Author: Eddie Rivera, Community Editor
Source: Pasadena Now
The Pasadena City Council Monday approved two recommended contracts between the City of Pasadena Public Health Department and Union Station Homeless Services for just over $500,000 in 2018 to “provide mental health, substance abuse, medical treatment, and social support services for individuals experiencing homelessness and other serious health problems in Pasadena and Altadena,” as well as services to assist uninsured and underinsured homeless persons living with HIV, according to a City staff report and recommendation.
According to the Pasadena Public Health Department staff report, Union Station’s demonstrated expertise at serving homeless populations, its designation as the lead agency managing homeless service efforts in the San Gabriel Valley, and its location in the city of Pasadena makes the organization “uniquely qualified to provide the requested services.”
The Pasadena Public Health Department was awarded a five-year $1,995,605 grant by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Division in September and recommended dedicating $399,121 of the grant award for fiscal year 2018.
The program services would also be eligible for Medi-Cal and Medicare reimbursement on a fee for service basis, according to the report.
Projecting receipts of $22,500 in Medi-Cal revenue and $7,500 in Medicare revenue in 2018, the Health Department would be requesting an increase in personnel, with three full-time limited term employees.
The projected grant will support a Nurse Practitioner, Social Worker, and Community Services Representative, according to the report. The Nurse Practitioner will provide medical services, conduct health screenings, and provide medication management, and the Social Worker will provide behavioral health services, conduct assessments, and provide interventions needed to assist individuals with severe mental health illness and substance abuse issues.
Existing staff will also be reassigned from other Pasadena Public Health Department programs to provide grant administration by a Division Manager, data collection and evaluation by the Epidemiologist, management support by a Management Analyst I, and administrative support by a Senior Office Assistant.
The grant also requires a full-time Peer Outreach Worker in the field to conduct outreach and engagement on evenings and weekends throughout the Pasadena community.
Pasadena’s Union Station has been named by LA County as the lead agency for managing social service efforts in the San Gabriel Valley, using the Coordinated Entry System to streamline the process of finding housing for those who are chronically homeless, with the goal of housing the most vulnerable and at-risk individuals first.
The contract value for Operation Link V 2.0, the Homeless HIV assistance program, is expected to total $50,258 in FY 2018 with a total value not-to-exceed $251,290 over the term of the five-year grant, according to the Health Department report
In 2012, the Pasadena Public Health Department began Operation Link to provide intensive services to individuals who are homeless with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and a co-occurring substance use or mental health disorder, according to the Departmental staff report. The program model and corresponding results have been nationally recognized for helping individuals follow a medication plan and medical treatment.
The Pasadena Public Health Department was awarded a $900,000 Special Project of National Significance grant from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) Division on September 12, to expand Operation Link V.2.0 to design, implement, and evaluate an intervention that addresses HIV care and treatment, housing, and employment services for approximately 250 racial and ethnic minority, low income, uninsured and underinsured people living with HIV in Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley over a period of three years.
The Health Department is also collaborating with Wesley Health Centers and the City of Pasadena Housing Department.
Pasadena Public Health Department recommends recognizing $300,000 of the grant award in fiscal year 2018.
Foothill Development Workforce Staff will work closely with the Department’s staff and with Operation Link clients to support the clients on their path toward self-sufficiency, the staff report noted.