REPORT TO SHASTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

BOARD MEETING DATE:  February  28, 2023
CATEGORY:  Consent - Health and Human Services-11.

SUBJECT:

Approve a retroactive amendment to the agreement with About Time Recovery, Inc., for sober living, recovery residences, and other therapeutic services which increases compensation.

Supervisorial District No. :  All

DEPARTMENT CONTACT:  Miguel Rodriguez, Director of Mental Health Services, (530) 225-5900

STAFF REPORT APPROVED BY:  Laura Burch, Director, Health and Human Services Agency

RECOMMENDATION

Approve a retroactive amendment, effective December 1, 2022, to the agreement with About Time Recovery, Inc., to provide sober living/recovery residence services and other therapeutic services, which increases compensation by $115,000 for a new maximum compensation of $217,000, retaining the term May 5, 2022, through June 30, 2023.

DISCUSSION

This amendment is retroactive due to the increased utilization during the pilot period, and successful placement of clients in need of services provided by About Time Recovery.

 This amendment will allow About Time Recovery, Inc., to continue to provide sober living, recovery residences, and other therapeutic services to support Shasta County individuals with a Substance Use Disorder (SUD).

An increase in client services from what was initially projected/budgeted necessitates the compensation increase included with this First Amendment. This agreement was initiated as a one-year pilot to see if our clients would utilize benefits from Recovery Residences. While initial utilization was low, the benefits of how this sober living environment supports recovery for our clients became apparent. Since May 2022, the effective date of the most recent agreement, Shasta County has referred 25 clients to About Time Recovery, Inc, and we currently have 15 clients living at About Time Recovery. The new maximum compensation accounts for this volume of clients through the end of the contract term.

Recovery Residences or Sober Living Environments (SLE) provide a key support and component of the comprehensive system of care for substance use disorders. Recovery Residences or Sober living environments provide safe housing and supportive, structured living environments for people working towards recovery from a substance use disorder. These homes offer a unique and vital component of supporting continued engagement in substance use disorder treatment while helping to establish a strong foundation for long-term recovery.

Social model recovery in Recovery Residences or SLE is important for client success in the ongoing spectrum of care for people with SUD. People who are in their first three months of sobriety are at high risk of relapse. Social model living environments, following more intensive treatment modalities, like residential treatment, help to reinforce a lifestyle of recovery.

Occasionally, residential treatment programs are operating at capacity and have waiting lists for entry. Waiting to enter treatment is not ideal, because there is risk of motivation changes based on fluctuation of intense cravings, which is a symptom of addiction that must be addressed immediately in some level of treatment. If clients can be engaged with social and environmental support via Recovery Residence or SLE, coupled with a lower level of outpatient services, we have a higher chance of retaining them in the spectrum of care. This approach is fiscally conservative and responsible, as the sooner we can engage clients the better chance we have of arresting the progression of their SUD. Earlier intervention helps to decrease the severity of illness and helps prevent client harm as well as lengthy involvement in the highest cost services. Recovery Residences offer HHSA clients the best chance at a robust yet cost effective spectrum of care.

ALTERNATIVES

The Board could choose not to approve the amendment, defer consideration to a future date, or provide alternate direction to staff.

OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT

County Counsel has approved the amendment as to form.  Risk Management has approved the amendment.  This recommendation has been reviewed by the County Administrative Office.

FISCAL IMPACT

The total cost for the term of this agreement is $217,000. Costs incurred through this contract were funded through Substance Abuse Block Grant (SABG) for Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA). Additional funds for this amendment will be funded by Statham Funds.  HHSA Adult Service’s FY 2022-23 Adopted Budget includes sufficient appropriation authority for the activities described in this agreement.  Additionally, the FY 2022-23 budget request includes sufficient appropriation authority for these agreements.