Title
Contract renewal for Community-Based Services with the Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas.
Body
Recommended Action: Recommended Action: Approve the agreement and authorize the Chairman to sign.
Background: This contract outlines the terms and conditions for the funding of several community-based programs provided by the Mental Health Association (MHA) designed to assist adults with severe and persistently mentally ill, seriously emotionally disturbed youth, and their families. These programs include specialized residential services and the Chat Line.
COMCARE refers clients as appropriate to these MHA programs. The contract includes 6 reserved short-term residential placement for COMCARE clients. These residential services assist COMCARE clients with community reintegration, diversion and discharge from state hospitals, and crisis resolution. MHA's Chat Line is a listening and referral telephone support service open to all residents of Sedgwick County. The program is designed to provide a listening service to assist callers' feelings of loneliness and offer positive coping skills. It is utilized as an alternative for individuals who are looking for support, but do not require the services of COMCARE's crisis line.
There were a few changes to this years contract. The total funding for this contract was reduced by $133,615; $20,000 in funding for the adult case management flex fund was removed from the contract and residential services was reduced by $113,615. With the Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) COMCARE no longer has a need for two transitional houses for individuals returning from other levels of care.No county mill levy funds support this contract, which is paid from state grant and fee-for-service revenue.
Alternatives: Without this contract, clients would either lose access to these important services, or would be placed on waiting list to receive services. Currently MHA is the only provider in our community that provides bo...
Click here for full text