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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10.1 Human Services Department's 2023 Mental Health Services ReviewM+awn �'xyt�lts�=e Item Cover Page Subject Human Services Department's 2023 Mental Health Services Review Meeting February 20, 2024 - REGULAR MEETING OF THE MOUNT PROSPECT VILLAGE BOARD Fiscal Impact Dollar Amount Budget Source Category COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE DISCUSSION ITEMS Type Presentation Information Mental health is a critical part of overall wellness. Addressing mental health issues is a focus at both national and local levels. The Healthy People 2030 initiative is the fifth iteration of national objectives developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with subject matter experts and the public. Measurable objectives, issued at the start of each decade, are aimed at improving the health of the nation. Healthy People 2030 focuses on health and well-being, which aligns with the Village of Mount Prospect Human Services Department's mission statement. Objectives included in this plan relative to this report are: Addictions: Reduce alcohol and drug addiction. Dementias: Improve health and quality of life for people with dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. Mental Health and Mental Disorders: Improve mental health. In addition to the objectives listed, one of the five overarching goals of Healthy People 2030 focuses on social determinants of health. Many of the objectives in the plan are related to social determinants of health, which are conditions in the environment that affect a wide range of health, functioning and quality of life outcomes and risk factors. A person's mental health may be negatively impacted if they are experiencing challenges with social determinants to health. Locally, Northwest Community Hospital (NCH) completed its most recent community health needs assessment (CHNA) in 2023. The Village of Mount Prospect is one of four communities in their primary service area. At the conclusion of this assessment, NCH identified five priority areas. Two of those priority areas relative to this report include behavioral health (both mental health and substance abuse) and access to health care. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. Statistics provided on NAMI's website provide a clear picture of the impact that mental health has on individuals of all ages. Mental illness can have an impact on physical health, employment, educational success, financial security, and the economy. Mental Health Statistics — Source: NAMI Webpage • 1 in 5 adults in the U.S experience a mental illness per year. • 1 in 6 youth in the U.S aged 6-17 experience a mental health condition per year. • 1.7 million adults in Illinois have a mental health condition. • 486,000 adults in Illinois who did not receive needed mental health care, 33.2% stated it was due to cost. • People with depression have a 40% higher risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic diseases than the general population. People with serious mental illness are nearly twice as likely to develop these conditions. • 33.5% of U.S. adults with mental illness also experienced a substance use disorder in 2021 (19.4 million individuals). • High school students with significant symptoms of depression are more than twice as likely to drop out compared to their peers. • Depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy 1 trillion in lost productivity each year. • Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Mental Health Care Mental health care is tailored to meet individual treatment needs and is delivered in various forms, depending on the needs of the individual. Treatment often involves one or more of the following: • Therapy -individual and/or group • Medication • Psychoeducation Level of care is dependent on the individuals' symptoms and acuity. Individuals presenting with high acuity and safety issues may require inpatient hospitalization until they are deemed stable enough to step down to a less restrictive level of care. Residential programs typically involve a longer stay than inpatient hospitalization and are not covered by all insurance plans, making this type of program cost prohibitive for many. Partial Hospitalization programs (PHP) provide intensive day treatment with an average stay of two to four weeks. Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) provide less intensive treatment than a PHP and allow individuals to maintain their daily routines. Outpatient therapy provides core mental health services in an office or clinical setting or virtually. In addition to therapy, medication is sometimes prescribed to address mental health symptoms. Psychiatrists are doctors who specialize in mental health and substance abuse and prescribe medication when indicated. The path to treatment for individuals who have a mental illness varies. Some individuals recognize the need for treatment and access services on their own or with the support of a loved one or friend. Others may be acutely symptomatic and unable to recognize the need for treatment or resistant to treatment. In these instances, options may exist for intervening, dependent upon the individuals' symptoms and presentation. Individuals meeting criteria for involuntary admission due to the need for intervention on an emergency basis may be transported on a petition for involuntary/judicial admission. Petitions can be written by anyone over the age of 18. A writ of detention is a court process for obtaining a court order for transport for a mental health evaluation. A