The information below is from NAMI Humboldt. The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors have almost 48 hours to come up with talking points to counter this information. They haven't done anything for years and if they want to pass something they will. So, let's see on Tuesday, who votes for opting out. This would assist HCSO and the police departments.
The next time there is a tragedy in this community like Cheri Moore and many others, if you didn't speak up, if you keep supporting the same local media who won't ask the tough questions and if you keep voting for the same Supervisors who pick and chose who is dispensable and how they waste your tax dollars, you have only one person to blame; yourself.
All those protestors and those outraged about the "EPD texts" if you aren't speaking up about this, then you just proved your faux concern about mental health.
On Tuesday April 6, 2021 The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors will be deliberating over whether or not the County should develop an Assisted Outpatient Treatment Program (AOT) for people with serious mental illness, also known as a Laura's Law Program.
This is agenda item number 3 under Department Reports Letter I of their public Zoom meeting that begins at 9:00 a.m. https://humboldtgov.org/167/Board-of-Supervisors
Laura's Law was passed by the California Legislature nearly 20 years ago and allowed counties to develop assisted outpatient treatment programs, but allowed a county to opt out if they so chose. Some 22 of California's 58 counties took advantage of that law and developed AOT programs. The pilot program proved so successful that last year the Legislature made Laura's Law permanent and added a requirement that if counties chose to opt out, they must provide a rationale for doing so.
On April 6th we expect the County Health and Human Services Department (DHHS) to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that they opt out due to what they estimate is a high and unjustifiable cost. We hope that any of you who would like to see Laura's Law implemented in Humboldt County either contact your supervisor by phone or email the board chair by end of business Monday April 5 or participate in the Supervisors meeting Tuesday by zoom and provide your input:
Virginia Bass, Chair of Humboldt BOS: vbass@co.humboldt.ca.us
The way Laura's Law works is if a person has a recent history (last three years) of incarceration or hospitalization due to their mental illness, along with an unwillingness to enter and be adherent to treatment...often due to a lack of insight into their illness, the person can be brought before a judge and required to seek treatment. At no point are they forcibly medicated, the judge refers them to local mental health providers, who are required to develop a plan for the individual.
If they do not follow the plan, the judge can order them put on a hold and evaluated at a hospital providing psychiatric services. Many believe the formal nature of the process and the "black robe" effect of the judge helps get buy- in from the client.
DHHS estimates that four people would be eligible for Laura's Law; they estimate that of the four, three would opt out and one agree voluntarily to seek treatment. They estimate that the process of screening potential participants who are "nominated" for the program and providing services for the one person, would be more than $500,000. We question that estimate. For one person? They estimate costs of a fulltime social worker, clinician, and a 20% time psychiatrist. This means they estimate the psychiatrist will be spending 8 hours a week on one person.
We believe that our community can make Laura's Law work and that DHHS can provide services and coordinate this program. Laura's Law is sometimes referred to as Treatment before Tragedy. It is not fair to these vulnerable people that we allow them to get to the point that they cannot take care of themselves and they pose a threat to endanger themselves or others.
Laura's Law intercepts them upstream while there is a chance to divert them from incarceration or hospitalization, and from potentially hurting themselves or others. As you know, these folks are often quite ill and often have minimal insight into their illness and its symptoms.
They need their community's help. Just in the last year we have had several tragedies in the community that might have been averted if the individuals had been placed into a Laura's Law program. In one case a mother might not have lost one son to a homicide as well as losing the mentally ill son who committed the homicide to incarceration.
If you choose to provide input the following are points you could use to contact the Supervisors:
These folks and their families need help to live safely in our community
AOT programs save money. In other counties $1.8 dollars are saved for every $1 spent on AOT
Incarceration and hospitalization costs are reduced
Not only are costs reduced, but the trauma caused by a worsening psychiatric condition and the trauma of incarceration, trial and hospitalization is avoided.
In addition, the potential pain of harm to a member of the public or a family member while the untreated person is ill is avoided.
The costs projected by the County Mental Health seem overly high ($558,446.) Why would it take a fulltime case manager to work with one person or one family? We think the number of individuals who would qualify for the program is larger than that estimated (4), based on the County’s estimate of only 4 qualifying and just one following up.
That estimate may very well influence the Supervisors’ decision on Tuesday as to whether to opt in or opt out of Laura's Law.Putting together a Laura's Law Program takes a lot of work at first, but is easier to implement as time goes on.Because of the lack of permanent supportive housing and other housing options, many families choose to house a mentally ill relative rather than subjecting them to homelessness.
What sometimes comes with this when those folks get progressively more ill is volatile and sometimes violent and dangerous behavior when the family member is not being treated or is not being treated effectively. Laura's Law can help before tragedy ensues
If having a Laura's Law program in Humboldt County is important to you now or may be helpful in the future, please contact your supervisor before Tuesday April 6 and/or attend the zoom meeting and provide your input Tuesday. Your Supervisor's contact information and the zoom link is available on the BOS website.
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