEL OF INTENTION AND FOCUS ON ONE OF THE MOST COMPLEX ISSUES WHICH IS MENTAL HEALTH.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MANY, MANY MORE
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU,
COUNCILMAN. COUNCILWOMAN DR. KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, CHAIR AND THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION AND FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING. I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF CLARIFYING QUESTIONS.
ONE, I WANT TO ECHO WHAT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY SAID ABOUT SETTING A GOAL FOR THAT CALL FOR BEING ABLE TO REQUEST. I THINK SETTING TARGETS AGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAID, TARGETS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND THEN ALSO WANTED TO AGREE WITH THE SLIDE 5 BEING REALLY GREAT IN TERMS OF REMINDING US WHAT ROOT CAUSES ARE AND THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING ROOT CAUSES.
BUT I JUST CAN'T HELP BUT THINKING ABOUT SLIDE 5 AND THE WORK WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING ON SLIDE 9 AND LIKE THINKING ABOUT THE KIND OF DISCONNECT WITH ROOT CAUSES AND THEN WHAT'S ON THIS SLIDE. AND SO I KNOW THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THIS KIND OF STRATEGIC PLAN AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO PROVIDE
ANY MORE CONTEXT THERE. >> RIGHT. NO, THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT. AND THERE IS A DISCONNECT. SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS CONTINUUM, FULLY RECOGNIZING THAT THE INTERSECTION OF MENTAL HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY IS DOWNSTREAM. AND FULLY -- BUT ALSO WANTING TO BE VERY CAREFUL WITH OUR POLICE AND EMS RESOURCES, THAT THEY ARE ADDRESSING WHAT IS A CRISIS AND THAT THE REST OF THE CONTINUUM IS BEING ADDRESSED OUTSIDE OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
TO KEEP IT FROM GETTING TO A PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS. SO THIS PLAN, THIS GUIDE IS NARROWLY FOCUSED HERE AT THE END. LIKE I SAID, THERE'S EXCELLENT WORK BEING DONE AND WE WANTED TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT WORK AND ENERGY AND WHERE TO GO NEXT. BUT YES, NOT FORGETTING ABOUT THE REST OF THE
CONTINUUM. >> VILLAGÓMEZ: I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO WHAT JESSE MENTIONED, WHAT YOU'LL SEE ON THE RESOURCES AND THE PROGRAMS THAT WE ADDED THROUGH THE ARPA FUNDS IS FOCUSING ON PRIMARILY UPSTREAM.
THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS BEEN HEAVILY FOCUSED ON THE DOWNSTREAM THROUGH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS AND COVID AND WITH THE RESOURCES FROM ARPA THAT WE HAVE BEEN MORE INTENTIONAL UPSTREAM BUT STILL A LOT OF WORK.
>> KAUR: AGREED. DOUBLE DOWN ON THAT. THE NEXT THING I'M THINKING ABOUT IS WE HAVE -- IN THINKING ABOUT THE CONTINUUM PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOW THIS IS A BIG PART OF IT, HOW IS THIS GOING TO FIT IN WITH ALL THE OTHER PLANS LIKE THE WORK DOT THE UTSA IS DOING AND THE METRO HEALTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAM WHERE IS THIS GOING TO SIT. THE QUESTION IS COMING FROM A SPACE WHEREBY FEEL LIKE WE ALL ACKNOWLEDGE WE HAVE A LOT OF MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES AND IT'S IN ITS OWN BUCKET AND ADDRESS IT AS AN ISOLATED COMPONENT RATHER THAT IS PART OF OUR OVERALL
CRIME PREVENTION. >> JUST TO CONTINUE TO COME PART MEANTALIZE, I PRESENTED AT THE COMMITTEE COUPLE WEEKS AGO, THIS IS PART OF MY WORK IS MAKING SURE WE'RE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE ENTIRE CONTINUUM, THAT WE'RE NOT IGNORING CRIME AND VIOLENCE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, YOUTH VIOLENCE, MENTAL HEALTH SUBSTANCE USE.
[00:30:02]
AND EVEN HOMELESSNESS AND OTHER, YOU KNOW, SERVICES THAT THE CITY HAS DONE FOR A LONG TIME, THIS IS PART OF THAT. THIS IS A FIRST STEP IN THAT. AND YEAH, I'M TRYING TO BE AS INTIMATELY AWARE OF THOSE PLANS AND OUR CONSULTANT IS ALSO BRINGING THEM IN, THE TWO PLANS YOU MENTIONED SOIT CAN BE INFORMATIVE FOR THE STRATEGIC GUIDE. >> KAUR: I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME KIND OF CONNECTION. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, BUT THIS FITS INTO A PIECE OF TARGETS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT SO WE CAN SEE THE CONNECTION THERE.
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> KAUR: AND THEN JUST THE LAST QUESTION I HAD WAS ON YOUR CURRENT WORK RIGHT NOW THAT YOU ARE DOING IN TERMS OF GETTING INPUT AND FEEDBACK FROM PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, CAN YOU JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT IN TERMS OF WHAT DATA ARE YOU COLLECTING, JUST A LITTLE MORE DETAIL THERE.
>> SURE. SO. >> KAUR: IT'S ON THE NEXT
SLIDE. >> SO THE INFORMATION, THE INTERVIEWS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE ARE REALLY ASKING HOW THESE PARTICIPANTS VIEW MENTAL HEALTH, PUBLIC SAFETY, WHAT THE CITY HAS BEEN DOING, WHAT THE CITY CAN BE DOING.