Declaration for Mental Health Treatment form can be completed by a person diagnosed with mental illness when they are stable, which then appoints an individual to intervene on their behalf when they are symptomatic and in need of treatment. The Community Emergency Services and Support Act (CESSA) was signed into law in August of 2021. This legislation requires that emergency response operators refer calls seeking mental and behavioral health support to a new service that can dispatch a team of mental health professionals instead of police. Currently a statewide advisory committee and regional committees are working under the direction of the Department of Human Services on implementation plans. Our Human Services team has met with the Kenneth Young Centers Mobile Crisis Team who serves the Village of Mount Prospect. They are currently fielding 988 calls in from our community and respond when needed. Implementation of CESSA is still in progress. Representatives from the Association of Police Social Services (APSS) sit on the statewide advisory committee and keep police social workers informed of updated information at APSS meetings. Human Services Department Statistics Mental Health 2023 Services Service Health Units Behavioral Health 224 Subsidy Program 17 Counseling 118 Crisis Response 54 Hazardous Home Site Cases 28 Petition/ Writ of Detention 9 PD Reports 2023 Reports with HSD follow u 544 Social 2023 Determinants to Service Health Units Benefit Applications & 224 Assistance Adult Protective Services 77 Advocacy and Case Management 842 Information and Referral 381 Court Advocacy 64 DCFS Contact 12 Financial Assessments and Assistance 229 Food Pantry 846 EAP Programs 218 Senior Activities - Wellness 272 Mental Health/Substance Abuse Related 356 Human Services Deaartment Team The Human Services Department (HSD) team consists of seven social work positions that include a director, deputy director, two community social workers, a senior services social worker and two police social workers. While department social workers have specific roles, all are cross -trained and able to step in across department programs to assist as needed. The director and deputy director are responsible for administrative functions and provide direct social services across all department programs. All social workers rotate on the on-call schedule. Police, Fire and Building and Inspection Services have access to a social worker twenty-four hours a day for emergency situations. The community social work position provides a variety of services, with a focus on social determinants to health. They assist residents with applying for benefits, which reduces barriers to accessing health care, address food insecurity and connect them to other programs which may help to stabilize their situation and improve quality of life. They oversee the Emergency Assistance Program which includes food pantry assistance, emergency financial assistance, and annual programs for low-income families. They provide information and linkage to community resources and advocate for clients when needed. They are also involved in crisis work. Community social workers are located at both Village Hall and the Community Connections Center. The senior services social work position focuses on older adults in the community. Services vary from benefit assistance to intervention in cases of elder abuse and self-neglect. The senior services social worker follows up on Fire and Police contacts involving older adults, as well as hazardous home site cases. These cases involve individuals with mental health issues. The social worker is involved in programming for seniors as well as the Aging in Community initiative. The police social work positions are housed in the Police Department. They are responsible for follow up on police contacts which may benefit from social services. The types of cases which receive follow up include, but not limited to, domestic violence, mental health, substance abuse, child abuse, juvenile issues, and family problems. In addition to follow up on police reports, they provide consultation to officers and crisis assistance on scene or at the station and assist individuals who walk into the police department seeking assistance. They provide court advocacy to victims of violence. Short-term counseling is provided to bridge the gap to longer term services when needed. Collectively, the Human Services Department social work team has 110 years of experience in the social work field with five being Licensed Clinical Social Workers and two being Licensed Social Workers. Five of the social workers are bilingual/Conversational in English/Spanish and one is bilingual in English/German. Additional skills and certifications held by social workers include 40 hour Domestic Violence Training certification, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, IL Attorney General Elderly Service Officer training, EMDR I and II certified and trained Peer Support Team Member. Administrative support team members working at both the Community Connections Center and Village Hall are bilingual in English/Spanish and English/Serbian. All administrative support team members have been trained in Mental Health First Aid. The public health nurse works closely with social workers, as there is often a cross-over between mental health and physical health. A food pantry health initiative, led by the public health nurse, focuses on education around nutrition and its impact on mental health and physical health. An Alzheimer's screening clinic facilitated by the public health nurse will be available in 2024 to increase early detection of