Wednesday, December 6, 2023, 10:30 a.m. (Denver time), City & County Building, Council Chambers, Room 450
Committee: Safety, Housing, Education & Homelessness Committee
0:00 time of year. So you might need
0:01 things to make sure you're
0:06 staying warm might need to.
0:07 Welcome to this safety,
0:08 housing, education and
0:11 homelessness committee of
0:14 Denver City Council.
0:15 The safety Housing, Education
0:18 and Homelessness committee
0:18 begins now.
0:32 housing, education and
0:32 Welcome to be safety,
0:35 homelessness committee. Today
0:35 is Wednesday, DECEMBER.
0:38 6, I always feel like I'm
0:39 going to see the wrong day.
0:40 So welcome and welcome and
0:40 thank you for joining us today.
0:44 My name is set in a Gonzales.
0:46 The cat is I am the chair and
0:47 I'm also the one of council
0:49 members at large representing
0:52 the city at large. I'm going
0:53 introductions and and then
0:53 to start us off with some
0:56 we'll go from there. It's a
0:57 gender.
0:59 And actually maybe make sure.
1:01 Is there anyone on zoom?
1:02 Nobody on to the okay. So we'll
1:05 start over on my rights far
1:09 right.
1:13 Co at large.
1:14 Hard to everybody. Some of
1:15 us. But just something that I
1:16 am, Sir, Verity. I represent
1:20 the city at large and I'm used
1:21 to starting on the left.
1:22 And thank Stephanie for
1:23 reminding service needed to
1:27 introduce us out Watson for
1:28 the fine District. 9.
1:30 Good morning. Kevin Flynn,
1:32 Southwest numbers district 2.
1:35 Good morning. Paul Kashmann
1:39 South Bend or District 6.
1:42 Good morning. Diana Romero
1:43 district 4. Good morning.
1:43 Campbell, Southeast Denver
1:49 Stacie Gilmore, District 11.
1:52 Okay. So thank you, everyone
1:53 again for joining us today on
1:55 the agenda, we have a few
1:59 action items that we're looking
2:00 at doing a block vote and we
2:02 will have some presentation
2:04 along with those action items.
2:05 We have a briefing from host
2:11 and then we have a few items
2:12 on consent. To kick us off,
2:13 we'll start representatives
2:17 from Ddphe to get us started on
2:20 these 3 items.
2:23 MADAM PRESIDENT, would you like
2:24 to say hello?
2:25 eating the at Adelaide to me
2:25 Thank you so much. They're
2:28 towards Council district.
2:30 3.
2:31 Yes, please people. All
2:33 right. Thank you, council
2:34 members for having us here
2:35 today. I'm my name is Mary and
2:35 access to care manager at
2:39 Denver, Department of Public
2:39 Health and Environment. And
2:42 contracts with to with the star
2:42 today will be going over 3
2:45 program and one poor behavioral
2:48 health solutions on our.
2:49 As I mentioned, we have 2
2:50 contracts with the support Team
2:51 Assisted Response program, one
2:54 with Denver, health and
2:55 hospitals and one with will
2:58 power and then well, power also
2:59 Center. So these are all on
2:59 operates to the whole solution
3:01 you. Your contract amendments
3:05 are current contracts since we
3:06 have the more conversations
3:08 with you all about the star
3:09 program, we'll just do a brief
3:12 information on Behavioral
3:12 overview of that. And to more
3:13 Solutions Center, as we haven't
3:15 spoken to as much about
3:18 recently.
3:21 So the star program began as a
3:22 pilot in JUNE of 2020 after
3:23 community members, city
3:25 employees and other partners
3:25 visited Oregon on to learn
3:29 about a program called the
3:29 Cahoots program the program
3:30 contracts with Housing
3:34 Department of Safety until Mid
3:37 2021. This is an alternate
3:38 response program that both an
3:39 immediate response with fans
3:41 that include a paramedic or
3:42 emt and a vehicle health
3:45 commission up respond to low
3:47 safety lot. Unity calls as well
3:48 as wraparound services for
3:48 individuals with interactive
3:49 with the Star dance through
3:50 our partners services of the
3:54 Ross, a and their community
3:55 coalition.
3:58 All the calls are dispatched
3:59 3, 9, 1, 1, We're 3, 1, 1, on.
4:02 i've heard it over to 9-1-1.
4:03 We have a number of program
4:05 partners that we like to make
4:06 sure that we acknowledge.
4:07 First of all, we have to start
4:09 Community Advisory Committee,
4:10 which provides guidance and
4:10 helps raise awareness and
4:13 understanding program within
4:13 the community. We have been
4:15 easier on teams here from that
4:18 committee here with us today.
4:19 We also serve the sales of the
4:19 Ross. Apple provides a
4:20 wraparound services and other
4:22 support services for
4:25 individuals and the Star
4:25 Community Coalition. And we
4:26 have a Maria Martinez hands of
4:26 isis to around here today as
4:29 well. You have any questions
4:31 about that.