THERE IS ALSO DEFINITELY A QUESTION ABOUT UPSTREAM EFFORTS.
EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT EXACTLY HERE, WHILE WE HAVE THESE SMART PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, ASK THE QUESTIONS. THE DATA IS ABOUT WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING, COUNTYS, REGIONS, EVERYONE IS DOING SOMETHING LIKE, WHICH IS EXCITING, BUT HOW DO WE FIT IN OTHER PRACTICES INTO OUR PRACTICES THAT WE'VE ALREADY STARTED.
>> VILLAGÓMEZ: JESSE, DO YOU WANT TO ELABORATE ON THE WORK THE STATE IS DOING AND ALL THE DATA THEY HAVE IN THIS ARENA OF MENTAL HEALTH? WE'RE UTILIZING A LOT OF
INFORMATION THAT IS ALREADY OUT THERE. >> YES, THAT'S RIGHT.
SO THE STICKIST THE SOUTHWEST TEXAS CRISIS COLLABORATIVE, IT'S A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OF THE CITY, COUNTY, INCLUDES ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY EFFORTS, ALL THE HOSPITALS THAT HAVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, PHILANTHROPY, AND REALLY THEY HAVE DONE REALLY GOOD WORK AND PROJECT-BASED WORK.
THAT'S WHERE SA-CORE IS MANAGED OR HELPED TO COLLABORATE THROUGH STRAC.
THEY COLLECT A TON OF DATA. THEY COLLECT DATA ON THE SMART TEAM.
ALL OF THE EMERGENCY DETENTIONS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT DOES IN OUR COUNTY IS COLLECTED THERE. A LOT OF INFORMATION IS COLLECTED THERE.
AND SO WE HAVE RICH, RICH DATA EFFORTS AND THEY ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS GUIDE AS WELL. THAT IS COLLECTED ON OUR BEHALF.
AND IT ACTUALLY SHOWS SO MUCH MORE WHAT OUR POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING. EVERY DEPARTMENT, SCHOOL DISTRICT, POLICE.
SO WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE A LOT OF DATA COLLECTED THROUGH THAT ENTITY AND WE HAVE ACCESS TO THAT. IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE HAVE TO PRODUCE OURSELVES, BUT IT
IS SOMETHING WE HAVE ACCESS TO. >> KAUR: THAT'S GRATED.
IT'S TWO MONTHS, NOT A LOT OF TIME. THE THING I WAS THINKING OF IS MAKING SURE THE PARTICIPANT DATA HAS BOTH QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE IMPACT. SERVICES THEY ARE PROVIDING, BUT MAKING SURE WE'RE HEARING FROM FOLKS RECEIVING SERVICES BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE ARE SAYING WE ARE OFFERING SOMETHING, BUT WHAT WE'RE OFFERING IS NOT ACTUALLY BEING RECEIVED OR RECEIVED IN THE WAY WE WANT IT TO. IF WE'RE GOING TO CREATE STRATEGIC GOALS OR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR HOW WE WANT TO IMPROVE OUR SERVICES, WE NEED TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE ACTUALLY RECEIVING. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A WAY TO INCORPORATE THAT, AS YOU CREATE THE GUIDE IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE A
VOICE FROM FOLKS RECEIVING SERVICES. >> YES, I AGREE.
>> KAUR: THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> HAVRDA: I HAVE JUST A QUICK POINT TO MAKE ON SLIDE 9. YOU HAD THE LITTLE STICKERS. MAYBE IT'S NOT SLIDE 9.
>> NEXT PRESENTATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
AND I GUESS WE'LL INVITE YOU BACK UP -- I'M SORRY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON 3? ITEM 4. THANK YOU.
>> I'M BACK. IT REALLY IS NICE TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT ON BOTH OF THESE ISSUES BECAUSE AS WE DOWNSTREAM CONTINUUM, AND THE ARPA MENTAL HEALTH INVESTMENTS ARE MORE ABOUT OUR UPSTREAM AND MID-STREAM WORK IN THE CONTINUUM. IT CAN BE ACTUALLY DIFFICULT TO FOCUS ON BOTH UP AND DOWNSTREAM AREAS, AND AND I THANK YOU FOR BEING DEDICATED TO MAKING SURECA THE ARPA FUNDING IS WORKING WELL IN GETTING PEOPLE THE
[00:35:02]
SERVICES THEY NEED TO DECREASE THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO LOOK AT THE TIME LINE OF HOW WE GOT HERE TODAY.
THE TIME LINE OF HOW WE GOT HERE TODAY AND THEN LOOK AT THE ACTUAL INVESTMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE COMMUNITY THUS FAR AND THEIR IMPACT.
SO IN 2021, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RECEIVED ABOUT $327 MILLION IN ARPA FUNDS. AND OF THIS AMOUNT IS CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZED 27.2 MILLION FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE INTENDED TO EXPAND OVER THREE YEARS FROM 2023 TO 2025. IN FEBRUARY OF 2022, CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE SPENDING FRAMEWORK AND DESIGNATED THAT THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE OVERSEE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ARPA MENTAL HEALTH FUNDS, AND IN SPRING AND SUMMER OF 2022, WE HAD COMMUNITY INPUT AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE POLICY DIRECTION FOR OUR COMMUNITY INPUT SESSIONS.