symptoms of dementia. The public health nurse speaks Spanish and holds health screening clinics at both Village Hall and the Community Connections Center. Human Services Department Services The Human Services Department provides services under seven program areas: General Social Services, Benefits Assistance, Police Social Work, Emergency Assistance Program, Social Services Group Programming, Public Health Nursing Direct Services, and Public Health Nursing Group Programs. Individuals needing mental health support and/or intervention can present under any of the programs, therefore, all team members are involved in assessing and providing support and/or linkage to services. The Police Social Work program receives a lot of mental health related referrals which aligns with the increasing number of mental health related calls that law enforcement responds to. The police social workers review all calls for service daily. Follow up is done on calls for service which may benefit from Human Services Department assistance. When indicated, a home visit is conducted. As mentioned previously, social workers are on call to assist fellow departments in responding to crisis situations. Referrals are made by the Fire Department and Building and Inspection Services and these referrals often have a mental health component to them. In addition to cases that come about from interdepartmental collaboration, the Human Services Department works collaboratively with community stakeholders such as the schools, townships, library, hospitals, and local social service agencies in assisting and supporting individuals with mental health issues in the community. Residents or their family and friends contact the Human Services Department directly regarding mental health issues and concerns as well. Navigating the mental health system can be very complicated and our team works with individuals and their family members to help them understand and navigate options, resources, and potential barriers to services. Each case is unique and there are often a variety of needs. Clients often present for a specific issue, but through the assessment process, additional needs are identified. Given the importance of addressing social determinants to health, the assessment process includes these areas and clients are connected to department services and/or linked to outside services to address those needs. When the entry point of a case is crisis intervention, services can include crisis support, court advocacy, information and referral, short-term counseling support, linkage to outside services, and help navigating any systems involved such as the courts, coroners' office, etc. Social workers are called upon to respond in the community to assess individuals who are experiencing acute mental health symptoms. When needed, social workers will complete a Petition for Involuntary/Judicial Admission and work with Police and Fire on the transport of the individual to the hospital. The social worker on scene will meet first responders at the hospital and connect with the behavioral health team member at the hospital to provide any additional information needed and to ensure a seamless transfer of the individual. Social workers also accompany individuals to court to assist with obtaining a Writ of Detention when a family member or friend needs a mental health assessment. More recently, the Human Services Department has seen an increase in homeless individuals, many who have presented to the Police Department for assistance. Social workers assess these individuals and work to get them connected to the appropriate homeless services agency for shelter and ongoing services. Many of these cases have involved individuals with chronic mental health issues, which has at times resulted in transport to the hospital for an evaluation and treatment. The types of cases that present are varied and the residents we serve are diverse. We work with clients of all ages, from different cultural backgrounds and with many different needs and issues. Our role as community social workers requires us to be diverse in our skill sets, have cultural awareness and a broad knowledge base, and to be flexible, as the schedule of the day can change on moment's notice due to a crisis. Situations we assist with include, but are not limited to: • Cases involving the chronically mentally ill • Trauma exposure • Death/Grief • Juvenile issues • Relationship issues • Domestic Violence • Child Abuse • Suicide/Homicide • Dementia • Elder abuse and neglect In addition to supporting community mental health, our team members are involved in supporting Village employees in various ways. Police social workers are involved in providing education and consultation as a member of the MPPD Peer Support Team. Information and resources were provided to Human Resources to assist with the development of a Mental Health Resource webpage for employees. The public health nurse serves on the Employee Wellness committee. Community Connections Center The Community Connections Center (CCC), located in South Mount Prospect, is within walking distance of many multi -family housing complexes. The CCC was opened in 2009 following a study which confirmed the need for access to Village and library services in South Mount Prospect due to barriers faced by residents living in the area. The CCC/Human Services is staffed by the deputy director, a community social worker and an administrative assistant. The public health nurse holds screening clinic hours at the CCC as well. Residents can access all services available at Village Hall at the CCC. Many of the residents that access services