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COUNCIL AGENDA: 1/21A

ITEM: 6c (J

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CITY OF SAN JOSE - MEMORANDUM
TO:

SXJBJECT:

HcmcH'able Mayot & Qiy Council

FROM:

SANTA CLARA COUNTY MOBILE

DATE: January 3,1997

MENTAL HEALTH TEAM PILOT PROGRAM
[CR: 6-18-9fr4al

Approved

Date

V/o/^'Z

7

£EC

Louis A. Cbbairuviaz '

7

ATIQN

Adopti<xi of a resolution authorizing the Oty Manager to negotiate and execute a
Memorandum of Understanding with the County of Santa Qara far participation in the

Mobile Mental Health Team Pilot Program.
BACKGROUND

At the June 18,1996 City Council meeting [Item 9u], the Council authorized staff to

work with the County of Santa Clara to identify viable options to divert the mentally ill
from incarceration when appropriate. Staff hrom the County and Oty have been
meeting in a working group to develop a program model for Council and Board
approval. The County, during its FY1996-97 Operating Budget discussions,
appropriated $267^1 to support this pilot program..
ANALYSIS
PILOT PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The piimaiy objective of tiie pilot program is to divert qualified persons with apparent
mental disaMitics from tiie criminal justice system by providing initial ^sessinents,
crisis intervention and linkage to other mental health services.
TERM AND OTERATTC^ STRUCTURE

The project is to be a collaborative effort between the Santa Clara Valley Health and
Hospital System/Mental Health Department and the City of San Jose. It is to be
implemented on a pilot basis and will terminate on June 30,1997. However, the term of
the agreement may be extended upon mutual agreement of the parties.

Sante Oan County Mobile Mental Health Tetfci

Program

Januaxy 3,1997
Pa««2

The Mobile Mental Health Team(Team)will ccMiisist of qualified mental health

professiixials who will be employed by the County's Mental Health Department.
Throughout tfie term o£ die pilot program,an Advisory Group will provide poliqr
oversight and review the effective implementation of the pilot program,and will be
responsible for preparii^ and submitting a final evaluation report to the Board of
Supervisors and City Council at the completion of the pilot. The Advisory Group wiU
consist of representatives from: County Mental Health Department,Supervisor Jim
Beall's Office,the City Manager's Office and the San Jose Police Department.
TARGET GROUP AND TARGET AREA

The intended targetfor these services are those qualified adult persons with apparent
mental disabilities who come to the attention of the San Jose Police Department and can

benefitfrom the Mobile Mental Health Team Pilot Program. The initial target area for

this pilot is Police District King. At the discretion of the Police Department's Watch

Commander,the Team will be dispatched to other San Jose Police Districts.
DISPATCH PROCEDURES AND REFERRALS

At the requestof an officer at the scene,the Police Department's Communication Unit
will be responsible for dispatching the Team and will prioritize multiple requests te
service. Upon dispatch,the Team will evaluate individuals in the field who appear
mentally iU and are at risk of incarceration and attempt to find alternative treatmentor
placement San Jose Police and the Team will work cooperatively until the situation is

resolved with the understanding that the San Jose Police Officer has the ultimate

authority on scene and in determining the case disposition. The Police Department will
be responsible for all placementtransport that may be required. If it is determined that
an individual will be placed on a 5150 hold,the required hold documentation will be
completed by the Team prior to transport by the Police Department to EPS.
Additionally,the Team will be responsible for making contact with EPS,answering any

questions and providing any additional information that may be reqtiired prior to the
arrival of the transported ii^vidual to EPS.
COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT

The Team will be equipped with hand-pack radios supplied by the Police Department

£<x the duration of^pilot program. For purposes of dispatch,each Team will be

assigned a San Jose Police Department radio call sign. The Coimty will provide the

Team with cellular phones and pagers.
STAFF QUAUHCATIONS AND HOURS OF OPERATION

The Team will consist of three(3)full-time and three(3)part-time experienced mental

health workers. Applicants will also be required to participate in an extensive hiring
and selection process that will indude a Ride-Along Assessment by the Police
Department.

r

S«n*« Oani County Mobile Mental I-fealth Team Pilot Program
J

January 3,1997
Pag.3

The Team will b« in service from 10:30 a.m. to 1230 a.m. daily, including weekends and
holidays. The base of operations fOT the Team will be the County^s Mental Health

ACCE^ Unit facility located at 2221 Emborg Lai^.

The Mental Health ACCESS Unit staff will provide all necessary clerical support,
information and referral and foUow-up services as needed to the Team and the Police
Department.
DATA ANALYSIS AND REPORTS

Data requested by either the County of the Qty will be collected by the Team
supervisor with an Activity and Evaluation report to be completed and submitted to the
Advisory Group bi-monthly.
All program staff will comply with the California Welfare and Institutions Code,
Section 5328 regarding patient confidentiality.

Any incidents, procedural concerns or staff-related complaints will be reported
promptly to the appropriate supervisor. Mental Health staff with concerns related to

Police Department perscmnel wiU notify their supervisor or the County Mental Health
Director. The supervisor will evaluate the situation aivi discuss it with the San Jose
Police Department Liaison. Police Officers with concerns about Team members will

rK>tify the Team supervisor or Watch Commander,who wiU discviss it with the County
Mental I^alth Directca: as soon as possible.
TRAINING

Staff training and development will be an important part of the Program's
implementation and success. Program staff will receive 80 hours of training prior to
going on duty including the following; police procedures; orientation to Department of
Corrections operations; court procedures;EPS/BAP;community resources; traumatic
brain injury; pharmacology; ADA reqxiirements; management of assaultive behavior;
program objectives procedures and evaluations skills.
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OUTCOME MEASURES

At the time of each incident.Police personnel and Team members will be asked to
evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention in terms of the Program's ability to divert
the mentally ill from possible incarceration. There will also be a retroactive longitudinal
analysis erf the target group to track whether the frequency of arrests, hospitalizations,
etc. is decreased as a result of the intervention

Santa Qara County Mobile Mental Health Teem Pilot Program
January 3,1997
Paga4

CQORDINATIQN

This memorandum has been coordinated with the City Attorney's Office and the City
Manager's Office.
o

Louis A. Cobarruviaz
Chief of Police
c;

Richard Wittenberg
Supervisor Jim Beall