WE HAD TWO PUBLIC INPUT SESSIONS, TWO MEETINGS WITH PUBLIC.
THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE SPENDING PLAN.
AFTER ROUNDS OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN THE RFP, WE HAD ROUND 1 EVALUATION AND SCORING IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER OF 2022. IN FEBRUARY OF 2023, COUNCIL APPROVED THE MENTAL HEALTH FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 19.3 MILLION, AND THOSE FIRST ROUND OF CONTRACTS BEGIN IN MARCH OF 2023. FOR OUR SECOND ROUND WE HAD EVALUATION AND SCORING IN MAY OF 2023 AND IN JUNE OF 2023 COUNCIL APPROVED MENTAL HEALTH FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR $3.6 MILLION WITH $1 MILLION TO GO TO CONSOLIDATED FNDING. THOSE CONTRACTS BEGAN IN MARCH OF 2023 AND THE CONSOLIDATED -- EXCUSE ME, IN AUGUST OF 2023, AND THE CONSOLIDATED FUNDING CONTRACTS BEGAN IN OCTOBER OF 2023.
ALL TOTAL, COUNCIL HAS DESIGNATE OVER 27 MILLION OF OUR FUNDING TO MENTAL HEALTH INVESTMENTS. 18 MILLION TO YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH, 5 MILLION TO OLDER ADULTS MENTAL HEALTH, 2.6 MILLION TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH, OVER 600,000 TO ADDRESS HARM REDUCTION, AND 1 MILLION TO ADDRESS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ISSUES. AS SEEN ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, THE START DATES FOR THOSE CONTRACTS ARE VARIED, BUT SINCE DECEMBER 31 OF 2023, 6.6 MILLION OR 24% OF THE OVERALL 27.2 MILLION HAS BEEN SPENT. THE FUNDS ARE MEANT TO BE SPEND INTO THE YEAR 2025 TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SUSTAINED SERVICES FOR GREATER IMPACT TO THE COMMUNITY. THIS KEEPS JUMPING. SORRY.
FOR OUR INVESTMENT IN YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH, WE FUNDED 22 AGENCIES AT A TOTAL OF $18 MILLION. THESE SERVICES FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS. 12 ARE PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. SIX ARE FOCUSING ON SERVICES FOR PEOPLE IN FOSTER CARE.
TWO ARE PROVIDING SPECIALTY SERVICES TO CHILDREN WITH INTELLECTUAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER. TWO PROVIDING SUBSTANCE ABUSE INTERVENTION AND WE EXPANDED METRO HEALTH AND STAND UP SA. IN 2023, THIS HAS ALREADY SERVED 1,960 YOUNG PEOPLE. FOR OUR INVESTMENT IN OLDER ADULT MENTAL HEALTH, WE FUNDED SEVEN AGENCIES FOR $5 MILLION. THESE WERE FOCUSING ON MITIGATING ISOLATION AND LONELY INNOCENCENESS. ONE AGENCY IS PROVIDING EXERCISE AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES. FOUR AGENCIES ARE FOCUSING ON FOOD INSECURITY AND COMPANIONSHIP. AND ALSO SENIOR CENTER HOURS. SO FAR THIS FUNDING JUST THE SERVICES, NOT THE SENIOR CENTERS, HAS SERVED 1208 COLDER ADULTS. -- OLDER ADULTS.
FOR OUR INVESTMENT IN HOMELESSNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH, WE FUNDED FOUR AGENCIES AT $2.6 MILLION. TWO AGENCIES ARE FOCUSING ON SERVICES FOR FOSTER CARE INVOLVED CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS. ONE AGENCY IS FOCUSING ON EXECUTE HEALTH NEEDS OF UNHOUSED AND ONE AGENCY IS FOCUSING ON SERVICES FOR VETERANS. SO FAR THIS FUNDING HAS SERVED 445 INDIVIDUALS.
FOR OUR INVESTMENT IN HARM REDUCTION, TWO AGENCIES WERE AWARDED $638,000.
THESE AGENCIES PROVIDE STREET OUTREACH, HARM REDUCTION SUPPLIES, CONNECTION TO RESOURCES AND TREATMENT, NARCAN TRAINING AND ACCESS AND NON-JUDGMENTAL SERVICES. SO FAR THIS FUNDING HAS SERVED 134 ADULTS AND 100%
[00:40:04]
OF THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE RETURNED TO THE ORGANIZATION FOR NEEDED SERVICES.AND FINALLY, FOR OUR INVESTMENT IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WE HAVE AWARDED THREE AGENCIES $1 MILLION IN FUNDING. THESE AGENCIES ARE PROVIDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION, WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S SHELTER, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND ADVOCACY SERVICES, AND THESE CONTRACTS ARE NEW.
THEY JUST STARTED IN OCTOBER OF 2023, AND WE HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED DATA FROM THESE CONTRACTS. THE AREAS OF YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND HARM REDUCTION ARE MANAGED BY METRO HEALTH AND THE AREAS OF OLDER ADULT MENTAL HEALTH, HOMELESSNESS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ARE MANAGED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.
BOTH DEPARTMENTS FOLLOW THIS CONTRACT MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING.