at the CCC are low-income and English is a second language for them. Some of the barriers and challenges faced by clients at the CCC include: • Under -resourced- they work low-wage jobs that do not offer health insurance. Cost of mental health services is prohibitive and wait times for those on Medicaid is lengthy. • Generational Trauma- Many clients have experienced childhood and generational trauma that has not been addressed which leads to complex mental health challenges. • Cultural stigma and lack of education about what mental health is. • Clients have limited English proficiency, and it is difficult to find therapists that speak a language other than English. Common languages spoken by clients of the CCC include Spanish, Uzbek, Russian and Polish. • Lack of personal transportation and inefficient public transportation linking South Mount Prospect to North Mount Prospect and other nearby communities. Human Services Department Programs In addition to direct services, the Human Services Department offers the following programming geared towards prevention, raising awareness, reducing stigma, and increasing access to services: Mental Health Matters - A community awareness initiative launched in 2019 to increase awareness and provide education on mental health related topics. The event has included speakers and a resource fair with local mental health providers. This year, we will host Mental Health Matters as an outside community event with a focus on prevention and wellness. Monthly Community Awareness Campaigns - Content is posted on the Departments Facebook page. 2023 topics included teen dating violence, human trafficking, sexual assault awareness, Mental Health Matters, suicide awareness and domestic violence. Behavioral Health Subsidy Program Program Description: The Behavioral Health Subsidy Program aims to improve the access to mental services for residents by reducing barriers. The Human Services Department has partnered with local mental health providers who agree to accept referrals at a set rate. The program offers a subsidy to assist with offsetting the cost of care for residents that may be uninsured or underinsured. Barriers include long waitlists for those on Medicaid or the uninsured, high deductibles with private insurance plans, transportation, and English as a second language. Provider Specialties: We have created partnerships with local providers that offer specialized treatments, services in several languages and flexibility with in-person or virtual appointments. Specializations: EMDR, Substance Abuse, Neuropsychological assessments, Psychiatry, and therapy groups that address depression and anxiety. Languages: English, Spanish, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, and Arabic Program Eli_gibilitX: Clients that participate in the program come as a self -referral, are connected through police social services, or have appointments to address another social service matter and, through this assessment process, are identified as a candidate for the program based on mental health needs and financial situation. Eligibility Residents meet with a social worker for a psychosocial assessment and financial assessment to identify need for services and barriers. The social worker then matches the presenting problem with the behavioral health provider that would best fit the need. Substance abuse programming - supported by Opioid Settlement funds, on the horizon in 2024. Hazardous Home Site Task Force - Interdepartmental committee which began in 2020 to improve response to hazardous home site cases. Staff work with residents to provide information and referrals for cleaning services, clutter removal, housekeeping services, etc. Referrals are provided for mental health support for underlying mental health issues. Therapy Dog Support - Hoover provides comfort to those experiencing crisis when appropriate. Senior Programming - Fit for Life, Whole Body Wellness, Zumba, Senior Connections and Wits Workout. Programs geared towards physical and mental wellbeing offered on a monthly and quarterly basis. Alzheimer's Foundation Screening - program to launch in 2024. Community Engagement - Department members participated in more than ten events in 2023 including Boxwood Bash, National Night Out, MPPD Safety Socials, to name a few. Women's and Girls Support Groups - offered at the Community Connections Center. Love and Logic Parenting Classes - offered once a year. Parenting support group for past participants meets quarterly. The mission of the Human Services Department is to improve the health and wellbeing of the people and community we serve through the provision of nursing and social services. Our wellbeing is dependent on both our physical and mental health. We recognize the multitude of factors that can negatively impact both physical and mental health and how interconnected the two are. The breadth of services provided by our department aims to address the whole person and the whole community. We also recognize that one agency or department alone cannot possibly meet the demands and needs of a community. We rely on our community partners, and are grateful for the collaboration that exists. Together, we do a better job in our efforts to reduce barriers and ensure that all residents of Mount Prospect have access to services and an opportunity to live healthy, happy, and productive lives. Discussion Alternatives 1. Discuss the 2023 Mental Health Review presented by the Human Services Department 2. Action at the discretion of the Village Board Staff Recommendation Discussion and Information Presentation - No Action Requested. Attachments None