Washtenaw County Community Mental Health Report

Annual Report | 2019/2020

WE PROMOTE HOPE, RECOVERY, RESILIENCE, QUALITY OF LIFE, AND WELLNESS IN WASHTENAW COUNTY BY PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY, INTEGRATED SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.

Investing in our future

greetings

2019-2020 has clearly been an unprecedented year for all of us and it certainly has been no different at Washtenaw County Community Mental Health (WCCMH). It was a year filled with trials and tribulation and a year fraught with fear of the known and unknown. However, it was also a year that saw WCCMH rise to meet the challenges presented by COVID-19 alongside of our network providers and community partners. I have often expressed my gratitude for the dedication and compassion of those who work tirelessly for the people we serve and this year my gratitude has grown exponentially. Thank you all for the work that you have done and continue to do during these unprecedented times.

Although COVID-19 has been an obvious focus of our year, there have also been numerous exciting initiatives and opportunities. Our partnerships with key stakeholders such as our schools and law enforcement have only deepened, and the Public Safety and Mental Health Preservation Millage has presented our community with great opportunities–many of which are highlighted in this annual report.

Additionally the State of Michigan has officially become a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) demonstration state and WCCMH is one of 14 sites that will be taking part in Senator Debbie Stabenow’s transformational legislation. CCBHC gives us the opportunity to not only expand the array of services we provide, but also expand the population to whom we can provide these services through a sustainable funding mechanism. WCCMH’s ability to secure and diversify new revenue streams has and will continue to allow us to serve more of our community members in new and innovative ways.

This year WCCMH has demonstrated its grit, dedication, and perseverance all the while continuing to be an organization founded on bold action and progressive change. The coming year will be no different. The WCCMH Board and I look forward to our continued success in working with our partners and stakeholders on improving the lives of not just those we serve, but the community as a whole.

Always looking forward,

Trish Cortes
Executive Director, WCCMH

John Martin
Chair, WCCMH Board

Washtenaw County Community Mental Health (WCCMH) Believes That

Black Lives Matter.

WCCMH has spent the past few months closely monitoring and tracking the powerful and impactful movement of Black Lives Matter (BLM) worldwide. This historical moment is an important and emotional time for everyone but acutely heightened for our Black community members. WCCMH strives to be both a partner and participant in BLM and feels it paramount to raise our collective voice with each of you to reiterate the POWER and PASSION we must lend to BLM.

As with so many statistics, we are acutely aware that the number of Black community members who struggle with mental health issues is disproportionally higher from those in the White community. In addition to supporting the mental health needs in the Black community, our agency is also committed to combating the systematic racism that most certainly contributes to this disproportionality.

WCCMH may not always get it right, but we are here with ears to listen, an open mind to receive feedback and a heart that yearns for meaningful progress. We are committed to incorporating implicit bias training throughout our agency and sharing training opportunities with our community and partners. In the fall of 2020, WCCMH assembled a BLM task force and began the important and necessary work.

• We firmly stand in solidarity with the Black community, now and always • We speak out when we see injustice • We empathize with the pain, fear, anxiety, and anger so many are feeling; while recognizing that we will never understand the full extent • We listen for understanding • We believe that Black Lives Matter

Washtenaw County Community Mental Health (WCCMH) is proud to serve Wastenaw County.

We offer two programs to help our community in their behavioral health needs.

Our Access/Crisis team fields calls for persons needing assistance accessing mental health, intellectual/developmental disability, youth and family services and substance use disorder services.

The Mental Health/Public Safety Millage Service Expansion also provides care and services for individuals that need care that are not receiving Medicaid through our CARES program.

Crisis response services

Access to mental health services

Resource connections

Engagement with community

Support to individual needs

Mental health is not a destination, but a process. It’s about how you drive, not where you’re going.”

Noam Shpancer

By Calling 734.544.3050 you will be in contact with a health care professoinal that will help you or a loved one explore access to care.

