Santa Barbara County’s jail mental health system officially is for sale. The prospective buyer-a private Tennessee-based prison health company-is already lined up with a July 1 move-in date.
This is the way the Sheriff’s Department broke the news at a special meeting of the Santa Barbara County Mental Health Commission on Tuesday, informing the council of the proposed transition of mental health services from county Mental Health to the private company Prison Health Services (PHS). The pitch, helmed by Sheriff Bill Brown, touched on the department’s various budget problems and the need to improve mental health services in County Jail, which oversees the largest number of the mentally ill in the county. “Over the years-with the closure of mental health facilities across the state-County Jail has become the de facto mental health facility,” Brown explained. “The jail is not the best place for people with mental health problems; however, there will always be people in the county’s jail with mental illness because of the nature of the crimes committed.”
According to the proposed plan, PHS would sign a two-year contract to operate its jail mental health services, with an option to extend the contract for an additional two years. A contract with PHS would allow the jail to obtain what officials call crucial mental health objectives currently unmet by county Mental Health: Institute for Medical Quality accreditation, two on-site licensed social workers, 24/7 coverage for mental health assessments, and others. With one out of five incarcerated Americans suffering from mental illness, Sheriff’s officials say the ailing, 38-year-old jail is not only grossly overcrowded-around 50 inmates above capacity each day-but unable to meet its mental health needs.
A decision on transferring jail mental health services to PHS has already been reached on the part of county officials. The plan was received with unanimous support from Mental Health, the Sheriff’s Department, and of course PHS. Additionally, Mental Health officials stated that the new management would operate with no additional cost. Ann Detrick, county Mental Health director, said her office understands how important programs such as the 24/7 coverage for mental health assessments are to the jail. “I support what the Sheriff is planning to do,” Detrick said.
Brown said the PHS contract would save more than $500,000 in a so-called apple-to-apple comparison. In layman’s terms, PHS could provide the services conducted by Mental Health, plus more, $500,000 cheaper. Both Brown and Mental Health officials assured council and community members repeatedly that the plan to privatize jail mental health services is not a reflection of the performance of current county Mental Health staff. However, George Green-a member of SEIU Local 620, representing jail mental health workers- argued that the plan would wrest jobs away from Santa Barbarans. “I respect Sheriff Brown a great deal, [however] I am shocked by this group’s decision,” Green said. “The county must first engage in bargaining with the union before such a plan in finalized.”
Following the conjoint presentation from the Sheriff’s Dept. and PHS, some community members on hand responded skeptically to the proposed sale of jail mental health services. From mental health misdiagnosis to a recovery-based therapy plan - where recovered mental health victims aid in the rehabilitation process - meeting attendees argued over the best course of action for the community and possible ways to reform the current system. Kate Smith raised a number of questions to the PHS panel regarding the use of the planned additional staff members and the cost of those positions. “I want to know how much these new positions will cost,” she said. Smith continued by outlining the incarceration of the mentally ill in County Jail as one of the biggest injustices taking place in Santa Barbara today.
Rod Holliman, PHS’s president of community corrections, stated his company could solve the county’s jail mental health problems. “Medical practice behind bars is the most complex,” Holliman said, noting that PHS provides mental health services to 40 facilities and possesses the resources to improve what’s currently being offered. To the company’s credit, PHS’s accreditation record includes the National Commission on Correctional Health Care and the American Correctional Association-one of the oldest and largest correctional associations in the world. The private company made its money in the incarceration business, boasting $576 million in annual revenue for 2009.
Lacking a quorum, the Mental Health Commission was unable to rule on the proposal, however 3rd District Councilmember Ann Eldridge spoke of it confidently. “We cannot take a vote today, but I feel very comfortable about what I heard,” Eldridge said. If Brown has his way, Santa Barbara will welcome PHS in July.
Comments
I have questions:
Who has the final say-so on this proposal? Does it go before the county Board of Supervisors? Is the Mental Health Commission an advisory committee, or does it have the power to approve the contract? Will the public be given an opportunity to comment on this?
Moonrunner (anonymous profile)
May 28, 2009 at 2:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Being involuntary 'committed' to a 'prison mental health system' is the most horrifying and terrifying thing that could happen to a good man. There are plenty of people trying and driving others Crazy and wanting to make $$$ on it.
TharonChandler (anonymous profile)
May 28, 2009 at 7 p.m. (Suggest removal)
By Tharon Chandler www.tharonchandler.com
The proposed 'company from Tennessee' could actually/ possibly be an honest and helpful mode or medium for all I know about them, but how could it be if it is in it for Profit? I am unaquainted with that company (though I do originate from TN) though I can tell you that the Tennessee state penitentiary system is in shambles and is actually/ supposedly run by a gang leader/ prisoner called "Hillbilly Red-neck", and the dude is supposedly widely respected/ respectable (which is another reason the 'cronies' killing me didn't want to let me work there; he would have discovered my integrity and tried to help ME over the Mafia now paid to be in charge there).
TharonChandler (anonymous profile)
May 28, 2009 at 7:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is disgusting. Private for-profit companies have no place in community services. Why would anyone think that making a profit on the county mental health services is a good idea? Anyone out there old enough to remember when hospitals and insurance companies were non-profit corporations? This is another move toward our deepening financial disaster. Private companies as torturers in military prisons. Private prisons lobbying for high prison sentences for minor crimes - thus increasing their profits. A private company running mental health services has no motive to reduce costs, increase services that reduce client needs, provide services that move patients out of the hospitals into society. The commons is the wrong place for the profit motive. The commons is for the benefit of us all collectively. For the benefit of a strong society - a strong community. Corporations DO NOT do this. Their reason for being in existence is to make a profit for their shareholders. Shame on us for even considering such a move.
wyn (anonymous profile)
May 29, 2009 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just anoth kickback nothing will change..There might be more suicides for lack of medication which the Santa Barbara co. Jail is famous for..The only time the public is informed of change is when it's all over, soylient green.
Byrd (anonymous profile)
May 29, 2009 at 11:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Having worked in league with SB County Mental Health, I know and have seen the commitment the county has with regards to our clients.
We agree most of the mentally ill are incarcerated because we as a county have no where else to "put" them. Instead of hiring a for profit company inside the jail why not spend the money we will pay and I am certain we will pay more than just apples, to provide more services and keep these folks out of the system?
It's the same old story, homeless, mentally ill, drug addicts, - why should we have to deal with it attitude. Hey maybe we can even make a profit! Shame on you Sherriff Brown.
HaleLorraine (anonymous profile)
May 29, 2009 at 11:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's give them a try, County ADMHS has had extremely poor business practices for years, resulting in million dollar liabilities for the County. It will take years for ADMS to recover - what is wrong with trying a private sector firm being used by a large number of other institutions - especially in such dire financial times ?- give them their two year contract and then compare the quality of services.
HigherPurpose (anonymous profile)
May 29, 2009 at 6:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Where is the DSA in all this? Sure, it's not their positions Brown is privatizing----but it opens the door. Tell ya what----next time Brown runs for Sheriff you can bet labor groups will be looking at him with a different lens.
sbsleuth99 (anonymous profile)
May 30, 2009 at 8:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What happened to public stakeholder input with this process? Why use an out of state for profit company? There are many Santa Barbara Non-Profit Agencies well qualified to provide these kinds of services. Who will provide the oversight? Trying to push this through by July seems premature.
elemental (anonymous profile)
May 31, 2009 at 1:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)