WE HAVE STREAMLINED CONTRACT AND FISCAL MONITORING. WE HAVE PERFORMANCE METRICS THAT TIE TO THE OUTCOMES BY COVID-19 IMPACT AREA, WE HAVE QUARTERLY REPORTING.
WE HAVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AS NEEDED AND REGULARLY NEEDED.
WE HAVE ON-SITE VISITS AND DESK REVIEWS. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. I'M HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AS IS THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES FOR ANYTHING YOU MIGHT HAVE. I ALSO THINK YOU HAVE THE MEMO THAT HAS THE ACTUAL
LET US KNOW WHAT QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. IT MAKES ME REALLY PROUD OF OUR CITY AND I THANK THE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE FOR FOCUSING ON THIS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, I GUESS SINCE 2022 IS WHEN WE FIRST STARTED GETTING ARPA MONEY.& THERE'S A LITTLE DID IT OF A DISCREPANCY BECAUSE WE GOT 26 MILLION TO ALLOCATE, WE HAVE OVER 26 MILLION SPENT, BUT SOME WAS ALLOCATED FROM DIFFERENT BUCKETS, IN CASE ANYBODYS WITH A WONDERING ABOUT THAT NUMBER. I THINK WE AS A COMMUNITY AND COMMITTEE DID GOOD WORK ON THIS. CITY STAFF, OF COURSE, DID GOOD WORK ON THIS.
THE CITY'S MENTAL HEALTH, NON-PROFITS, WHICH WE HAVE A LONG LIST OF HERE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO HELP. MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS, PRACTITIONERS.
THERE WAS A FLURRY WHEN WE GOT THESE APPLICATIONS, WELL REALLY THE CITY GOT THE APPLICATIONS EMBEDDED THROUGH THEM. WHILE THIS IS A PRETTY GREAT LIST, IT'S NOT NEARLY THE NUMBER OF NON-PROFITS THAT ARE OUT THERE DOING WORK AND EVEN THE MONEY WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE THEM WENT A LONG WAY.
SPECIFICALLY I'LL SAY THE AUTISM SERVICE CENTER OF SAN ANTONIO, THEY CAME TO US, THEY HAD A 18-MONTH WAITING LIST FOR JUST TESTING OF AUTISM.
ANYBODY HERE KNOWS IF YOU HAVE A CHILD AND ARE CONCERNED THEY HAVE A SPECIAL NEED TO, WAIT 18 MONTHS IN THE MIDDLE OF COVID THE PRETTY HARROWING, I IMAGINE. SO THE FACT THAT THEY COULD GET BACK UP TO SPEED AND ELIMINATE THAT WAITING LIST IS JUST ONE TESTAMENT TO THE REAL IMPACT I THINK THAT THIS ALLOCATION AND THESE NON-PROFITS ARE MAKING. THE OTHER ONE IS MEALS ON WHEELS. A LOT OF US GET TO GO OUT AND DELIVER MEALS AND WHEELS AND IT'S REALLY NICE TO SEE THE END RESULT. TO KNOCK ON A DOOR AND TALK WITH A SENIOR AND PROVIDE THEM NOURISHMENT. IT'S A VERY BASIC NEED, OBVIOUSLY, SO IT'S NICE TO SEE THAT. SO I DO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS ON THE CHART WHERE YOU -- MAYBE JUST EXPLANATION OF THE CHART.
THE AWARD AMOUNT AND THEN THE AMOUNT SPENT. IS THAT THE AMOUNT WE'VE
GIVEN THEM OR THE AMOUNT THEY HAVE ACTUALLY SPENT? >> IT'S THE AMOUNT THAT
THEY'VE ACTUALLY SPENT. >> HAVRDA: SO THEY WERE ALL AWARDED THESE AMOUNTS AND THEY ARE COMING BACK AND SAYING WE'VE SPENT THIS MUCH, COMING BACK AND
REPORTING BACK TO THE CITY IS WHAT I'M GETTING AT. >> SO IT WAS REALLY GREAT HOW WE WERE ABLE TO ALLOCATE FUNDS. WE WERE ABLE TO ALLOCATE FUNDS UP FRONT, BUT THEY GET QUARTERLY ALLOCATIONS. IT'S TWO-YEAR CONTRACTS, EIGHT QUARTERS OR EIGHT PERIODS, TWO YEARS. AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE THEM MONEY UP FRONT SO THEY COULD HIRE STAFF, BUY SUPPLIES, YOU CAN'T JUST START THESE PROGRAMS FROM SCRATCH A LOT OF THESE PLACES.
THEN WE'RE GOING THROUGH AND RECONCILING WHAT THEY'VE SPENT AND MAKING SURE AS WE GO FORWARD WE'RE NOT OVERPAYING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT IS WHAT THEY WERE PAID UP FRONT QUARTERLY AND THEN THE AMOUNT SPENT IS RECONCILED.
>> HAVRDA: THERE'S A HANDFUL THAT HAVE ZERO AMOUNTS SPENT.
ARE WE FOLLOWING UP TO SEE HOW WE CAN HELP THEM OR DO WE KNOW THE REASONS WHY
THERE IS ZERO SPENT ON SOME OF THESE? >> YES, IF YOU WANT SPECIFICS, WE COULD GET THEM. WE ARE REGULARLY WORKING
WITH THESE AGENCIES. HIRING HAS BEEN A BIG ISSUE. >> HAVRDA: IS THERE A TIME
LINE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO SPEND THIS MONEY? >> VILLAGÓMEZ: YES.