In 2017, Washtenaw County voters passed a mental health and public safety millage. Before the passing of this millage, WCCMH could only provide services to people who had Medicaid. Programs developed with millage funds allow us to expand the services we can provide to people of all ages, regardless of insurance. Goals of the program include;

Provide crisis prevention care, crisis response services, and accessible services to all of Washtenaw County
Expand services to rural communities
Develop longer term crisis stabilization services
Provide community education and training

Supported by: Washtenaw County Public Safety and Mental Health Preservation

2020 Millage Accomplishments

Prevention

Conducted Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) train-thetrainer initiatives, providing our county with 16 adult and 16 youth MHFA instructors.
Supported NAMI’s virtual Prayer and Care Summit.
Supported Garrett’s Space in delivering 20,000 mental health door tags to homes across the county.
Continued the #wishyouknew campaign combating youth mental health stigma.

Crisis

Opened 750 Towner providing 24/7 crisis referral and assessment services.
Provided emergency housing and rental assistance for more than five-dozen individuals and families in need during the pandemic.

Stabilization

Expanded telehealth services for clients.
Provided funding for safe, temporary housing during the pandemic.
Awarded housing grants to four local community organizations.

Diversion

Provided matching funds and support to reentry services to address recidivism and create more affordable housing options for high-risk individuals released from the Washtenaw County Jail.
Supported medication-assisted treatment service expansion at the Washtenaw County Jail.
Funded mental health professional position at the Washtenaw County Children’s Services.
Expanded child psychiatric access to youth in community- based settings outside of detention.

Communications

Launched a new millage-focused section of WCCMH website.
Developed robust communications plan for 2021.

Race

Age

Ethnicity

2020 data

Serving ThoseThrough the Pandemic

WOW what a steep learning curve 2020 provided us all. Washtenaw County Community Mental Health (WCCMH) was no different. When the pandemic began, we knew we would need to quickly change many of the ways we conduct business. As a safety net provider for thousands of community members, we also knew that we must find a way to continue to serve those who rely on us for care.

The leadership team kicked into gear to develop safety procedures for consumers and staff. Buildings remained open for services but with locked doors. Health screenings for staff and consumer health screenings for office visits and community outreach were implemented. Mask mandates, social distancing, retooled office spaces and waiting rooms, updated injection procedures and telehealth became the new norm. Relying on updated information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and with ongoing guidance from our own Washtenaw County Health Department, WCCMH COVID-19 safety protocols were frequently updated as best practices evolved.

Securing Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) during the national shortage became another priority. Washtenaw County along with its regional partners secured face masks, eye protection, gowns and gloves and distributed them to the WCCMH staff that continued to work on the front lines through the initial phases of the pandemic. Once all staff returned in June, each employee was provided a PPE kit that included multiple masks and bottles of hand sanitizer. Delivering PPE to our contract provider heroes working long shifts in residential facilities, adult foster care homes and other residences was another important part of this priority.

Staff showed their flexibility as they adapted to the staggered nature of their schedules which was implemented to minimize COVID-19 exposure while still allowing office-based operations to function. This also provided employees the ability to work remotely to accommodate family and other demands.

Thanks to our partnership with the Washtenaw County Health Department, all WCCMH staff were offered the COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine through St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. This was a tremendous opportunity to join other healthcare workers and first responders in the fight against COVID-19. As uncertain as the times have been, one thing that has been unwavering is the dedication of WCCMH staff to pull together, step out of their individual comfort zones and provide treatments and services wherever needed across our Washtenaw County community.

Mission

To promote hope, recovery, resilience, quality of life and wellness in Washtenaw County by providing high quality, integrated services to eligible individuals.

Vision

All residents can secure supports to improve their quality of life, and reach their full potential.

Values

EXCELLENCE

We provide the highest level of service to promote recovery, quality of life and self-sufficiency through proven and innovative practices. We recognize that the foundation of excellent service is our relationships.

GROWTH

We believe in the capacity for change at every stage of development. We grow through shared learning, lived experiences and mentoring.

WELL-BEING

We cultivate well-being through a comm itment to physical and emotional safety, active listening, and a culture of appreciation.

INCLUSION

Together we build a welcoming, respectful environment for all people. Through active engagement and shared decision-making, we build a stronger comm unity.

COMMUNITY

We develop strong, trusting partnerships with the people we serve, in our broader comm unity, and within our own organization.

ACCOUNTABILITY

We are accountable to those we serve, to the larger comm unity, and to each other for the ethical, effective, and efficient use of our resources.

