| October 16, 2015 |
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Volume 3 Issue 33 |
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| Supervisor Todd Spitzer Celebrates UC Irvine’s 50th Anniversary |
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UC Irvine Chancellor Howard Gillman, Supervisor Todd Spitzer, and UC Irvine Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Thomas Parham |
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Supervisor Todd Spitzer spoke on behalf of the County at UC Irvine’s 50th Anniversary celebration at the Great Park in Irvine. Irvine City Councilwoman Christina Shea emceed the event and UC Irvine Chancellor Howard Gillman gave the keynote speech.
The event featured the unveiling of an exhibit featuring architect William Pereira who was the Master Architect of the UC Irvine campus. |
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| Chairman Spitzer Provides Opening Comments at the Workforce Development Conference |
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Chairman Spitzer providing opening comments |
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Chairman Todd Spitzer gave the opening comments at the Workforce Development Conference sponsored by the Orange County Business Council and the Orange County Workforce Investment Board. The conference featured the presentation of the 2015-2016 Orange County Workforce Indicators Report by Orange County Business Council Chief Economic Advisor Wallace Walrod, Ph.D.
A product of the research partnership between the Orange County Business Council, the County of Orange, and the Orange County Workforce Investment Board, the Workforce Indicators Report examines the growth of industry and employment, salary and wage trends, demographic changes and the educational attainment of Orange County students. To view the report, click here. |
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| Members of the Fire Service Family Gather at the Annual Orange County Fire Service |
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Firefighters at the remembrance |
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| The Annual Orange County Fire Service Memorial ceremony took place at the Orange County Fire Service Monument in front of the Orange County Hall of Administration this week. The ceremony takes place each year to pay tribute and to honor our fire service family. Area fire service gathered to honor those who passed away during the previous year and then together firefighters reaffirmed their Oath of Office. |
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OCFA Pipes and Drums Band and the Santa Ana College fire academy cadets |
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| Chairman Todd Spitzer Announces Ad Hoc Committee to Address Mental Health Services Created at Vice Chair Lisa Bartlett’s Request |
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(Portions courtesy of OC County Executive Office and OC Health Care Agency)
An ad-hoc committee comprised of two members of the Board of Supervisors will examine gaps within the County’s mental health system and present recommendations to their colleagues early next year, Board Chairman Todd Spitzer announced this week.
The committee was suggested by Vice Chair Lisa Bartlett who will serve with Supervisor Andrew Do. Bartlett requested that a committee be created to formally review and analyze long-term policy solutions for the delivery of public psychiatric services. Input and collaboration will be sought from County agencies, hospital representatives, the medical community and law enforcement.
“Finding solutions to help those with mental illness is a County priority and we are fully committed to implementing innovative mental health initiatives,” Vice Chair Bartlett said. “We have an opportunity to effect change and improve the lives of Orange County residents by providing access to essential services.”
Overall, the County will spend about $119 million this year on treatment programs funded by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) with another $21 million from MHSA carry over funds. The statewide ballot measure was approved by state voters in November 2004 to provide increased funding, staffing and other resources to support county mental health programs and monitor progress toward meeting statewide goals.
“Finding ways to help those with mental illness is an obligation we have as a society,” Supervisor Do said. “The more we can do to help people, the more everyone benefits.”
“Providing visible, consistent and persistent help is required, even for those who have shunned services,” said Supervisor Shawn Nelson, who has urged additional focus on mental health services. “We need to keep trying until we get better results. The alternative just isn’t acceptable.”
This past year, the County provided 62 programs to help those with mental illness and their families, with another 56 programs offered through contract providers. Each program’s success is measured and monitored.
A variety of programs exist for adults, older adults, children and youth, including treatment, outreach and engagement services. For routine requests for service, 99 percent are offered an appointment within five working days of the initial call. For urgent needs, all callers are offered an appointment within one day of the initial call.
The Health Care Agency also is implementing an open-access program for immediate assistance where clients who are discharged from hospitals can be seen within 24 hours. Clients who miss a doctor appointment or who cannot be seen the same day also can take advantage of this “open access” program.
