Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Madison, Journey Mental Health Center and Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC) to support the Crisis Response Team within the Madison Fire Department for the period of March 1, 2022 through February 28, 2023. The MOU establishes the operational and staffing protocols for the Crisis Workers and Supervisors employed by Journey, as well as program coordination, data collection and data analysis. All costs associated with these contracted health providers including transportation, equipment, logistical and supply obligations will be borne by Journey, with the exception of office space which will be provided by MFD with existing resources. No appropriation is required.
Title
Authorizing a Memorandum of Understanding between City of Madison, Journey Mental Health Center and Public Health Madison & Dane County Inc. to support the Crisis Response Team.
Body
The proposed Resolution authorizes a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Madison, Journey Mental Health Center and Public Health Madison & Dane County for one year, with additional one-year extensions if agreed to by all parties. The Crisis Response Team is a pilot program to respond to behavioral health emergencies with a combination of Community Paramedics and Crisis Workers. The Memorandum of Understanding establishes the operational and staffing protocols for the Crisis Workers and Supervisors, as well as program coordination, data collection and data analysis.
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, co-responder public safety-mental health collaboration programs have emerged as a best practice nationally and mental health clinicians housed within city agencies to provide a more consistent collaborative field response has been shown to improve outcomes for individuals with mental illness; and,
WHEREAS, in 2021 the City created a pilot Crisis Response Team (“CRT”) program in the Fire Department’s Fire Operations budget that includes a combination of Madison Fire Department (MFD) Community Paramedics and contracted mental health providers from Journey Mental Health Center (“Journey”); and,
WHEREAS, Journey and the City have jointly determined that it is in the best interest of the Madison community to continue a proactive co-responder program; and,
WHEREAS, Dane County Health and Human Services will provide at least two Crisis Workers and a Supervisor to work with the CRT through a contract with Journey. The City will reimburse Dane County for a portion of these costs.(Legistar File #64586); and,
WHEREAS, data collection, data analysis, project coordination and project evaluation are necessary for determining that crisis response services are being provided effectively, and in accordance with best-practices; and,
WHEREAS, the City determined that the CRT was in need of a project manager and continued data analysis and requested Public Health Madison & Dane County (“PHMDC”) provide these services; and,
WHEREAS, PHMDC created a Public Health Specialist-CARES Coordinator position funded by the City to provide support to the CRT (Legistar File #65618).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and City Clerk are authorized to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Journey Mental Health Center and Public Health Madison & Dane County that establishes the transportation, equipment, logistical and supply obligations, data collection and data analysis as well as operational and staffing protocols, for the Crisis Response Team as described above from March 1, 2022 to February 28, 2023.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Mayor and City Clerk are authorized to sign annual renewal Memorandums of Understanding for the next three years, if said Memorandums of Understanding have been reviewed and approved by the City Attorney and the City Risk Manager.