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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 76660 6 RESOLUTION NO. 7666 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA.., URGING THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO ENACT LEGISLATION RELATING TO THE MENTALLY ILL HOMELESS WHEREAS, current provisions of the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act relating to civil commitment of the mentally disordered and gravely disabled are inadequate for dealing with the chronically mentally ill who either refuse or are reluctant to seek treatment; and WHEREAS, individuals are released into the community from state hospitals and county mental health facilities who are incapable of survival in the community independently or with the help of family or friends; and WHEREAS, current provisions of the Lanterman--Petris-Short Act do not require a mandatory pre -discharge determination to be made on the issue of whether an individual is capable of surviving independently outside an institution without some care and supervision; and WHEREAS, many of the homeless people wandering the streets of Azusa and other cities throughout the state and crowding emergency shelters or going without shelter are chronically mentally ill and are in desperate need of appropriate treatment and shelter; and WHEREAS, institutionalization in state mental hospitals is not always an appropriate or necessary option in dealing with chronically mentally ill homeless individuals; and WHEREAS, some homeless mentally ill individuals are "Gravely Disabled" and due to the nature of their mental disorder are unwilling or incapable of utilizing voluntary assistance or treatment in those instances when it is available; and WHEREAS, courts of this state are currently without the option of initially committing mentally disabled or mentally disordered individuals or placing individuals discharged from state hospitals and county mental health facilities into mandatory outpatient treatment programs; and WHEREAS, there are inadequate numbers and types of community mental health facilities suitable for implementation of a mandatory outpatient treatment program; and WHEREAS, city streets and emergency shelters have become alter- native institutions to house large numbers of mentally ill persons who are no longer being served by the county and state mental health treatment system; and WHEREAS, approximately 20 states currently permit a court to order mandatory outpatient treatment in place of hospitalization for patients in civil commitment process, NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The City Council of the City of Azusa supports the enactment of legislation by the California Legislature to establish a statewide system of court ordered mandatory out-patient treatment, pre -discharge hearings from state and county mental health institutions, and tighter standards for "gravely disabled" to ensure consistent statewide application. These programs should include and encompass the following elements: (a) A funding mechanism that allows for the simultaneous provision of mental health and shelter services with varied lengths of stay and intensities of intervention for the homeless chronically mentally ill. These would include: 0 0 1. Easily accessible dormitory type emergency shelters. 2. Structured brief stay residences. 3. Intermediate stay housing with both shared and private rooms. 4. Adequate and affordable permanent housing. (b) The shelter and treatment needs of the homeless chronically mentally ill population be specifically included in county planning service priorities under the Short -Doyle Act. (c) Outreach assessment and evaluation services designed to contact homeless mentally ill persons in places where they tend to congregate. (d) Medical care must be made available since homeless mentally disordered individuals suffer an extraordinarily high rate of medical and hygiene problems. (e) Assignment of a case manager responsible for each patient and with authority to designate and implement mandatory treatment and service plans. Case managers must maintain enough contact with patients to recognize evidence of increased social adaptation or clinical exacerba- tion, and to guide patients to the services appropriate at any time. (f) Mental health staff specifically selected and trained to work with the chronically mentally ill homeless. (g) A mandatory determination be made prior to any individual being discharged from a state mental hospital or county mental health facility as to whether the individual is capable of survival in the community independently or with the help of family or friends. (h) If an individual is found incapable of surviving independently in the community, the court may utilize the option of placement in an appropriate mandatory out-patient program until such time as the individual if found to be capable of independent living. SECTION 2. The City Council of the City of Azusa calls upon local City governments and the County of Los Angeles to bring before the Governor and State Legislature the pressing need for a mandatory outpatient program in order to realistically, comprehensively, and systematically respond to the problem of the chronically mentally ill and especially the homeless chronically mentally ill. SECTION 3. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution, and thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect. Adopted and approved this 4th day of March , 1985. MAYOR I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 7666 was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Azusa at a meeting thereof held on March 4, 1985 by the following vote of the Council: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: CRUZ, COOK, CAMARENA, LATTA, MOSES NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ATTEST: j CI CLERK Ir Page 2.