Safety Wellness and Youth Committee Memorandum
TO: SAFETY, WELLNESS AND YOUTH COMMITTEE DATE: March 16, 2022 FROM: OFFICE OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: PRESENTATION BY RIVERSIDE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM – BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RECOVERY COMMUNITY, SOBERING CENTER AND RESTORATIVE TRANSFORMATION CENTER ISSUE:
Receive a presentation on the Riverside Health System – Behavioral Health Update Arlington Recovery Community, Sobering Center, and Restorative Transformation Center.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Safety, Wellness and Youth Committee receive and file a verbal update regarding the Riverside Health System – Behavioral Health Arlington Recovery Community, Sobering Center, and Restorative Transformation Center.
BACKGROUND:
The Riverside University Health System (RUHS) Behavioral Health (BH) Department is comprised of three major programs: Mental Health Services, Substance Use Services, and the Public Guardian’s Office.
DISCUSSION:
RUHS – BH operates multiple behavioral health treatment programs on County Farm Road that focus on programs that target individuals with behavioral health needs and facing homelessness or actively homeless, and community members that may be facing entry into an emergency room or jail-eligible lower-level charges if not for the diversion-based program continuum.
These programs include the following:
The Arlington Recovery Community (ARC) provides a community-based continuum of care treatment and wrap-around support program that assists in the prevention of incarceration with the intent to break the cycle of recidivism. ARC provides a fully integrated, short-term, residential approach to treating substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions, with the purpose of providing opportunities for diversion from emergency rooms, incarceration, and correctional facilities by using evidence-based substance use disorder (SUD) treatments and stabilization, reducing recidivism, and engaging individuals in restorative justice activities and ongoing connection to treatment and safe living environments. Integrated care will provide residential SUD care, care coordination, peer support, wrap-around services, and incidental medical services.
The Sobering Center is located adjacent to the ARC and has 15 beds where individuals under the influence can stay for 6-10 hours (when the consumer does not need medical intervention), providing a safe and welcoming environment that promotes a path to recovery. During the consumer stay, peer support and counseling staff use motivational enhancement techniques to encourage the consumer to engage in longer-term treatment at another facility. The Sobering Center will serve 15 people at any given time for an anticipated annual average of 1,825 consumers.
The Restorative Transformation Center, a Mental Health Rehabilitation Center (MHRC), will provide 20 beds for consumers that have been admitted into an IST Diversion program through the Superior Court. MHRC’s provide a wide range of alternatives to acute psychiatric hospitalization and institutional care based on the principles of community-based treatment. Community-based treatment includes a high level of care provided in a homelike setting, individual and group counseling, psychiatric services, pre-vocational and vocational assistance, community participation, and linkages to other community services. Ten beds will be designated for consumers needing MHRC services, as well as Laura’s Law referrals that meet this level of behavioral health care.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
Because this is a presentation from Riverside Universal Health System, it is not required to align with the City’s strategic plan. The intent of this report is to present information regarding the topic in a neutral fashion for the Committee’s review.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact related to this staff report.
Prepared by: Lorissa Villarreal, Homeless Solutions Officer Certified as to
availability of funds: Edward Enriquez, Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer Approved by: Lea Deesing, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachment: Presentation
Foundation Update ● Page 3