Supervisors OK mental health contracts

June 20--The Marin Board of Supervisors spent more than $6 million in a heartbeat the other day, approving a series of contracts with agencies that provide mental health and other services.

The bulk of the spending came in a $3.7 million contract renewal with Buckelew Programs for mental health services, case management, independent living, residential and vocational services for adult clients. An additional $100,000 contract will enable the agency to update its fiscal record keeping.

Health and human services chief Larry Meredith reported Buckelew meets county objectives and posts successful outcomes, with 70 percent of discharged clients moving to the same or lower level of care -- and 90 percent able to continue without psychiatric hospitalization. In addition, 95 percent of assisted living clients are able to maintain independent housing, and 63 percent of employment program clients obtain employment.

"Buckelew targets adults with severe mental illness and adults with severe mental illness and with co-existing substance use," he reported.

The county has about $6.6 million in contracts with Buckelew for mental health and substance abuse services. They involve federal, state and county funding.

The board also approved a $1.8 million contract with Community Action Marin for a variety of programs involved in a "self help" approach to mental health services.

Other contracts approved included $483,000 for a mental health program for youth provided by Buckelew and the Family Service Agency, and $268,000 for expanding health and substance use services provided by Community Action Marin for clients including the homeless.

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