Washtenaw County Community Mental Health

555 Towner St.

Ypsilanti, MI 48198

734.544.3050 | 800.440.7548

www.ewashtenaw.org

Telehealth News

Prior to the COVID 19 pandemic Washtenaw County Community Mental Health (WCCM) was actively piloting the use of telehealth services for the delivery of targeted care. The pandemic spurred WCCMH to rapidly shift from pilot phase to fully operational in a matter of days. Telehealth is a video visit through a device that connects to the internet such as a computer, tablet, or smartphone where the patient and provider are located different locations.

WCCMH is proud to offer an alternative service delivery method in these challenging times. Telehealth is not for everyone and is not meant to be a replacement for face-to-face services. However, it is an alternative way of delivering services when traditional methods are not a viable option. WCCMH utilizes ZOOM for Health Care which provides a HIPAA a compliant secure way of delivering services. To find out more about WCCMH telehealth services please visit our website at www. washtenaw.org/wccmh and select telehealth services from the “Our Services” menu.

Annual Finance Report

Population	Numbers of Served 2019	Numbers of Served 2020
Adults and Children I/DD	1,482	1,343
Adults SMI	3,218	3,086
Children SED	849	849
Total	5,549	5,278

Population	Cost of Service 2019	Cost of Service 2020
Adults and Children I/DD	$49,394,471	$47,459,826
Adults SMI	$27,854,642	$26,129,567
Children SED	$4,422,770	$4,608,131
Total	$81,671,883	$78,197,524

Population	Use of Fund Source 2019	Use of Fund Source 2020
Medicaid	$69,962,335	$67,668,781
Healthy Michigan Plan	$7,863,729	$5,271,074
Autism Medicaid	$3,204,702	$4,985,102
State General Fund	$3,335,830	$3,191,495
County Contribution/Local	$1,556,338	$1,510,376
Fee for Service	$846,600
All Other	$1,854,079	$2,599,410
Total	$88,623,613	$85,226,238

Mayis Mental Health Awareness Month

May is a time to raise awareness and bring focus to those living with mental or behavioral health issues and to help reduce the stigma so many experience. Washtenaw County Community Mental Health (WCCMH) plays an important role in providing behavioral health care and helping people find resources available in their community. If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please call our Access line at 734.544.3050. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the mental health of people of all ages. Now, more than ever, it is critical to reduce the stigma around mental health struggles, because that stigma often prevents individuals from seeking help.

Youth and Family Update

The COVID19 pandemic has created uncertainty and raised awareness of inequities that exist among vulnerable families in our comm unity. The social/ emotional implications due to trauma, increasing levels of stress, fear and anxiety during this past year has been particularly hard for the children and families that we serve. Our goal has been to prioritize delivering trauma informed, culturally responsive, COVID safe mental health services throughout the pandemic. WCCMH has made an investment in telehealth which has afforded the opportunity for essential strategies of teletherapy and telepsychiatry to be provided, avoiding interruption in services, and increasing access to care for families. Children need extra support to process their emotions and gain mental wellbeing skills in the wake of the COVID19 crisis. MDHHS has provided ongoing guidance and training virtually for clinicians on how to effectively deliver evidence-based services utilizing a telehealth platform. Many families have required assistance with access to food and other basic needs and clinicians have found that face to face clinical services are necessary.

Washtenaw County Public Safety and Mental Health Preservation Millage

MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS CENTER

In 2019, WCCMH used millage resources to renovate and furnish a county-owned building to create an observation and assessment center for individuals in crisis. Funds were also used to hire and train staff, including a medical assistant and peer support specialists, who will oversee services in the facility 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Jackie Campbell, one of the peer support specialists who will work in the facility, is excited to come in at ground level and is looking forward to greeting her first clients. “I’ll welcome them, see what immediate needs they have, get them comfortable, talk to them,” says Campbell. “Just engage them really, let them know they’re safe. Not by saying it, but in the action.”