4:32 While provide clinicians with
4:33 advancing its and ravens here
4:35 today, I'm anyone has questions
4:36 at. We also have a number
4:37 health paramedics division here
4:41 with us. They provide the vans
4:42 in the EMTs or paramedics for
4:43 the vehicles and last, but
4:44 certainly not least. We have a
4:44 number 9-1-1, to make sure that
4:48 we dispatch the appropriate
4:51 response us.
4:52 Like I said, it was going to be
4:54 a very brief overview of So
4:57 these are the 2 contracts.
4:57 First is with Denver health
5:01 amending an intergovernmental
5:05 agreement by adding 2 million,
5:06 $326,616 for a new total of
5:07 that 4 million 4 0.8 million
5:08 and one additional year with
5:11 the end date of DECEMBER 31st.
5:13 2024.
5:14 We have star. Well, power
5:17 contract amending the contract
5:20 by adding 935.
5:20 $1986 for a new total 3.2
5:23 million and one additional
5:27 year.
5:30 Time to move on to the behavior
5:32 whole solution Center.
5:34 This Solutions Center provides
5:35 crisis, stabilization,
5:36 transitional sheltering,
5:37 ongoing assistance for mental
5:38 health and substance use and
5:41 assistance and transitioning to
5:43 community living.
5:44 That solution Well, except
5:45 individuals experiencing a
5:46 behavioral health crisis who
5:48 have had significant
5:50 interaction with members, first
5:52 responders. This includes law
5:53 enforcement professionals, Fire
5:55 Department or and designated
5:57 mental health professionals,
5:58 additional service providers
5:59 MAY be included or excluded
6:02 as referral source upon joint
6:04 approval by will power Andy
6:06 So the primary referral source
6:07 is first responders, but we
6:08 recognize there are other
6:10 instances where it MAY be
6:12 beneficial to have a referral
6:13 sources. This is a referral
6:14 based locations of folks are
6:16 not be able to walk up to the
6:18 facility. They must be
6:19 preferred. It is a 24 7
6:22 facility located at 29 29 West
6:29 Avenue.
6:30 At the behavior Health
6:31 solutions, Senator, 3 different
6:32 components on-site. One is the
6:35 crisis drop-off center which
6:36 has 6 rooms. The second is the
6:37 crisis stabilization clinic,
6:38 which has 16 rooms and the
6:41 transitional shelter, which has
6:43 30 grams, the crisis drop-off
6:44 center is where someone is
6:45 brought and contacted by Peer
6:46 Navigator, nurse practitioner
6:48 and our sass based on how that
6:49 present in the moment,
6:51 individuals can stay there for
6:53 just under 24 hours. They MAY
6:55 have about that. They can land
6:56 and take a shower and really
6:58 start to feel better and get
6:59 into a place where they can
6:59 have conduct conversations
7:02 about the behavioral health
7:03 needs.
7:05 From there. An individual MAY
7:05 transition to the crisis,
7:08 Stabilization Clinic, which has
7:09 a capacity of 6 for 16
7:10 individuals that provides a
7:14 7 up to 7 day stay, including
7:15 Pat private bedrooms, meals,
7:16 inpatient treatment, ordination
7:16 of outpatient treatment group
7:18 and individual counseling,
7:19 engagement activities.
7:20 Transportation and assistance
7:23 with transitioning to
7:25 communities living.
7:27 Moving Individuals are either
7:28 discharged to community-based
7:28 treatment or procreate. They
7:31 can move to the transitional
7:31 shelter on the 3rd floor that
7:36 has a capacity of 30
7:37 individuals at a time and
7:38 individuals on their also
7:40 receive private bedrooms,
7:41 meals, ordination of outpatient
7:43 treatment here. Let's work
7:43 groups, engagement and
7:44 supported transitioning to
7:47 appropriate services following
7:48 the shelter.
7:49 The behavioral health solutions
7:51 that are also provides active
7:52 That referral to as well as
7:54 transportation and accompany
7:56 them too. Outpatient mental
7:56 health and substance use
8:00 treatment assistance, onsite
8:02 identified, secure housing
8:02 clinical staff as well as
8:06 jobs, further treatment and
8:10 additional resources.
8:13 You're going to see an overview
8:13 of the data by quarter of
8:16 unique individuals serving and
8:17 quarterly by the components of
8:18 the Solution Center from JULY.
8:21 First 2021 through SEPTEMBER,
8:24 30th of 2023. So the blue bars
8:24 are going to be across all
8:25 components. The oranges folks
8:27 that have on to the drop it
8:30 off center greatest crisis,
8:30 stabilization clinic and the
8:31 yellows, the transitional
8:32 shelters. You can see as folks
8:33 go through those different
8:37 levels of care. There's a
8:38 decrease from across that since
8:40 MAY of 2021. Installations on
8:43 has served 1757 unique
8:51 individuals.
8:52 Of those 1000,
8:52 757 individuals that have been
8:55 seen at the solution Center
8:58 since MAY of 2021, we have the
8:59 following. A demographic
9:01 information listed here as
9:03 well. So 47% identified as
9:04 White 20 as black or
9:05 African-American 13 as 30% as
9:06 multiple races and 11% is
9:13 Hispanic, Latino or Latinx.
