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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-07-2005-9cORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: September 7, 2005 Action Agenda Item No. Q`G SUBJECT: Agreement between Health Department and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools for Behavioral Counseling Services DEPARTMENT: Health PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): Agreement INFORMATION CONTACT: Rosemary Summers, ext 2411 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To approve an agreement to provide behavioral health counseling services to Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS). BACKGROUND: In the past year, Jennifer Sharpe, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at the Health Department, began providing behavioral counseling services to children and adolescents referred to her by school nurses in both school systems in the County. This was a direct outgrowth of Ms. Sharpe's work providing therapeutic counseling services to high-risk maternity clients and adolescents being seen by the Health Department. The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools system has requested additional services to be provided, primarily for students identified by student services teams in three middle schools in the system that are at-risk for or exhibiting behavioral issues. (Note: In the past, OPC has contracted with the schools for services through the Northside Child Clinic. Unfortunately, because of staff turnover and the shift to a community support model as part of mental health reform, it was not feasible to sustain. OPC will consult with the schools as needed and participate through the local system of care collaborative, but the Health Department in this proposal would be contracting to provide the therapy component.) Due to prior patient commitments both in the Health Department clinics as well as from other school referrals, the Health Department currently lacks the capacity to divert Ms. Sharpe's resources to provide the level desired by the school system. CHCCS has identified a one-time source of funds to pay for these services. The Health Department will contract with a licensed clinical social worker specifically to provide these services for the 05-06 academic year. Having the agreement managed in the Health Department will ensure that services to the schools are coordinated between Ms. Sharpe and the contract therapist. It is anticipated that the amount available will pay for approximately 600 hours of service or about 20 hours/week for 30 weeks. The Health Director discussed this project with the Social Services Director to determine whether this service should be provided through that department rather than the Health z Department, It was mutually agreed that these services should be coordinated through the Health Department at this time. This is a one-time agreement for this year only. The County Attorney's office has reviewed the agreement and changes were incorporated to the agreement to ensure that HIPAA requirements are met. FINANCIAL IMPACT: No County funds are being appropriated to support this agreement, The total reimbursement from CHCCS for the agreement is $15,000 for direct services and $1,800 for administrative overhead to provide this service. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the one-time agreement for this year only, subject to final review by staff and the County Attorney, and authorize the Chair to sign. CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO CITY SCHOOLS MENTAL HEALTH CLINICAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH ORANGE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into the Ist day of September, 2005, by and between the Chapel Hill-Cauboro City Schools, hereinafter referred to as "CHCCS" and the Orange County Health Department, hereinafter referred to as "OCHD" that is part of the County of Orange WITNESSETH WHEREAS, OCHD, through its Child and Adolescent Psychosocial Counseling Services, is willing to provide consultation related to child and adolescent Mental Health to CHCCS personnel and to provide direct clinical services related to Mental Health to enrolled students in CHCCS, and is willing to collaborate on programs aimed at the promotion of mental health and the prevention of substance abuse and chemical dependency, AND WHEREAS, CHCCS desires to have such services in their school system, NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above and the mutual covenants and conditions hereinafter set forth, CHCCS and OCHD agree as follows: Services to be Provided OCHD agrees to assist CHCCS in the identification of students with psychosocial issues that interfere with academic performance and to provide systematic intervention to such students. OCHD agrees to provide consultation to CHCCS staff' with the services of a Mental Health (MH) counselor who will participate on site-based Student Support Teams (SST) and provide clinical treatment services to students enrolled in three CHCCS middle schools (McDougle, Smith and Phillips) and their families in accordance with state and federal laws and CHCCS and OCHD policies. Treatment services include group and individual counseling, mentoring, and consultation. In addition, selected 5"' grade students with psychosocial issues from feeder elementary schools may be served by the OCHD MH counselor to ease potential middle school transition issues. OCHD agrees to report activities, including the number of services rendered, to the CHCCS Health Services Coordinator monthly and agrees to serve on district-wide committees as appropriate. OCHD shall provide supporting documentation and/or data to the CHCCS Health Services Coordinator to assist with written program evaluation at the end of the school year. 2. Payments and Documentation CHCCS agrees to reimburse OCHD for clinical Mental Health services provided to middle school students at a rate of $25 per hour for 20 hours per week for 30 weeks of the 2005-2006 school year ending June 10, 2006, The contracted amount for Mental Health services equals $15,000. In addition, CHCCS will compensate OCHD in the amount of $1800 (12% of contracted amount) for administrative overhead The full value of the contract is $16,800 OCHD will invoice CHCCS monthly. School based therapy Students identified by the schools' SSTs would be eligible to be seen by the MH counselor up to five times, These services may include early identification of violence and illegal drug use, counseling about violence and substance abuse, conflict resolution, and mentoring. If additional counseling therapy is deemed necessary and beneficial to the student, the OCHD MH counselor will contact the parent/guaidian(s) regarding ongoing treatment. Community options will be offered, but a parent with a child covered by Medicaid may elect to continue counseling services with the OCHD counselor in the school setting Medicaid billing for ongoing services will be the responsibility of OCHD. Should the student need long term or intense therapeutic mental health services, their parent/guardian(s) would be referred to a provider of their choice. 4. Other Requirements OCHD shall provide a Licensed Clinical Social Worker to serve as the mental health counselor and agrees to provide CHCCS with a copy of credentials upon request. CHCCS agrees to provide appropriate confidential counseling space, cooperation in getting students from class for counseling sessions, assistance with scheduling appointments, and arranging for parental permission. OCHD is designated as a covered entity under HIPAA Privacy and Security rules. CHCCS agrees to treat and maintain protected health information (PHI) confidentially as described in the Business Associate Agreement signed by both parties. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties agree to treat and maintain the confidentiality of all information shared by the parties in conformity with the most stringent of applicable federal, state and local privacy laws, regulations and policies. 6. Termination for Cause In the event that OCHD shall cease to exist as an organization or no longer provide Child and Adolescent Psychosocial Counseling Services or not fulfill the obligations of this contract, CHCCS may terminate this Agreement with OCHD, If payment has been made for any services for which no satisfactory accounting has been rendered, OCHD will return such payments to CHCCS. This agreement is entered into between OCHD and CHCCS beginning September 1, 2005, and ending June 30, 2006. This agreement may be terminated or suspended by either party at any time prior to its expiration date upon written notification of the other party. When possible such notification shall be given thirty days in advance of termination. Signed: Neil G. Pedersen Superintendent Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Rosemary Summers Health Director Orange County Health Department Date Ruby Pittman Finance Director Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools Date Date Moses Carey Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners Ken Chavious Finance Director Orange County Date This instrument has been pre-audited in the manner required by the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act and the School Budget and Fiscal Control Act.