Annual Town Meeting Board of Selectmen Board of
Annual Town Meeting Board of Selectmen & Board of Health ARTICLE 9 SOCIAL SERVICES AND MENTAL HEALTH Board of Selectmen 1
Background § Town Meeting Discussion (4/2018) § Committee Formed (Spring 2018) § Selectmen’s Office: Executive Director; Ellen Gibbs and Beth Sullivan Woods (BOS) § Health Department: Leonard Izzo, Health Department Director; Shep Cohen, Marcia Testa Simonson; Lloyd Tarlin, Carol Hannenberg (BOH) § Schools: David Lussier, Superintendent of Schools; Arlene Argir, Interim Director of Student Services; Linda Corridan, Department Head for Nursing Services § Council on Aging: Gayle Thieme, COA Director and Kate Burnham, COA Health & Social Services Administrator § Police: Chief Jack Pilecki, Scott Whittemore, Deputy Police Chief, Sgt. Brian Spencer, Community Services § Fire: Chief Rick De. Lorie, Jeff Peterson, Assistant Fire Chief § Youth Services and WHA: Maura Renzella § Data gathering/Worked with experts, such as Rob Evans, HRS (2018) and Social Workers in Health Department, and Schools § Proposal developed (12/18) § Final report issued (1/19)
The Need: There is no debate § Significant increase in number of residents seeking social and mental health services § Increase in complexity of issues § In past year, WPD received 281 calls for 911 services identified as mental health related; this equates to 23 per month § On average, 10 of these calls are transported to the hospital emergency department each month § School resources not available on evenings, weekends or school breaks § HRS at maximum capacity
Hub & Spoke Collaborative Model for Mental Health and Social Services Fire COA Police Health Youth Services Schools HRS & External Resources
Current Collaborative Model § Model is the norm in Public Health/Healthcare agencies § The Model is working well for our Departments § Interdepartmental collaboration and support is fundamental to how they work § More serious/complex cases are routinely escalated to Health Department § These cases sometimes involve nurses and sanitarians § Relationship with HRS is strong § Resources are a gaiting issue Board of Selectmen 5
The Recommendation for FY 20 § Support modest funding improvements in FY 20 budgets of Health and Schools § Add resources that the Committee identified as most important: 1. Add staffing/full-time Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in Health Department ($110 K) ◦ Includes $20 k in benefits 2. Increase contract with HRS ($25 K) 3. Contract for Law Enforcement Clinical Support ($40 K) § Total request: $175, 000
1. Staffing/Full Time LICSW Request: $110, 000 in Personal Services (includes $20 K benefits) Public Health Social Work Services - Aid Navigation with Local, State and Federal Social and Behavioral Service Programs - Mental and Behavioral Health - Crisis intervention - Assessments and Referrals - Family support - Short-term, bridge counseling - Homelessness - Hoarding - Food and Financial insecurity - Transportation Coordination, Consultation and Support - Social Worker at COA - Social Worker at Schools - Police and Fire Department - Liaison with outside resources - Interdepartmental taskforces
1. Staffing/Full Time LICSW • Full-time LICSW will be member of Health Department staff • Operational reporting to Health Director • Receive clinical consultation as needed from HRS • Have seniority and licensing to provide clinical oversight and support to WPS and COA social workers • Licensure (LICSW) opens opportunity for Town to implement social worker intern program
2. Increase contract with HRS § Current FY 20 Contract is $241, 658 § Consultation and support of town and school staff § Subsidize direct services to residents § Provides mental and behavioral healthcare services, not public health social work services § Currently at capacity for direct services § Request: Adds $25, 000 to current contract § Approximately 450 counseling hours per year § Approximately 40 -50 additional families served
3. Law Enforcement Clinical Support (LECS) Request: $40, 000 to partner with the Town of Weston and contract for one designated Emergency Clinician (Social Worker) assigned to both towns: § Respond to the scene of a mental/behavioral health crisis with Law Enforcement § Conduct follow-up meeting with families and clients and implement services prior to situations escalating to potentially dangerous emergencies. § Work closely with the Community Crisis Intervention Team (CCIT) follow-up with Health Department Social Services Supervisor (LICSW) § Provide assistance with evaluating and referring people with substance abuse issues
3. Law Enforcement Clinical Support (LECS) The LECS clinician will: § Have training in both social work case management and emergency services § Primarily work business hours, but will be able to respond to issues off hours (nights & weekends) § Be an employee of Riverside Community Care based in Norwood § All benefits and salary will be paid to the clinician by Riverside. The response time to calls will be significantly reduced with a dedicated clinician which will allow for better service for our residents
Enrich Hub & Spoke Collaborative Model for Mental Health and Social Services LICSW: • 20% Coordination & Support • 80% Direct Social Services Fire All departments supported COA Police Health Youth Services Schools HRS, Riverside & External Resources
Wellesley Health Department: Current Organizational Chart DIRECTOR NURSING SOCIAL SERVICES Hourly Social Workers 35 hrs/wk 3 CSWs in pool MENTAL HEALTH Outsourced Contracts ENVIRONMENTAL ADMINISTRATION, COMMUNITY PROGRAMS & EDUCATION HRS School Outreach (1. 0) Psych. Counsel. Visits Approx 52 hrs/wk Charles Rver Center $3, 000/yr Abbreviations: Social Worker (CSW); Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW); Law Enforcement Clinical Support (LECS) OUT-SOURCED: HRS, Charles River Center
Wellesley Health Department: Impact of Request DIRECTOR NURSING SOCIAL SERVICES CSW – LICSW Unit Supervisor Hourly Social Workers 35 hrs/wk 3 CSWs in pool Social Work Intern Program Proposed FY 20 Position, Contract or Program MENTAL HEALTH Outsourced Contracts ENVIRONMENTAL ADMINISTRATION, COMMUNITY PROGRAMS & EDUCATION HRS School Outreach (1. 0) Psych. Counsel. Visits Approx 52 hrs/wk Add 8. 5 hrs/wk Charles River Center $3, 000/yr Riverside Community Health (LECS) Add Emergency Social Worker (PT-0. 5) Abbreviations: Social Worker (CSW); Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW); Law Enforcement Clinical Support (LECS) OUT-SOURCED: HRS, Charles River Center; HRS increase of $25, 000 (8. 5 hr/wk); Riverside LECS Contract for Oncall Emergency SW
What to Expect in Year 1 § More service availability in Town for residents in need, especially in underserved areas § Improved emergency services and follow-up for residents § LICSW will coordinate continuation of the taskforce work to create a 3 -year plan § Internship program development § Formalize data gathering and measurement § Enhanced staff development and clinical oversight § First year progress report
We request your favorable action on this motion. Board of Selectmen 16
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