- A shortage of mental health staff.
- Uncertified substance use counselors.
- An outdated facility.
- A mobile mental health response team with limited hours.
- A shortage of housing for patients leaving mental health care.
These
are some of the findings from the Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury’s report on
the Humboldt County Correctional Facility, Juvenile Hall and Sempervirens
Psychiatric Health Facility.
Staff
shortages thread through the issues for each facility.
“This
issue of hiring is part of a larger recruitment problem suffered for years
throughout the medical and mental health community in Humboldt County,” the
report says.
The
report urges the county to examine mental health staff hiring practices. The
report notes that Humboldt County doesn’t have the urban lifestyle and
associated amenities health professionals might seek out, but it points to
other problems, too.
“How
are private contractors able to find willing workers, and we are not?” the
report asks.
The
need for willing workers appears particularly dire at the jail.
“This
problem is exacerbated by the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human
Services’ (DHHS) failure to provide round-the-clock, qualified mental health
staffing,” the report states.
The
Civil Grand jury also blames a slow hiring process at the DHHS and low wages
for potential hires. It had similar findings last year. At the time, the Board
of Supervisors agreed and said the DHHS was recruiting for and filling
positions.
The
report says Wellpath, a private healthcare provider, could temporarily
alleviate the shortage. Wellpath currently provides medical services at the
jail.
“The
easiest and most immediate solution is to utilize outside, for-profit
contractors to fill these positions,” the report says. However, they
acknowledge, “This tactic may be just a band-aid approach to deeper problems.”
Wellpath
has faced criticism for poor practices, and the Civil Grand Jury acknowledges
this in the report.
“Their
ability to deliver quality care has been questioned,” the report points out.
“They have been cited in a wide array of public articles regarding substandard
care, and they have been the defendants in numerous lawsuits alleging
negligence.”
According
to a CNN article, Wellpath has regularly hired inexperienced staff and left
facilities understaffed—issues already present in some of Humboldt’s
facilities. Wellpath, in 2019, had been sued for more than 70 wrongful deaths.
If
the county goes ahead with Wellpath for mental health services, the report
recommends the county make sure consistent, quality care is ensured within the
contract.
At
the juvenile hall, the Civil Grand Jury found two of the three substance use
disorder counselors had not completed their certifications.
“While
State regulations allow the hiring of ‘counselors-in-training’ provided that
they are actively enrolled in recognized certification studies, this is
considered a contentious practice among many SUD professionals,” the report
points out.
Juvenile
Hall staff are anxious to see their new facility finished, which, after two
years of construction and delays, is slated to finish this month, according to
the report.
While
the new Juvenile Hall facility is almost complete, the Civil Grand Jury
recommends building a new mental health facility as well. Patients frequently
fill Sempervirens at or beyond capacity.
“The
atmosphere in Sempervirens is dated; it has an early 20th century sanitarium
feel which is not conducive to mental health rehabilitation,” the report says.
“The space is crowded and there is no room in the building for expansion.”
The
report also recommends hiring more staff to the mental health Mobile Response
Team to meet the need for 24/7 service and finding more step-down housing for
recently released Sempervirens patients.
In
a final two-page section, the report makes the case for adopting Laura’s Law,
which would allow patients to receive ongoing treatment for severe mental
illness outside of mental health facilities. The report says the law would help
patients overcome severe mental illness and lead to long-term savings, citing
Mendocino County, which passed the law in 2014, as a possible template.
The
report also notes that, despite money allotted in the 2015-2016 budget, a
security barrier still hasn’t been put in place in the jail to stop inmates
from jumping off higher tiers.
“It
has been well-established that a large proportion of inmates have mental health
disorders, and many inmates are at an elevated risk for suicide,” the report
says.
The
report requests responses from the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors and the
DHHS, among other departments.
A
spokesperson for the DHHS declined to comment.
“We
appreciate the work of the Civil Grand Jury,” Christine Messinger of the DHHS
said. “Our first response is always to them through the [County Administrative
Office], and we will respond well within the timeline established by the Grand
Jury.”
Redheaded
Blackbelt
James Wilde
June 28, 2020 69 comments
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