Title
CONSIDERATION OF A FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT 259 AND COMCARE IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,029,000 FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDED TO CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.
Presented by: Joan M. Tammany, LMLP, COMCARE Executive Director.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve the funding agreement, authorize the Chairman to sign the establishment of budget authority as provided in the Financial Considerations section of this Request, and implementation of the Staffing Table changes identified in the Personnel Considerations section of this Request.
Body
Program Summary and Timeline: The 2018 Legislature budgeted funds for a mental health intervention pilot program between six school districts and community mental health centers in Kansas. USD 259 and COMCARE were selected as the partnering organizations in Sedgwick County in year one of the pilot program. The Behavioral Health Intervention Teams will consist of a school liaison employed by the participating school district and master level clinicians/therapists and bachelor level case managers employed by the participating community mental health center. In Wichita, COMCARE will embed teams within 22 of the USD 259 district schools and shall be staffed by 34 clinicians/therapists and 45 case managers with a target to serve 800 youth in the first year. In order to accommodate the staffing needs for this program COMCARE will need 81 full time positions, of which 57 are being requested as additions to the staffing table. COMCARE will transfer 24 exiting positions to this fund source.
The goal of the program is to improve the social-emotional wellness and outcomes for students by increasing schools’ access to treatment providers. The pilot will identify and provide interventions for two groups of youth. One group consists of the Children in Need of Care and/or in State custody who have experienced multiple placements and have behavioral health needs. The second group consists of youth who are not in State custody but who need more behavioral health treatment during and outside of the school day.
COMCARE will bill for services through Medicaid or commercial insurance when available. The funding from the State General Fund will be utilized to serve those without insurance or those who are underinsured. This pilot program provides a significant opportunity as it increases our collaboration with USD 259 and provides access to services for children and families in a natural setting. It also expands the number of youth who have access to mental health treatment.
Financial Considerations:
Funding period starts: 7/1/18
Funding period ends: 6/30/19
Source of funding
Funding: $1,029,000
Required Match: $0
Required Cash Match: $0
Required In-Kind Match: $0
Other funding: $4,159,141
TOTAL SOURCES: $5,188,141
Uses of funding (Note: Include any Required Matches in your totals)
Operational costs: $0
Personnel: $4,977,641
Contractual services: $165,000
Operational supplies: $45,500
Equipment: $0
Indirect administrative costs: $0
Capital projects cost: $0
TOTAL USES $5,188,141
Source of matching funds: N/A
Source of other funding: Other sources include estimates of revenue from
insurance fees, Medicaid fees, Medicaid waiver, and patient fees.
Budget Authority Adjustment: Additional budget authority in the amount of $2,594,070.50 for budget year 2018 and $2,594,070.50 for budget year 2019 is being requested in the COMCARE Grant Fund.
Personnel considerations: COMCARE is requesting to add 57 new positions to the staffing table.
New Positions
|
# of Positions |
Position |
Grade |
Salary $ Benefits |
Total Cost |
|
25.0 |
Case Manager |
120 |
$53,454 |
$1,336,350 |
|
30.0 |
Clinical Social Worker |
128 |
$70,404 |
$2,112,120 |
|
2.0 |
Program Manager |
129 |
$73,031 |
$146,062 |
|
57.0 |
|
|
|
$3,594,532 |
Expected measurable outcomes: No outcomes were established within this agreement.
Requirements from Sedgwick County: COMCARE will provide USD 259 a monthly report that includes: name of students served, date of service, and duration of service.
Alternatives: If this agreement and staffing changes are not approved COMCARE will lose a funding opportunity that will allow a significant collaboration between COMCARE and USD 259. This community will miss an opportunity to improve the accessibility to mental health services.
Policy considerations: The authority for this action is K.S.A 19-101 and a simple majority vote is required.
Legal considerations: All Sedgwick County policies have been followed in the development of this proposal.