CRISIS NEGOTIATION TEAM

In November, five mental health professionals from Washtenaw County’s Community Mental Health agency were tapped by the Sheriff’s Office to join Washtenaw County’s crisis negotiation team. During the first week of December, the CMH staff attended a one-week FBI crisis negotiation course in Troy, Michigan to learn negotiation tactics for supporting suicidal subjects; communicating safe surrenders of armed, dangerous, and barricaded suspects; negotiating hostage rescue operations; and more. The mental health professionals build their schedules around a carefully structured rotation that ensures at least one staff clinician and one backup are on call for emergencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Many of our county’s 911 crisis calls are fueled or exacerbated by mental health and substance use concerns. This year, the sheriff’s office has been able to reach out to the CARES team to join our deputy sheriffs in response to managing behavioral health crisis in our community. We’re tremendously grateful to Washtenaw County residents for making that possible. — Jerry Clayton, Washtenaw County Sheriff

For more information on millage efforts, visit our website at Washtenaw.org/millage

Current

WCCMH

Board Members

Kari Walker (Board Chair)

Suzie Antonow (Board Vice-Chair)

Anna Dusbiber (Board Secretary)

Nancy Graebner (Board Treasurer)

Barbara Higman

Ricky Jefferson

Bob King

Andy LaBarre

Caroline Richardson

Katie Scott

Doug Strong

Marianne Udow-Philips

I think we can all agree that 2020 was a year like no other. While enduring a global pandemic due to COVID-19, WCCMH would be like to pause and thank our provider network and give special recognition to ALL of the staff working in residential and community settings! Providing direct care can be a difficult and thankless job – along with being rewarding and lifesaving. We salute the Direct Care Workers who not only stuck with the folks we serve during the pandemic but displayed incredible acts of care and concern. Some staff moved in and quarantined at residential settings, others drove many miles gathering PPE and most worked multiple overtime shifts to ensure folks remained safe. We appreciate all you have done, and all you continue to do to ensure individuals are safe and supported.

Thank you for your dedication!

Fresh Start Accomplishments 2020

For Fresh Start Clubhouse, like for everyone else, the last year has been a turbulent one. The COVID19 pandemic posed an existential threat to our practice model, which centers around the rehabilitative nature of relationships developed through side-by-side work for people with serious mental illness. The idea of interrupting our in person services was not just inconvenient, it challenged the very nature of our work – how do you build an intentional working community when you can’t gather together? How do you create a sense of mattering and belonging when you can’t share space? Fortunately, because our members and staff are talented and we have built strong relationships over time, we have been able to tackle this seemingly insurmountable challenge and have even made some positive strategic changes along the way.

Fresh Start successfully transitioned to virtual services effectively overnight. Due to the several weeks of preparation and contingency planning we worked on in early March 2020, and our preexisting efforts to incorporate digital technology into our work day, we were amongst the first Clubhouses in the state to establish a functional Virtual Clubhouse program. Our Clubhouse work day rapidly transitioned from preparing meals, maintaining our physical workspace, and doing group data entry in the same room, to creating a digital newsletter, building welcoming online workspaces, and doing group data entry from our homes over Zoom. Our tireless staff made home visits and deliveries and created side-by-side work opportunities in people’s front yards and public parks.

In late summer of 2020, Fresh Start Clubhouse made a decision to embark on a project to not just restore the services that were interrupted during the pandemic, but to take some significant steps toward realizing our goal of being a resource for every adult with serious mental illness in Washtenaw County, not just those who are Medicaid recipients served by our Community Mental Health system. Fresh Start has always operated as a program of another agency, but in September 2020 colleagues from the Clubhouse incorporated independently and are now working toward becoming the first “freestanding” Clubhouse in Michigan. This will allow the Clubhouse to diversify its funding streams and also open its doors to a broader swath of the community, in line with WCCMH’s service expansion goals. To this end, Fresh Start has established a Board of Directors, is applying for tax exempt status, and members and staff alike are working together to build the “backend” of this new nonprofit which will become the provider for Clubhouse services in Washtenaw County. It is hard but rewarding work and is giving our members an opportunity to be involved in truly meaningful work.

This transformation in Washtenaw County will lay the groundwork for a statewide enhancement of the Clubhouse service delivery system. It is also being done in partnership with a national affiliation of Clubhouses that aims to elevate the voices of people utilizing mental health recovery Clubhouses in our national integrated health conversation.