[00:45:02]
THE CONTRACTS ARE FOR TWO YEARS. WHEN WE IMPLEMENTED THE THREE PLUS NINE IN THE ARPA UPDATE, SOME OF YOU HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SPENDING PATTERNS THAT WE HAVE, AND WE ARE GOING TO BE PROVIDING YOU WITH AN UPDATE, WE'RE REACHING OUT TO THE AGENCIES IN THE EVENT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO SPEND THE MONEY WITHIN THE TWO YEARS THAT WE'LL LET YOU KNOW AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN SO COUNCIL CAN REALLOCATE THOSE DOLLARS TO OTHER PRIORITIES. BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENTS, ALL MONIES HAVE TO BE SPENT BY DECEMBER OF '26.THESE CONTRACTS THAT WERE EXECUTED, THE LATEST IS SEPTEMBER OF '25, PROBABLY A LITTLE BEFORE THAT. YES TO YOUR QUESTION AND WE'LL FOLLOW UP IF THERE ARE
ANY ISSUES WITH ANY AGENCIES. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU.
THAT'S REALLY -- THANK YOU. YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTION. I SEE THIS, IT'S FROM THE CONTRACT EXECUTION DATE, RIGHT, THE LATEST BEING SEPTEMBER OF '23.
SO I GUESS MAYBE WE SHOULD START TALKING ABOUT A PLAN FOR ANYTHING -- WELL, IF ALL THE MONIES HAVE TO BE SPENT BY SEPTEMBER OF '25, MAYBE EARLIER THAN THAT WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT POINT ARE WE CALLING IT AND GET THOSE FUNDS BACK TO REALLOCATE TO PEOPLE WHO CAN USE THEM. WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THAT MAYBE SOON.
>> VILLAGÓMEZ: YES. AND OUR GOAL, COUNCILWOMAN, IS TO BE ABLE TO COME BACK TO YOU NO LATER THAN THE END OF MARCH. SO THAT WAY YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AS WE GO THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS PERHAPS TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
>> HAVRDA: OKAY. BECAUSE I IMAGINE WE'LL HAVE TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS AGAIN OF REQUESTS FOR -- WHAT IS IT? NOT PROPOSALS BUT SOMETHING
LIKE THAT. >> VILLAGÓMEZ: POTENTIALLY, YES.
>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU. I'M BEING KNIT PICKY, I KNOW, BUT ON SLIDE 9, THE LITTLE STICKERS, WOULD YOU MIND PULLING IT UP. THE BOTTOM RIGHT ONE SHOWS A PRESCRIPTION BEING THROWN AWAY AND I GET THAT A LOT OF THE GOAL FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE IS TO AVOID PRESCRIPTION PRESCRIPTIONS AS PART OF THEIR MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND I THINK THAT MAY BE STIGMA
PHASING IT A LITTLE BIT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT'S SITTING NEXT TO A THING THAT SAYS BREAK THE STIGMA. THIS WAS TAKEN FROM SOME OTHER GRAPHICS WE HAD AND, OF COURSE, I UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE NEED AND MEDICATION IS A NORMAL PART OF TREATMENT AND RECOVERY. THIS WAS A STICKER THAT WAS MORE ABOUT SAFE DISPOSAL OF OPIOID, BUT IT DOESN'T SAY THAT. WE CAN FIX IT.
>> HAVRDA: IT CAN BE MISINTERPRETED. IF THAT'S THE WORST THING I CAN SAY. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I THOUGHT IT WAS TWO DIFFERENT STICKERS AND I WAS WONDERING WHY ONE WAS JUST A TRASH CAN. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. WHEN WE WERE ALLOCATING ARPA FUNDS, ONE OF MY GREATEST CONCERNS WAS THERE WAS SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS IN MY DISTRICT THAT WERE APPLYING FOR FUNDS AND WERE BEING DENIED. I WAS ASSURED THAT AN EQUITABLE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES WOULD BE DEPLOYED TO SUPPORT MY RESIDENTS AND REMINDER OF THE USE OF ARPA, MEANT TO ADDRESS THOSE AREAS WHERE THEY ARE MOST IMPACTED BY COVID AND THE EAST SIDE HAD SOME OF THE LARGEST NUMBERS OF COVID DEATHS AND WE'RE STILL SEEING LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF THAT. I DON'T KNOW THAT THE INFORMATION WE'RE GIVEN TODAY DEMONSTRATES THAT ASSURANCE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE THAT -- WHAT I THINK I WOULD NEED, WHAT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE IN MAYBE THE NEXT PRESENTATION OR WHENEVER, THE DEMOGRAPHICS AND ZIP CODES OF THOSE RECEIVING SERVICES BY EACH OF THE ORGANIZATIONS.
MANY OF THEM HAVEN'T YET SPENT A BULK OF THE FUNDING, BUT JUST KNOWING WHO THEY SERVE IS GOING TO BE A GOOD INDICATOR AND I HAVEN'T RECEIVED THAT INFORMATION
YET. >> VILLAGÓMEZ: WE'LL BE ABLE TO PUT THAT TOGETHER.
>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: I KNOW IF YOU GO TO LIKE GOOD WILL OR MANY OTHER PLACES THEY
ASK FOR YOUR ZIP CODE. >> WE'RE BEING VERY CLEAR -- THERE'S SOME DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION WHERE IF PEOPLE WANT TO DEFINE THEIR INCOME AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT ZIP CODE LEVEL DATA WHICH IS NOT PERFECT TO COUNCIL DISTRICT, WE'VE BEEN VERY
CLEAR THAT MUST BE COLLECTED. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: OKAY.
