Agenda

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County Administrator's Report 12. 10.

BCC Regular Meeting

Technical/Public Service Consent

Meeting Date:	05/25/2017
Issue: Escambia County Behavioral Health Transportation Plan
From:	Joy D. Blackmon, P.E.
Department:	Public Works
CAO Approval:

RECOMMENDATION:

Recommendation Concerning the Adoption of the Escambia County Behavioral Health Transportation Plan - Joy D. Blackmon, P.E., Public Works Department Director

That the Board take the following action concerning the Escambia County Behavioral Health Transportation Plan:

A. Review and adopt the Escambia County Behavioral Health Transportation Plan (BHTP); and

B. Authorize Public Works staff to transmit the adopted Plan to the State of Florida for acceptance.

BACKGROUND:

In accordance with Florida Statute Chapter 394, Part 1, Florida Mental Health Act or the “Baker Act”, Florida Statute Chapter 397, Hal S. Marchman Alcohol and Other Drug Services Act of 1993, and Senate Bill 12, a plan has been developed to organize a centralized system for acute care services. This transportation plan requires approval by the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners. Upon approval, this document will serve as the transportation plan for Escambia County per legislative intent.

The intent of this plan is:

1. An arrangement centralizing and improving the provision of services within a county, which may include an exception to the requirement for transportation to the nearest receiving facility.

2. An arrangement by which a facility may provide, in addition to required psychiatric and addiction services, an environment and services which are uniquely tailored to the needs of an identified group of persons with special needs, such as persons with hearing impairments or visual impairments, or elderly persons with physical frailties; or

3. A specialized transportation system that provides an efficient and humane method of transporting patients to receiving facilities, among receiving facilities, and to treatment facilities.

The Plan will insure that individuals on an involuntary Baker Act/Marchman Act will obtain immediate access to acute care services and will reduce the need for inter-hospital transfers for psychiatric and addiction services. Coordination of services among providers in Northwest Florida will continue to meet individual needs. Attached herein is the Escambia County BHTP for reference.

This document was prepared primarily by the Escambia County Emergency Management Department, with oversight from Transportation and Traffic Operations Division and in coordination with the Escambia County Sheriff's Office and other local agencies.

BUDGETARY IMPACT:

N/A

LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS/SIGN-OFF:

N/A

PERSONNEL:

No additional personnel is anticipated for the approval of this Plan.

POLICY/REQUIREMENT FOR BOARD ACTION:

N/A

IMPLEMENTATION/COORDINATION:

Upon approval, Public Works staff and Public Safety staff will coordinate and submit the plan to the State of Florida for acceptance.

Attachments
Behavioral Health Trans. Plan