Referred to: The American Rescue Plan Act Special Committee (Chairman Corcoran and Legislators Clinton, Levine, Lopez, and Sperry), The Health, Human Services and Housing Committee (Chairman Uchitelle and Legislators Collins, Corcoran, Harmon, Kitchen, Lopez, and McCollough), and the Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Collins, Hansut, Kovacs, Nolan, and Roberts)

Chairman of the ARPA Special Committee, Thomas Corcoran, Jr., and Deputy Chair Megan Sperry offer the following:

WHEREAS, this resolution has been submitted at the request of the County Executive on behalf of the Ulster County Department of Mental Health; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Department of Mental Health has established that the implementation and operation parameters to establish Respite Houses in Ulster County have significant barriers, including a lack of housing inventory in certain locations, concerns about program sustainability without ongoing county contributions, and other logistical challenges that hinder the immediate establishment of such facilities; and

WHEREAS, in Ulster County as across the country, COVID-19 exposed and exacerbated the mental and behavioral health crisis where people in need are not receiving care promptly, if at all, resulting in preventable morbidity and mortality; and

WHEREAS, according to the 2022 County Health Ranking Report, Ulster County showed higher rates of poor mental health days, excessive drinking, reports of frequent mental distress, and suicide compared to New York State overall; and

WHEREAS, between 2009 and 2013 Ulster County slowly moved toward mental health privatization, including eliminating such programs as eight outpatient chemical dependence clinics in Kingston, Highland, and Ellenville and consolidating the County’s Mental Health Department under the Department of Health; and

WHEREAS, beginning in 2021, through dual initiatives of the executive and legislative offices, Ulster County began to revitalize mental and behavioral health services through such County-provided programs as opioid response through law enforcement, enhanced Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) care for incarcerated individuals, creation of the crisis stabilization, and the re-creation of a distinct Ulster County Department of Mental Health along with expanded contractual services that include mobile mental health, behavioral health urgent care, and mental health in schools; and

WHEREAS, Resolution No. 77 of 2023, introduced by former Legislator Eve Walter and approved by the Legislature, resolved a policy that would take stock of the full spectrum of services we provide as a County and through contracts, identify gaps in care, and set a clear five-year vision of the operations of the Department of Mental Health; and

WHEREAS, the Director of Purchasing, in coordination with the Commissioner of Mental Health and the Community Services Board, issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) on behalf of Ulster County to (1) pull together 2022 data on Ulster County mental and behavioral health needs and delivery distinguishing care provided through County programs from those provided by contract agencies; (2) evaluate this data to identify gaps in care; (3) map out a plan identifying any services to be transitioned from contracted care to County-delivered care; (4) conduct a cost-benefit analysis of these proposed changes; and (5) set a five-year timeline for any proposed change; and,

WHEREAS, the Human Services Research Institute submitted a proposal upon conclusion of the Request for Proposal (RFP) process and has been awarded as the vendor to complete this work; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature approves the reallocation of Crisis Respite ARPA funding in the amount of $158,015.00 to support the completion of the Behavioral Health Community Needs Assessment; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the 2024 Ulster County Budget is hereby amended as follows:

              INCREASE                                    AMOUNT

AA.4310.2290-4300.4505                 Professional Services Other          $158,015.00

 (App. #)

AA.4310.2290-3400.4095                 Federal Aid, ARPA                        $158,015.00

(Rev. #),        

and moves its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                        NOES:      

Passed Committee: American Rescue Plan Act on ________________.

Passed Committee: Health, Human Services and Housing on ________________.

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on ________________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

$158,015.00 – ADDITIONAL COUNTY BUDGETARY APPROPRIATIONS

$158,015.00 – FEDERAL AID, AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT