Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution amends the Fire Department and Public Health Madison Dane County 2021 Operating Budgets to add 1.0 FTE Public Health Specialist in Public Health funded by the Madison Fire Department to Support the Community Alternative Response Emergency Services (CARES) Team. The estimated cost of the position in 2021 is $46,350 including benefits. The estimated annual cost is $92,700. Additional supplies and services related to the position are estimated to cost $9,300.
The 2021 Fire Department operating budget includes $250,000 for the CARES Team (previously referred to as the Crisis Response Team) that can be used as required based on the final model of the program. No additional appropriation is required.
Title
Amending the Fire Department and Public Health Madison Dane County 2021 Operating Budgets to add 1.0 FTE Public Health Specialist in Public Health funded by the Madison Fire Department to Support the Community Alternative Response Emergency Services (CARES) Team.
Body
In developing the program structure for the Community Alternative Response Emergency Services (CARES) Team it was identified by the Fire Department and Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC) that there would be a benefit from the creation of a 1.0 FTE Public Health Specialist-CARES Coordinator position. This position would be within PHMDC and would be responsible for program planning, program evaluation and the strategic management of CARES Team operations.
WHEREAS, Chapter 51, Wisconsin Statutes, requires the County to provide services and staff for individuals who experience a mental health crisis; and,
WHEREAS, Chapter DHS 34, Wisconsin Administrative Code, sets the standard for operation of emergency mental health services programs by counties; and
WHEREAS, the City supports efforts to divert individuals with mental illness from the criminal justice system and recognizes the importance of a coordinated mental health response from experts in the field as essential to diverting individuals with mental illness from the criminal justice system and connecting them to needed mental health treatment resources; and,
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with PHMDC the City may contract with PHMDC for the provision of any specialized or additional Program Service; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the IGA with PHMDC the costs of such specialized or additional Program Services shall be paid to PHMDC by the entity contracting for the additional services; and
WHEREAS, the IGA creating the joint City-County Health Department requires approval of both the Dane County Board and the City Council for the creation of any new positions; and,
WHEREAS, the Fire Department operating budget contains the funding for the crisis response team now known as the CARES Team; and
WHEREAS, in creation of the CARES Team the Fire Department, in consultation with PHMDC, has identified the need for the creation of a Project Manager position; and
WHEREAS, currently there are several similar public health specialist-(project) coordinator positions within PHMDC; and
WHEREAS, the Public Health Specialist-CARES Coordinator position is best housed within PHMDC; and
WHEREAS, the CARES project is currently a pilot project, with the long term goal of having the CARES Team responding throughout the City; and
WHEREAS, a coordinator public health specialist position providing program planning, evaluation and strategic management will increase the likelihood of success of the CARES project; and
WHEREAS, PHMDC has identified the salaries, benefits, and supplies costs for a 1.0 FTE Public Health Specialist to be $102,000.00
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council approves the creation of the CARES Project Coordinator position in the 2021 PHMDC Adopted Budget funded solely by the Madison Fire Department; and
THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Fire Department and PHMDC operating budgets are amended to transfer up to $51,000 in salaries, benefits, and supplies from the Fire Department to PHMDC, based on the prorated hire date of the position.