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DATE: |
October 11, 2022 |
01 |
SUBJECT
Title
RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF INTENT TO LEAD CORRECTIONAL HEALTHCARE WORKGROUP (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department (Sheriff's Department) is committed to providing the highest quality healthcare to individuals in our custody and, to that end, has created the San Diego Sheriff's Department Correctional Healthcare Assessment and Recommendation Workgroup (Correctional Healthcare Workgroup). This effort is led by the Sheriff and supported by the County of San Diego's Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA). The purpose of the Correctional Healthcare Workgroup is to improve the quality of correctional healthcare, broadly defined to include physical, mental, and behavioral health, by examining operational and clinical "best practices" throughout the country, and providing recommendations for implementation of those best practices to the Sheriff. The ultimate decision maker regarding implementation of changes within the county jail system will be the Sheriff.
Today's requested action is for the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) to receive the Sheriff’s Department’s notification of intent to lead the San Diego Sheriff's Department Correctional Healthcare Assessment and Recommendation Workgroup.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
SHERIFF
1. Receive the Sheriff’s Department's notification of intent to lead the San Diego Sheriff's Department Correctional Healthcare Assessment and Recommendation Workgroup.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The Sheriff's Department prioritizes the health and safety of those in custody, which includes providing for quality medical and mental health care with access to the spectrum of services necessary for their well-being. The recommendations of the Correctional Healthcare Workgroup will enhance access to, diversity and quality of, services in a manner designed to improve outcomes and reduce health disparities. Exploration of a more equitable, coordinated, and person-centered approach to maximizing the health and life trajectory of incarcerated persons is ideal. The Correctional Healthcare Workgroup assessment will encompass National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) Accreditation standards, which were developed to improve the quality of health care in jails and enhance access, treatments, and outcomes to address health equity for incarcerated persons.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The proposed action to investigate and evaluate additional measures to protect incarcerated persons and improve staffing contributes to the County of San Diego's Sustainability
Goal to provide just and equitable access. Exploring best practices in correctional healthcare is intended to advance equity in treatment access and quality of care for incarcerated persons. An individual's incarceration status should not equate to a disadvantage or present obstacles to quality care.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with today's proposed action.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
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Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
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BACKGROUND
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department (Sheriff's Department) is committed to providing the highest quality healthcare to individuals in its custody. It is for this reason the Sheriff's Department is creating the San Diego Sheriff's Department Correctional Healthcare Assessment and Recommendation Workgroup (Correctional Healthcare Workgroup). This effort is led by the Sheriff and supported by staff from the County of San Diego's Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA). Membership to the Correctional Healthcare Workgroup include the Undersheriff and the HHSA Agency Director, both of whom serve as Executive Sponsors. Executive team members include the Detention Services Bureau Assistant Sheriff and Directors of Medical Care Services and Behavioral Health Services. The executive team members will report recommendations to the Executive Sponsors, who then will report to the Sheriff and to the Chief Administrative Officer. Identified Correction Healthcare Workgroup members will be expected to prioritize this effort to the best of their abilities and participate in drafting and review of any formal recommendations.
The purpose of the Correctional Healthcare Workgroup is to improve the quality of correctional health care, broadly defined to include physical, mental, and behavioral health, by examining operational and clinical "best practices," throughout the country, and provide recommendations for implementation of those best practices to the Sheriff. The Sheriff is constitutionally and statutorily responsible for providing adequate healthcare to incarcerated persons. In accordance with those responsibilities, the ultimate decision maker regarding implementation of changes within the County jail system will be the Sheriff.
According to the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), the number of incarcerated individuals in California jails under active care for mental health issues rose by 63 percent over the last decade, and 66 percent of those in custody in a jail or prison have a high or moderate need for substance use disorder treatment. It is the vision of the Correctional Healthcare Workgroup to propose a recommended framework that would not only elevate a culture of trauma-informed, person-centered, high-quality correctional health care services for adult detention facilities in San Diego County, but also contribute to the health and wellness of incarcerated persons. County jails have the potential to significantly influence the health trajectory of their population. Incarcerated persons often enter the jail system experiencing significant health issues. Additionally, once they are released back into their communities, they often lack the ability to continue accessing the health care that they received while in the County jail system. The Correctional Healthcare Workgroup is committed to understanding best practices and providing recommendations to improve outcomes and experiences of those with healthcare needs both while at San Diego County adult detention facilities and when re-entering the community. This will be achieved through specific recommendations that may encompass clinical and non-clinical policies and procedures, workforce and leadership development, structural and facility recommendations, outcome metrics, and continued quality improvement innovations to meet the diverse needs of clients.
The Correctional Healthcare Workgroup efforts will concentrate its efforts on health care needs, which encompass physical, mental, and behavioral health to make intentional enhancements to the service delivery provided to clients while in the custody of the Sheriff's Department as well as improving care coordination for individuals entering and leaving custody. Incarcerated persons are generally disproportionately at risk for negative health outcomes and face challenges accessing services both before and after incarceration; therefore, the assessment of health status at intake and the provision of quality health care while in custody can greatly benefit the incarcerated person's health and wellness trajectory. The Correctional Healthcare Workgroup efforts will explore options for a continuum of care model that may integrate information exchange from service providers and community partners to capture a holistic approach.
Today's notice of intent demonstrates the continued commitment of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department to make bold improvements to its operations and service delivery.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
The creation of the San Diego Sheriff's Correctional Healthcare Assessment and Recommendation Workgroup supports the Equity and Justice Strategic Initiatives in the County of San Diego's 2022-2027 Strategic Plan by taking steps to increase the overall well-being of individuals who are currently in custody in San Diego County jails.
Respectfully submitted,
aNTHONY C. RAY
Sheriff
ATTACHMENT(S)
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