DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Colleen M. Bridger, MPH, PhD
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Authorizing a renewal and amendment of an agreement with Communities in Schools of San Antonio for the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District for a term ending June 30, 2021.
SUMMARY:
This Ordinance will authorize the renewal and amendment of an agreement with Communities in Schools of San Antonio (CISSA) for adolescent health services to continue to provide behavioral mental health counseling for teens and/or their families affected by domestic violence, funded by the Health Implementation Plan under the Recovery and Resiliency Plan in an amount not to exceed $150,000.00 for a term ending June 30, 2021.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
According to the CDC National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence, one in five children will witness domestic violence before age 18. Mental health counseling supports families in healing the trauma of violence and developing healthy coping skills. Metro Health contracts with CISSA to provide behavioral mental health counseling for teens and their families affected by domestic violence.
In September 2020, City Council authorized an agreement with CISSA for adolescent health services to provide behavioral mental health counseling sessions that address current inadequate access to care while promoting mental health wellness through services provided by Licensed Professional Counselors. CISSA was contracted to provide a minimum of 400 behavioral mental health counseling sessions for students and/or their families affected by domestic violence through various types of therapy-including Dialectical Therapy, Solution Focused, Person-Centered, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Play Therapy Techniques-and provide community referrals for basic needs and psychiatric evaluation.
Authorization of the proposed amendment to the agreement with CISSA will allow Metro Health to continue funding adolescent mental health counseling services to teens and their families affected by domestic violence. Through the proposed amendment CISSA will provide an additional 1,000 behavioral mental health counseling sessions for the term ending June 30, 2021. The additional services will be compensated for a total amount up to $150,000.00.
ISSUE:
Metro Health is requesting City Council authorization of a renewal and amendment of an agreement with CISSA for adolescent health services to continue to provide behavioral mental health counseling to teens and/or their families affected by domestic violence. In the event COVID-19 dictates, CISSA clinicians are fully trained to provide tele-counseling services via HIPPA approved video conferencing and phone-based communication platforms.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should this contract not be authorized, Metro Health will be unable to move forward with plans for providing an additional 1,000 behavioral mental health counseling sessions to teens and/or their families affected by domestic violence.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes a renewal and amendment of an agreement with Communities in Schools of San Antonio (CISSA) to continue to provide behavioral mental health counseling for teens for a term ending June 30, 2021 for an amount up to $150,000.00. The amendment with CISSA will be funded by the Health Implementation Plan under the Recovery and Resiliency Plan budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends City Council authorize the renewal and amendment of the agreement with CISSA to support Metro Health’s domestic violence prevention efforts.