DEPARTMENT: Human Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Melody Woosley
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT: Mental Health Systems Gap Analysis Briefing
SUMMARY:
This item provides a briefing on a Mental Health Systems Gap Analysis conducted by LadderLogik on behalf of the City and the County.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In January 2019, representatives from a Joint City/County Mental Health Workgroup hired a local consultant, Ladderlogik to analyze and create a gap analysis with a focus on community and organizational capacity across the mental health system.
In the area of community capacity the consultant was asked to review and assess progress on a number of existing studies and plans to identify existing gaps in the mental health system. Additionally, the analysis looked at the distinct type of services needed to appropriately serve the diverse range of mental health and substance use needs in our community; identified recommended next steps; and anticipated the impact of expanding capacity and improving coordination. In addition, the consultant was asked to review organizational capacity as it relates to stakeholder roles, resources, and priorities.
In June 2019, Ladderlogik completed the City of San Antonio and Bexar County Mental Health Systems Gap Analysis, which provides multiple recommendations to address gaps in services, capacity and system structure.
ISSUE:
Based on the results of the LadderLogik analysis, the Joint City/County Mental Health Workgroup prioritized identified gaps as a guide for the City of San Antonio and Bexar County in identifying and allocating mental health resources. Currently, the primary means of accessing behavioral health services in a crisis event is through traditional hospital emergency departments. These environments are not conducive to helping persons with serious mental illness (SMI), intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD), substance use disorder (SUD), or autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
...
Click here for full text