(213) 8101
May 6, 1999
Honorable Board of Supervisors
County of Los Angeles
383 Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration
500 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, California 90012
Dear Supervisors:
AMENDMENTS TO REVISE ALCOHOL AND DRUG TREATMENT GENERAL RELIEF AGREEMENT LANGUAGE (All Districts) (3 Votes)
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOUR BOARD:
Approve and instruct the Director of Health Services, or his designee, to offer and sign two General Relief amendments for alcohol and drug services, substantially similar to Exhibits I and II, to amend the existing residential services agreement language, to increase the length of time individuals may participate in the residential program from 90 days to 180 days, including a three-month extension, at no cost to the County.
In approving this action, the Board is authorizing the Director of Health Services, or his designee, to approve amendments to revise General Relief (GR) requirements for alcohol and drug services agreements.
The recommended action will allow the Department of Health Services (DHS) to revise GR agreement language to increase the length of time individuals may participate in the residential program, at the request of the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS).
There is no net County cost involved in this action.
The County's total estimated maximum obligation under the GR agreements is $12,648,500, for the period of November 1, 1997 through June 30, 1999, 100% offset by funding provided by DPSS with no net County cost. This amendment will not change or increase the current funding amount provided by DPSS.
Honorable Board of Supervisors
May 6, 1999
Page 2
On June 3, 1997, the Board approved an ordinance for adoption amending the County Code, Title 2, Administration, authorizing DPSS to screen GR applicants and recipients for substance abuse when it is determined that there is reasonable suspicion that an individual is dependent upon illegal drugs or alcohol abuse. For persons professionally evaluated to be in need of treatment, the Code also conditions eligibility for GR on participation in a substance abuse or alcohol treatment program.
Based on the Board's action, DHS and DPSS developed a mandatory substance abuse recovery program for the GR population. Reasonable suspicion of chemical dependence will be determined by DPSS district staff through the use of a brief questionnaire and observation of an individual's behavior and appearance. Based on this determination, individuals suspected of having possible problems with alcohol and/or drugs will be referred for an in-depth drug and alcohol assessment by existing DHS alcohol and drug contract providers.
On October 21, 1997, the Board approved 82 alcohol and drug agreements, and implemented the GR substance abuse treatment program. On April 7, 1998, the Board approved an agreement amendment to reconvert compensation/reimbursement language from a combined fee-for-service/(provisional rate) cost based agreement format back to a standard fee-for-service agreement format. At that time, the residential service component provided for individuals to participate in the program for no longer than 90 days without the Director's approval. Recently, DPSS made a request to revise this provision from 90 days to 180 days, and to include a three-month extension with the Director's approval. The changeis effective July 1, 1998 through June 30, 1999.
The agreements may be terminated immediately for breach or for convenience with a 30-day advance written notice by either party.
The agreements do not include the standard Child Support Compliance Program provisions because the contract terms are less than one year.
Attachment A provides additional information.
The alcohol and drug services amendment forms (Exhibits I and II) have been approved as to form by County Counsel.
It is not appropriate to advertise amendments on the Office of Small Business' Countywide Web Site.
Countywide alcohol and drug treatment and recovery services will continue uninterrupted.
Honorable Board of Supervisors
May 6, 1999
Page 3
When approved, this Department requires three signed copies of the Board's action.
Respectfully submitted,
Mark Finucane
Director of Health Services
MF:rb
Attachments
c: Chief Administrative Officer
County Counsel
Executive Officer, Board of Supervisors
Director of Public Social Services
BLETRAGR3.RB
rb:04/21/99
Attachment A
1. Type of Service:
Alcohol and Drug Treatment: General Relief (GR) residential services.
2. Term:
November 1, 1997 through June 30, 1999.
3. Financial Information:
The County's total estimated maximum obligation under the GR agreements is $12,648,500, for the period of November 1, 1997 through June 30, 1999, 100% offset by funding provided by DPSS with no net County cost.
4. Accountability for Program Monitoring and Evaluation:
Patrick L. Ogawa, Chief, Alcohol and Drug Program Administration
5. Approvals:
Public Health Programs and Services: John F. Schunhoff, Ph.D., Chief of Operations
Alcohol and Drug Program Administration: Patrick L. Ogawa, Chief
Contracts and Grants Division: John H. Ricks, Chief
County Counsel (approval as to form): Rosemarie Belda, Senior Deputy County Counsel
BLETRAGR3.RB