9:13 You can see the gender identity
9:14 hears. But mostly I'm gonna
9:17 leave. I'm and of 61% of women
9:19 with 34%. It is an adult
9:20 campus. So there are no
9:20 individuals under 18 years of
9:23 age that are going to be served
9:26 at the Solutions center.
9:27 Additionally, 58% of
9:28 individuals served their
9:30 indicated that they were
9:31 experiencing homelessness when
9:32 they arrived at the solution
9:32 centered about half of the
9:35 folks on serve use Medicaid as
9:39 their primary insurance.
9:39 Folks are always interested
9:40 in what the outcomes are.
9:43 So some of the solutions that
9:43 are and what happens next.
9:45 It is very difficult to follow
9:46 folks on through these
9:48 different systems so we don't
9:49 have information about every
9:51 individual in, but there are
9:51 pathways of looked like, but we
9:54 can speak to individuals who
9:57 have enrolled in ongoing
10:00 treatment services without
10:00 power. So of those 1700
10:04 individuals on 37% enrollment
10:05 ongoing treatment. Well, power.
10:07 I will power and other
10:09 organizations that serve people
10:10 on with behavioral health
10:11 conditions, complete reference
10:12 as recovery marker in taxes or
10:14 other types of indicators to
10:16 assess progress and they're
10:19 behavioral health and
10:21 well-being. So of those 651
10:24 that enrolled and services 500
10:26 46 have completed recovery
10:27 marker inventory. It collects
10:29 information on jail detox,
10:31 physical health and psychiatric
10:32 hospitalizations. They're
10:33 generally don't quarterly for
10:34 high intensity treatment teams
10:36 and by annually for most other
10:39 levels of care. So of those you
10:39 can see that 95% of those
10:40 individuals who have that
10:46 recovery, Mark Graham, Ducks
10:47 sustained 0 jail days. 95%
10:49 sustain 0 detox days. 97 95%
10:51 sustain 0 physical health
10:53 hospital days percent sustained
10:54 0 psychiatric hospitalization.
10:55 Days following 3rd contract to
10:58 pay for health solutions
10:59 center. I will say there is
11:00 also a low percentage of
11:03 repeated missions overall at
11:08 13%.
11:09 So that is what I have prepare
11:10 feel. I'm so we're asking today
11:14 to amend the contract with
11:15 while power by adding
11:18 4 million, $110,334 for a new
11:20 total of 16 million 9 months
11:20 preview and date of SEPTEMBER.
11:23 30th 2024 to operate. The
11:24 Behavioral Health Solutions
11:25 Center. Just want to let you
11:26 guys know that the reason why
11:29 that's through the end of
11:29 SEPTEMBER is due to the
11:29 decreases in Medicaid
11:31 reimbursement, an increase in
11:32 cost of doing services. The
11:32 current general fund amount
11:34 that we have available will
11:36 only allow them to act great
11:37 through SEPTEMBER. We have
11:37 identified other funding
11:41 sources, but it's going to
11:42 require us to put out a small
11:42 rfp to make sure that we can
11:45 cover the remainder of the
11:47 services for the year.
11:54 Thank you so That was it
11:55 was very, very good at and
11:55 brief. So it allowed to aim
11:56 council members who have
11:57 questions. And we do have some
11:58 folks in the queue and we will
12:01 start with COUNCILMAN Parity.
12:01 Yeah. Thank you so much.
12:05 That was really helpful and
12:06 they think looking at the fact
12:08 that I think these outcome
12:09 numbers are really, really
12:10 great. And you're serving a lot
12:14 of and curious if you could
12:14 talk to me about or from the
12:18 clinic from the social Center
12:18 could talk to me about barriers
12:22 to people being able to access
12:22 the center and what kind of
12:24 limitations there are around,
12:25 you know, who can sort of be
12:28 accepted, Anderson, it's not a
12:29 drop-in centers like it apart.
12:30 And I apologize. I got so
12:32 excited about everyone here
12:35 that Cassie runs behavior
12:35 from star of failed to mention
12:36 Hospitaliztions Center. All
12:37 power is here today. So are you
12:44 okay into question? Awesome.
12:47 It's a nice to meet you.
12:49 Hi, good morning. I'm Cathy
12:50 Williams, associate director of
12:53 crisis Services with 12 Power.
12:56 And I oversee that behavior has
13:01 a solution. Honor.
13:02 So I think in terms of
13:03 barriers, all of our services
13:04 at the behavioral health
13:06 solutions and are voluntary.
13:07 So folks have to be willing
13:10 to engage in treatment and want
13:10 to be there. So we're not
13:14 putting anyone there against
13:17 their will
13:20 we the folks that we are seeing
13:24 are typically brought in by
13:26 first responders and that
13:27 Denver police. We also have a
13:30 really strong partnership with
13:31 the star program and the
13:34 co-responder program. So those
13:34 folks our top referrals
13:41 worsens, bringing folks in.
13:44 So
13:45 first responders come in
13:46 contact with someone in the
13:48 community that they believe
13:51 is having a behavioral health
13:52 crisis and they bring them to
13:55 us to triage that crisis.
13:58 And then we determine if that
13:59 person he's able to remain and