I WOULD LOVE TO RECEIVE THAT INFORMATION. THANK YOU AGAIN ON THE PRESENTATION. I'M INTERESTED -- SO JUST TO CLARIFY, ALL OF THE FUNDS
MUST BE SPENT BY DECEMBER OF 2026. >> VILLAGÓMEZ: YES, THOSE ARE THE FEDERAL RULES. THE WAY WE SET UP THESE CONTRACTS FOR TWO YEARS IS
SEPTEMBER OF '25 FOR THE SPECIFIC CONTRACTS. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU -- SO THIS IS THE SPENDING AMOUNT AS OF DECEMBER 31, SO A
[00:50:04]
LITTLE BEFORE THE NEW YEAR. BY MARCH, I DON'T KNOW -- I GUESS BY MARCH WE COULD SEE A PRETTY DRASTIC CHANGE FOR MANY OF THE ORGANIZATIONS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'VE HIRED OR STARTED PROGRAMS, BUT I'M WONDERING IF MARCH IS GOOD ENOUGH -- IF THAT'S A GOOD ENOUGH DIFFERENCE IN TIME OR IF WE'LL SEE THAT MUCH. AND I'M WONDERING -- I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NECESSARILY EVEN NEED TO DO AN ADDITIONAL RFP IF IT COMES DOWN TO IT. I'M SURE WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THAT OPTION, BUT WE HAVE A HOST OF CITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT WE'RE CONSTANTLY ADVOCATING FOR IN THE BUDGET. MAYBE IF WE CHECK IN SIGNIFICANTLY LATER AND THERE'S ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE UNABLE TO SPEND THE MONEY OR GOTTEN A WINDFALL& ELSEWHERE AND DON'T NEED THE MONEY, MAYBE WE ALLOCATE TO CITY SERVICES THAT SERVE SOME COMPARABLE NEED, I THINK THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR DISCUSSIONFOR COUNCIL. >> VILLAGÓMEZ: THAT IS DEFINITELY AN OPTION.
I WOULD ADD A LITTLE WRINKLE TO THE GUIDELINES FROM THE U.S. TREASURY.
THEY WANT ALL FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED BY DECEMBER OF 2024.
MEANING THAT THEY ARE UNDER CONTRACT. SO FOR US EVALUATING ALL OF THE CONTRACTS UNDER ARPA IS CRITICAL SO WE CAN TAKE ACTION QUICKLY AND GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS IN TIME FOR US TO COMMIT THE DOLLARS
BY THE END OF 2024. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: SO WE MIGHT NEED TO PUT SOME PRESSURE ON THE ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE SURE -- I WOULD IMAGINE THEN IS BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING OUR BUDGET DISCUSSIONS OVER THE SUMMER AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT TAKES UP A GOOD AMOUNT OF OUR TIME, MAYBE.
I KNOW THAT YOU ALL PRESENTED THE TIME LINE FOR THE BUDGET.
MAYBE WE CAN WORK THIS IN SOMEWHERE SO MAYBE BY JULY WE KNOW WHETHER OR NOT AN ORGANIZATION IS GOING TO REMAIN RECEIVING THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO GET AND WE CAN ROLL THAT INTO OUR BUDGET DISCUSSIONS SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO DO TO MUCH REINVENTION OF THE WHEEL OR TOO MANY SIMULTANEOUS
DISCUSSIONS. IT CAN ALL BE COHERENT. >> VILLAGÓMEZ: YES, THAT
IS DOABLE. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ.
COUNCILWOMAN DR. KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU CHAIR, AND THANK YOU JESSE FOR THIS PRESENTATION. I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS. I'VE BEEN A GRANT MANAGER SO I UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH TIME AND EFFORT IT TAKES TO ACTUALLY MANAGE GRANTS AND THESE ARE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT. CAN YOU JUST GIVE ME A LITTLE CONTEXT ON HOW MANY PEOPLE LIKE ARE WORKING TO MANAGE THESE SPECIFIC GRANTS
JUST IN THIS MENTAL HEALTH ARENA? >> FOR US AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE THE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH GRANTS. WE HAVE 22.
AND THEN WE HAVE TWO HARM REDUCTION GRANTS. SO IT'S 24.
AND WE HAVE TWO CONTRACT MANAGERS AND TWO FISCAL MANAGERS ON THEM.
AND THEN THEY HAVE SUPERVISION THAT ALSO HELPS. AND THEN I HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES COORDINATOR WHO IS A CLINICIAN BY TRAINING AND SHE HELPS WITH PROGRAMMATIC ISSUES. PART OF THE FUN OF THESE IS THEY WENT ALL OVER THE PLACE. THEY WENT TO SOME LONG-STANDING, DEEP-ROOTED MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THEN THEY WENT TO ALSO SOME NON-PROFITS WHO HAD NEVER DONE ANYTHING AUDIO]. WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE CONSULTATION ABOUT POLICIES.
JUST BRINGING IN THERAPEUTIC SERVICES IS GOOD, BUT IT CAN BE -- LIKE WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMEONE IS SUICIDAL THAT DAY AT YOUR AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM.
