City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: NOVEMBER 6, 2019
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of Approval for the Department of Community and Human Services to Utilize State Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Funding to Support the Delivery of Opioid Treatment.
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of approval for the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS)/Community Services Board (CSB) to accept funds from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) aimed at addressing the opioid crisis.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1. Approve DCHS’s/CSB’s receipt of $100,000 in new State funds to increase staffing to manage the City’s Opioid Treatment Program;
2. Approve the addition of a position (1.0 FTE) fully supported by grant revenues; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: Since 2017, the opioid crisis has had a significant impact across the Commonwealth of Virginia. As in other communities in Virginia, the number of Alexandria CSB clients reporting opioid use as a significant problem has increased significantly during the past five years. More CSB clients reported problematic opioid use during the first four months of the current fiscal year than during the entirety of FY 2014. The Alexandria Police Department (APD) reported 57 suspected opioid overdoses from January to December 2018, eight of which were fatal. Preliminary overdose data through September 2019 indicates 37 total opioid overdoses, ten of which have been fatal.
In response to the growing opioid crisis, the General Assembly’s FY 2020 allocation to DBHDS included $5,000,000 to increase access to medication and treatment services throughout the Commonwealth. This funding opportunity mirrors others that have recently come from DBHDS for opioid response and the implementation of key initiatives in that there is a rapid timeline for response and at times a less structured application process. The impact can mean that there is inadequate time to request approval to apply for the funds in advance. Staff will work to provide as much advance notice as possible and subsequently submit a docket memorandum requesting City Council approval to accept any resulting funding award.
DISCUSSION: Due the large number of new initiatives managed by DCHS’s Opioid Treatment Program (OTP), staff identified that the highest priority funding need was the creation of a full time Team Leader position, dedicated to OTP management. Previously, staff and services in this program were managed by the Assistant Director of Clinical and Emergency Services. Due to the significant expansion of new initiatives and staff brought on as a result of the opioid crisis, it was determined that this scope of responsibility exceeded what the Assistant Director of Clinical and Emergency Services could realistically and sustainably manage and thus, the need for a dedicated OTP Team Leader was identified. The new position will provide supervision and oversight to the OTP medical staff and the OTP Intake Therapist, and will manage the many new clinical initiatives, grants and reporting requirements created in the last three years in response to opioid crisis.
FISCAL IMPACT: DCHS has been awarded $100,000 in ongoing State grant funds to support the OTP Team leader position. The total cost for a Team Leader (Grade 24/Step 5) position is $125,890. In addition to the $100,000 DBHDS funding, $25,890 will be re-allocated from contract Psychiatrist hours. These contract hours have not been utilized since May 2018 and staff has determined that the contract hours can be eliminated without impacting services to clients. Should DBHDS funding not continue, DCHS will evaluate other funding alternatives to either continue this position or discontinue it if alternative funding cannot be secured. The individual who is hired for this position will be informed of the nature of the funding for the position.
ATTACHMENTS: None.
STAFF:
Debra Collins, Deputy City Manager
Kate Garvey, Director, Department of Community & Human Services (DCHS)
Carol Layer, LCSW, Director, Center for Adult Services, DCHS
Liz Wixson, LCSW, Director, Clinical and Emergency Services, DCHS