Finally, Fresh Start will be participating in Clubhouse Day on June 1st with other Clubhouses around the world to garner support for our mission. If you’d like to support our mission and goal of expanding services to more Washtenaw County citizens, you can join us at www. givegab.com/nonprofits/fresh-startclubhouse

2020 WCCMH Providersby service type

Applied Behavioral Analysis

ABA Insight

ABA Pathways, LLC

Centria Healthcare

Creating Brighter Futures

Dearborn Speech & Sensory Center

DBA Metropolitan Speech, Sensory & ABA Centers

Eastern Michigan University-Autism Collaborative Center

HealthCall of Detroit

Judson Center

Momentum Autism Therapy Services d/b/a Therapy Core, LLC.

Novel Responses, INC

Residential Options, LLC

Strident Healthcare, Inc.

Clubhouse Services

Touchstone Services Inc. – Fresh Start Clubhouse

Training & Treatment Innovations, Inc.

Community Living Supports - Unlicensed

Adult Learning Systems

Avalon Housing

Bedside Angel’s Home Care

Behavioral Outcomes Management dba ExpertCare Management Services

CABB Community Supports, LLC

CHS Group LLC.

Community Residence Corp.

Friends Who Care

Full Life Independence

His Eye is on the Sparrow

Home Sweet Home Care Services, LLC

INI Group, Inc.

JOAK American Homes

JYB Homecare, LLC.

Michigan Agency with Choice, LLC

Progressive Residential Services, Inc.

Renaissance Community Homes Inc.

Saints Inc.

Specially Made Co., LLC

Spectrum Community Services

Synod Residential Services

Y-PCS Group, Inc.

Crisis Residential

Safehaus, Inc.

Synod Community Services

Drop In Center

Full Circle

Enhanced Pharmacy Services

CareLinc Medical Equipment & Supply Co. LLC.

Genoa Healthcare

Nutritional Healing of Ann Arbor

Pharmacy Solutions

Fiscal Intermediary

Community Living Network

Guardian Trac LLC

Hospitals:

BCA of Detroit, LLC d.b.a BCA StoneCrest Center

Harbor Oaks

Havenwyck Hospital

Havenwyck Hospital d/b/a Cedar Creek Hospital

Hillsdale Medical Center

Madison Community Hospital d/b/a Samaritan Behavioral Center

Mercy Memorial Hospital

New Oakland Family Center

(Partials)

31500 Schoolcraft, Livonia, MI 48150

32961 Middlebelt, Farmington Hills, MI 48334

13305 Reek Ct., Southgate, MI 48195

501 North Maple Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Trinity Health-Michigan

University of Michigan

Licensed Residential

Adult Learning Systems

Beacon Specialized Living Services

Carnegie AFC, Inc.

CBI Rehabilitation Services, Inc.

Courtyard Manor of Wixom Inc. III

Flatrock Manor of Burton

Henlyn Care, Inc.

Hope Network Behavioral Health Services of MI

Hope Network West Michigan

JOAK American Homes

Oconomowoc Developmental Training Center

Prader Willi Homes of Oconomowoc, LLC

Progressive Residential Services, Inc.

Quest Inc.

Rainbow Rehabilitation Centers, Inc.

Renaissance Community Homes Inc.

Renaissance House

Saints Inc

Spectrum Community Services

St Louis Center

Synod Residential Services

Toepfer Home

Turning Leaf

Outpatient/Licensed Independent Practitioners/ Other MH Services

A Quality Staffing, LLC d/b/a Elite Medical Staffing

ABA Pathways, LLC

ABA Insight

Advanced Therapeutic Solutions

Friends Who Care

HealthCall of Detroit

Lyneah Blake-Duncan

Michigan State University DBA Community Music School

Psych Resolutions

Sharon O’Bryan

Therapeutic Concepts, LLC

Respite & Respite Camps

Bedside Angel’s Home Care

Behavioral Outcomes Management dba ExpertCare Management Services

CABB Community Supports, LLC.

Camp Tall Tree

Camp Zip

CHS Group

Eagle Village

Friends Who Care (skilled respite)

Home Sweet Home Care Services, LLC.

Indian Trails Camp dba IKUS Enrichment Services

Just US Club

JYB Homecare, LLC.

LifeSpan….A Community Service

Michigan Agency with Choice, LLC

St. Francis Camp on the Lake

St. Louis Center

The Fowler Center

Y-PCS Group, Inc.

Skill Building & Supported Employment

CHS Group LLC.

Community Work Opportunities

Life Enrichment Academy, Inc.

Just Us Club

Work Skills Corporation

Translator Services

Language Line

University Translators