SO YES, IT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY. IT'S REALLY -- IT'S REALLY IMPACTFUL, REALLY MEANINGFUL WORK, BUT THERE'S A SIZABLE AMOUNT OF WORK WITH THESE
CONTRACTS. >> KAUR: ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE PROVIDING THAT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. AND FOR -- YOU SAID QUARTERLY PAYMENTS, RIGHT? FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THESE AWARD AMOUNTS IS FOR THE FULL TWO YEARS.
DID YOU JUST DIVIDE IT IN EIGHT PAYMENTS AND THAT'S HOW MUCH THEY ARE GETTING
QUARTERLY? >> YES. ALL OF THEM WERE DIVIDED INTO EIGHT PAYMENTS AND THEY WERE PAID THE FULL PAYMENTS THE FIRST TWO TIMES, AND THEN WITH THE THIRD QUARTER WE STARTED LOOKING AT THEIR ACTUAL SPENDING SO THEY WOULDN'T BE OVERPAID AND AT THE END OF TWO YEARS HAVE TO PAY BACK SOME AMOUNT.
THAT'S HOW WE RECOMMEND SEALED IT. >> KAUR: SO YOU ARE
ADJUSTING BASED ON FUTURE PAYMENTS. >> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> KAUR: THE LAST QUESTION I HAVE AROUND THE OUTCOMES, HOW ARE WE TRACKING -- I WASN'T AROUND WHEN THE GRANTS WERE SUBMITTED, BUT HOW ARE WE TRACKING THE OUTCOMES FOR THE WORK THAT THEY ARE DOING AND -- BECAUSE WE GET TO GIVE FUNDS EVERY YEAR IN OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET TO SO WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING GIVEN THAT YOU ONLY HAVE A FEW PEOPLE WORKING TO MANAGE THESE GRANTS TO TRACK THEIR
OUTCOMES? >> SO THE BEST ONE I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT, IT'S -- AND
[00:55:02]
WE CAN NERD OUT ABOUT THIS. FOR YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH WE HAVE 22 CONTRACTS, AND EVERYONE IS BEING ASKED HOW MANY YOUTH ARE YOU SERVING. IF THEY ARE DOING THERAPEUTIC SERVICES, WHICH ALMOST ALL OF THEM ARE DOING ACTUAL THERAPY, WE'RE ASKING DID PEOPLE COME FOR FOUR OR MORE SESSIONS. THERE'S CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY ARE RETURNING. AND THEN AFTER THAT POINT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE HAD FOUR OR MORE SESSIONS, THEY HAVE TWO DIFFERENT ASSESSMENTS, ONE ON WELL-BEING AND ONE ON DEPRESSION. WE'RE LOOKING A THE THE PEOPLE WHO DID FOUR OR MORE SESSIONS IF THEIR WELL-BEING INCREASED OR DEPRESSION DECREASED.WHILE ALSO NOT OVERLY BURDENING THE AGENCIES IN TRYING TO DO THINGS WITH THE SAME ASSESSMENTS WAS REALLY GOOD FOR US BECAUSE WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SORT OF A BASELINE FOR ESPECIALLY THE NEWER AGENCIES OF LIKE LIKE THIS
IS WHAT IT MEANS AND HOW YOU CAN PROVIDE GOOD SERVICES. >> KAUR: IS THAT
ASSESSMENT TAKEN BEFORE THEY START? >> IT WOULD BE AT SESSION 1 AND 4.
>> KAUR: ONLINE TOOL TO TRACK THAT? >> YES.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A DASHBOARD THAT IS IN ITSDS HANDS FOR REVIEW.
>> KAUR: THESE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE ABLE TO -- THAT'S GREAT THAW HAVE THAT BECAUSE SOMETIMES ORGANIZATIONS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO BE PENALIZED FOR THE DATA AND GETTING THEM ALL TO AGREE ON USING THIS ONE SINGLE ASSESSMENT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THE DIFFERENCE.
I THINK IT WOULD ALSO BE GREAT TO IDENTIFY SOME OF THE REASONS WHY SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS AREN'T ABLE TO HAVE AS MUCH IMPACT SO THAT MAYBE THERE'S NOT JUST A YOU'RE BETTER THAN ME OTHER, BUT A SUPPORTIVE COLLABORATIVE WAY THAT THIS ORGANIZATION IS SHOWING A LOT OF CHANGE, WHAT ARE THEY DOING THAT'S SUCCESSFUL.
>> AND EVEN AGAIN HOW ARE SOME ORGANIZATIONS EASILY GETTING TO FOUR OR MORE SESSIONS AND HOW ARE SOME NOT. THAT'S A LOT.
THAT'S INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT'S NO SHOWS, THAT'S CUSTOMER SERVICE, IT'S A LOT. LOOKING AT IT FROM THE WHOLE --Y PEOPLE ARE YOU SEEING, HOW WELL ARE YOU SEEING THEM AND HOW WELL ARE THE PEOPLE YOU ARE SEEING DOING.
>> KAUR: THAT'S AWESOME. >> I'M GLAD YOU LIKE IT. >> KAUR: THANK YOU.
>> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. COUNCILWOMAN ALDERETE
GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU, CHAIR.
AND THANK YOU, JESSE, FOR THIS PRESENTATION. IT WAS GREAT AS WELL.