Other successes from the County’s MHSA program include:
- 358 people referred to Assisted Outpatient Treatment (also known as Laura’s Law) from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015. Of those, 26% were linked to voluntary services in the community. Eight people went through the court process to achieve recovery and stability. Orange County became the second California county to adopt Laura’s Law in 2014.
- Over the past two years, 18,621 referrals were handled by trained clinical workers through Behavioral Health Services, resulting in 17,254 direct links to services. (A referral occurs when a staff member verbally provides a recommendation for services; a direct link is when a staff member stays on the phone as the caller is connected directly to a service provider).
- The Children’s Crisis Residential Program provides a 12-bed short-term crisis intervention program for youth aged 13 to 17. The program provides immediate service to teens displaying behavior indicating severe emotional disturbance.
- A six-bed residential program is available for transitional-age youth who have experienced a mental health crisis but do not meet the criteria for in-patient hospitalization.
- The MHSA Housing Program has made 118 units available for eligible clients in seven built or lease apartments. Another 29 units are under construction with more financing sought to complete an additional 35 units.
The County ended Fiscal Year 2014-15 on June 30, 2015, with about $158.6 million in funds available, as well as another $70.4 million required by the act to be kept as Prudent Reserves in case revenues drop sharply in any given year. Of the $158.6 million in usable reserves, $108.6 million is needed to sustain existing programs, while another $50 million is available for program enhancements based on needs and gaps in services. The Health Care Agency is currently in the planning process to identify those needs.
Click here for a detailed look at the County’s current Three-Year Plan to Combat Mental Illness, approved by the Board of Supervisors, as well as annual updates:
http://ochealthinfo.com/bhs/about/pi/mhsa/updates |
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| Orange County Clerk-Recorder - Special Saturday Opening |
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Click on the image above to view a PDF version. |
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| Halloween Fest Event |
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| Pet of the Week |
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Click on the image above to view a PDF version.
Click on the image above to view a PDF version. |
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| Events Around the District |
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Click on the image above to view a PDF version.
Click on the image above to view a PDF version.
Click on the image above to view a PDF version.
Click on the image above to view a PDF version. |
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Anaheim
Family Story Time
Saturday, October 17, 11:00 AM
East Anaheim Branch Library, 8201 E. Santa Ana Canyon Rd.
Halloween Festival
Saturday, October 24, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Canyon Hills Branch Library, 400 Scout Trail
Irvine
Certified Farmers Market
Sunday, October 18, 10:00 AM
Orange County Great Park, 6950 Marine Way
U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2015
October 15-18, 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Orange County Great Park, 6950 Marine Way
Orange County Fire Authority Open House
Saturday, October 23, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
1 Fire Authority at Jamboree and Tustin Ranch Road
Orange
Free Flu Shots
Friday, October 16, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Grijalva Park & Sports Center, 368 N Prospect St.
Streets Autumn Festival
Thursday, October 29, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Historic Old Towne Orange Plaza, where Glassell Street meets Chapman Ave.
Silverado
Pilates
Wednesday, October 21, 5:30 PM
Silverado Community Center
Tustin
Farmers Market
Wednesday, October 21, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
El Camino Real & 3rd St.
Halloween Howl
Friday, October 30, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Columbus Tustin Activity Center, 17522 Beneta Way
Villa Park
Book Club
Wednesday, October 21, 9:30 AM
Villa Park City Hall, 17855 Santiago Blvd.
Halloween Fest
Friday, October 30, 4:30 AM – 7:30 PM
Villa Park Towne Center
Yorba Linda
Lego Play at the Yorba Linda Library
Saturday, October 17, 1:30 PM
Yorba Linda Library, 18181 Imperial Hwy.
Nixon Library Concert, Chamber Music, Doris Chiang, Director
Sunday, October 18, 1:30 PM
Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd.
For questions or comments regarding Spitzer’s E-Newsletter
please contact the Supervisor's office staff at: (714) 834-3330 or Melanie.Eustice@ocgov.com
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