HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 05-26-2005-3ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: May 26, 2005
Action Agen~
Item No.
SUBJECT: Mental Health Reform Update
DEPARTMENT: County Manager's Office PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Moses Carey, Chair, BOCC;
BOCC Liaison - OPC/LME Board
John Link/Gwen Harvey, Co. Mgr. Off.
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: An opportunity for the BOCC to receive an update from the Chair on planning and
transitional activities underway in this first year of "parallel governance" of mental health,
developmental disabilities, and substance abuse programs under the OPC Area Board and the
LME Governing Board,
BACKGROUND: As Commissioners are aware, the OPC Area Board and LME Governing
Boards have been meeting "as one body" with OPC/LME senior management since January
2005 to conduct the business affairs of the organization consistent with the Local Business Plan
approved by the state in 2002.
The following items of significance have been accomplished since last winter:
• Adopted LME By-Laws and Officers, (.Jimmy Clayton, Chatham County Commissioner,
currently serves as LME Chair; Sue Schwartz serves as OPC Area Board Chair,)
• Received Preliminary Findings from FY03-04 Financial Audit (Final Report to be
presented by Dixon Hughes on May 24)
• Engaged a Personnel Consultant, Steve Straus, to assist Orange County Personnel in
the conduct of an Assessment Center to fill the Director position (Assessment Center to
be conducted on June 29)
• Named a Director Search/Selection Committee to review candidates for the Assessment
Center Process (Moses Carey and .John Link represent Orange County)
• Reviewed OPC management recommendations on the general utilization of County
funds to support internal OPC programs, and the proposed development of a
"Professional Employer Organization" to help facilitate the transition of long-term
employees nearing retirement from the state system
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• Continuing to receive, at each monthly meeting an OPC management update on
program divestiture issues and RFP timelines (The BOCC has expressed a particular
interest and concern far involvement in matters pertaining to the future of Club Nova and
those program under the umbrella of ChildScope (KidScape, Early Family Intervention &
Family Services, Children's Learning Center, PACT, and KidSCope),
• Continuing to be kept apprised of legislation introduced by Representative Insko affecting
the funding and delivery of community based mental health programs and their
supportive services.
• Continuing to be kept informed on the proposed rollout of the new State service
definitions, projected to go into effect an July 1, 2005.
Earlier this month Chair Moses Carey, Manager Jahn Link, and Rep. Insko met with Lisa
Wainwright from the State Mental Health/Developmental Disability/Substance Abuse Director's
Office to discuss several areas of importance -the availability of State Mental Health Trust
Funds to help "bridge" local efforts; the criticality of any deadlines associated with local
divestiture; and the availability of State dollars to fund the buy-out of OPC employee
sick/vacation leave projected to fall due at divestiture.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with receiving this update from
the Chair.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive the update as
information and provide any direction and feedback to the Chair and staff as may be desired.