DEPARTMENT: San Antonio Police Department
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Chief William McManus
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council, Mobile Integrated Health/Fusion Mental Health Unit Program for Intensive Care Coordination (PICC) Donation Acceptance
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the acceptance and appropriation of funds from the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC) for the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) in the amount up to $384,478, and appropriates funds to be used by the Mental Health Unit of the SAPD in the amount of $382,978 for personnel costs and $1,500 for equipment for a total of $384,478. Funds will be used to help improve outpatient services of residents who are repeatedly emergency detained by law enforcement officers and taken to local hospitals due to mental illness. Funding is for the period of January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
STRAC was established to facilitate the development, implementation, and operation of a regional comprehensive trauma and emergency healthcare system based on accepted standards of care to decrease morbidity and mortality. Funds from STRAC are awarded to assist in improving the functionality of emergency agencies in the State of Texas. In 2019, STRAC received funding for a 6-month pilot program called the Program for Intensive Care Coordination (PICC) from the South Texas Crisis Collaborative (STCC), which is comprised of various healthcare systems and philanthropic organizations to reduce the number of high-volume emergency detentions to local hospitals. Due to the success of the 6-month pilot program, additional funding was provided for calendar year 2020 and now again in 2021.
The number of emergency detentions by the SAPD that were routed to local hospitals utilizing STRAC’s law enforcement navigation system were approximately 14,000 in 2018, 14,889 in 2019, and 14,046 in 2020. Since the launch of the program in July 2019, the PICC has connected with 224 clients. In 2020, SAPD conducted 1,717 contacts under the PICC program.
The goal of the Program for Intensive Care Coordination (PICC) is to reduce the number of emergency detentions and hospital costs. This is achieved through intervention. The PICC program utilizes two (2) San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD) Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) paramedics to work side by side with two (2) SAPD Mental Health Unit officers and the Local Mental Health Authority-Center Health Care Services (CHCS) personnel to connect with a high-volume utilizer during the pre and post mental health crisis. A representative from SAFD, SAPD and the Local Mental Health Authority will initially meet with each new high-volume utilizer to create a care plan for that individual. Once a care plan is developed the PICC team will work to keep the high-volume utilizer out of crisis and in care. MIH and the Mental Health Unit will assist with case management for high volume utilizers who are in need of services. The PICC team focuses on 100 high volume utilizers, rotating new individuals in as others are successfully discharged from the projection. Metrics to identify success include a reduction in emergency detention numbers and reduced hospital costs.
ISSUE:
This ordinance authorizes the acceptance of funds from the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC) in an amount up to $384,478 to the San Antonio Police Department. These funds will be used to pay for overtime to staff two (40 hour/week) SAPD Mental Health officer positions and one (18 hour/week) SAPD Mental Health Supervisor position, to create the medical and law enforcement aspects of the PICC team. All SAPD Mental Health officers are trained in Crisis Intervention and will provide medical assistance/ social assistance/ law enforcement assistance when needed. The PICC team helps the new or existing client in the compliance of that client’s personal care plan to decrease the residents who are repeatedly emergency detained and taken to local hospitals.
ALTERNATIVES:
This program is an alternative to emergency detaining and transporting to local hospitals, which results in overutilization of city resources and ties up emergency rooms for up to 48 hours before clients are released.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance accepts and appropriates $384,478 of funds from the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC). Of this amount $382,978 will be used to cover for personnel expenses in the SAPD Mental Health Unit and $1,500 for equipment. There is no city match required. Funds will be used to help improve outpatient services of residents who are repeatedly emergency detained by law enforcement officers and taken to local hospitals due to mental illness.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends acceptance of funds up to $384,478 from the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC).