Humboldt behavioral health staff outlines adult system of care, flags funding limits for REST innovation program

Jack Brazo, a Humboldt County behavioral health staff member, presented an overview of the county’s adult system of care to the Humboldt County Behavioral Health Board on the board’s regular meeting, describing how clients move from same-day crisis care into outpatient services, supported housing supports and specialized programs for older adults and people with severe, persistent mental illness.

Brazo told board members the system begins with same-day services and the county ACCESS assessment, where “we determine the eligibility for services” and perform Medi-Cal-required assessments to establish medical necessity. He summarized how clients can then be referred to outpatient therapy, case management and psychiatry, and to specialized programs such as REST (Resident Engagement and Support Team), the peer-run HOPE Center and the CCT full-service partnership model.

The presentation used a vignette (“Sam”) to illustrate typical pathways: a same-day crisis assessment at the county campus, an ACCESS assessment and a diagnosis that qualifies the client for county services, referral to outpatient therapy and case management, placement in supported housing, and continued wraparound support from REST or CCT as needed. Brazo said…