I DID WANT TO SECOND THE REQUEST THAT COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ MADE ABOUT THE DEMOGRAPHICS AND LOCATIONS OF THOSE GETTING THESE SERVICES, JUST SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT IT IS SHARED ACROSS THE CITY AND NOT LEANING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. AND ALSO THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN DR. CARR FOR ASKING, I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT THESE GROUPS ARE REPORTING BACK TO THE CITY SO THAT WAS INSIGHTFUL. I'M GLAD WE'RE ABLE TO SEE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EACH OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS SO WHEN WE HAVE TO RECALIBRATE AND WE HAVE SOME INFORMATION ON THAT. THERE'S A NUMBER OF GREAT PROGRAMS ON HERE.
SERVICES WHICH IS EXTREMELY INFORMATIVE. I DID HAVE A QUICK QUESTION REALLY ABOUT -- I WASN'T HERE WHEN YOU ALL DESIGNATED WHO GETS WHAT, BUT I SEE WE HAVE A LOT OF FUNDING TOWARDS SPECIALIZED POPULATIONS, LIKE VETERANS AND YOUTH AND OLDER ADULTS AND OUR HOUSELESS INDIVIDUALS, WHICH IS GREAT.
WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR THE AFTERNOON PERSON? LIKE THE -- AVERAGE PERSON? THE SINGLE MOM WHO DOESN'T REALLY FIT INTO ANY OF THESE CATEGORIES BUT STILL
SUFFERING FROM MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES? >> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND WE CAN ALWAYS DO MORE. THE IMPACT AREAS FOR THE ARPA FUNDING WERE SET BY COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND, YOU KNOW, AS YOU THINK ABOUT MAYBE 2021 AND HOW THE COMMUNITY WAS RESPONDING AND WHO IS REALLY -- I MEAN WE WERE ALL SUFFERING TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT, BUT WHO WAS OVERLY IMPACTED IS HOW WE CAME UP WITH THESE IMPACT AREAS. YES, THERE'S DEFINITELY MORE ADULTS, MORE SPECIALIZED POPULATIONS. I WILL SAY ALL OF THESE YOUTH-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS CAN'T NOT TOUCH PARENTS, RIGHT, AND GUARDIANS AND FAMILIES.
SO WE'RE CONSTANTLY IN COLLABORATION WORKING, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE SURE THERE'S
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SHARED-OUT RESOURCES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. NO, THERE'S DEFINITELY STILLGAPS. >> GAVITO: THAT'S HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND.
WE KNOW THE MENTAL HEALTH OF PARENTS CAN HAVE IMPACT ON CHILDREN'S HEALTH.
I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT WE TAKE CARE OF THESE SPECIALIZED POPULATIONS. I WAS JUST WONDERING ABOUT ALL THE OTHER AREAS TOO.
AND I THINK THAT JUST GOES KIND OF TO OUR LARGER CONVERSATION OF THIS IS AREA IS SO IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO INVEST IN AND HAVE A FOCUS IN.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL Y'ALL'S WORK ON THIS. >> VILLAGÓMEZ: COUNCILWOMAN, IF I MAY, JESSE, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT SINCE THE CITY IS NOT THE ONLY PROVIDER OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY, JUST FOR THOSE PERHAPS THAT ARE WATCHING THE SESSION TODAY, WHERE CAN THEY GET ASSISTANCE? LIKE A SINGLE MOM, FOR EXAMPLE, IF NOT THROUGH THE SERVICES REVIEW TODAY, BUT THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
>> ABSOLUTELY. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD BE REMISS IN NOT MENTIONING IS THAT THE SACRED -- SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY RESOURCE DEMOCRATICER TO WAS ABLE TO GET FUNDING FOR A MENTAL HEALTH PORTAL SPECIFICALLY AND ALL OF THEIR PROVIDERS IN THE PORTAL ARE ONES THAT ARE FREE OR SLIDING SCALE.
IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU WOULD GET ON INSURANCE FOR PEOPLE ACCEPT INSURANCE IN A PRIVATE PARAGRAPH. THE CENTER FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES IS THE LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY. THEY ARE CHARGED BY THE STATE TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE UNINSURED AND UNDER INSURED.
OUR U.T. HEALTH HAS THE CLINIC. WE DID EXPAND INTO YOUTH WITH THE ARPA FUNDING, BUT THEY'VE HAD THE NOW FUNDING FOR ADULTS FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS. THERE ARE METHODIST HEALTH CARE CLINICS, CENTROMED PROVIDE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF HEALTH SERVICES. UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS PROVIDES OUTPATIENT SERVICES. THE MORE SPECIALIZED YOU GET, THE MORE THERE MIGHT BE MORE OPPORTUNITIES. I MEAN OUR HOMELESS POPULATION HAS GREAT ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES.
PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING REACHED BY STREET OUTREACH. PEOPLE WHO ARE USING SUBSTANCES HAVE SOME ACCESS. AND SO THE MORE WE KIND OF GET IN THE WEEDS IN SPECIALTY CARE, THERE ARE A FEW PROVIDERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
OF COURSE, IF YOU OR YOUR OFFICE EVER HAS QUESTIONS, I FIELD THOSE REGULARLY.
>> GAVITO: AWESOME. THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT.
THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> HAVRDA: ANY OTHER FOLLOW-UP? WITH THAT, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE PRESENTATIONS AND BEING HERE TODAY AND WITH NOTHING FURTHER, THE MEETING
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.