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Assembly committee reviews Resolution 2020-537 to authorize CrisisNow dispatch agreement with Central Peninsula General Hospital
Summary
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly policies and procedures committee heard introduction of Resolution 2020-537 to authorize an agreement with Central Peninsula General Hospital Inc. for CrisisNow dispatch services; members voiced support and several volunteered to cosponsor.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough policies and procedures committee on an overnight session heard introduction of Resolution 2020-537, which would authorize an agreement with Central Peninsula General Hospital Inc. for dispatch services under the Borough’s CrisisNow mobile program.
Mayor Michicky, who presented the item, described the agreement as "a relatively simple agreement" and said the mobile crisis response model has moved from a grant-funded mobile integrated health (MIH) model into an operational program run by the hospital.
The resolution was introduced; several assembly members offered to cosponsor. The committee did not take a formal vote on the resolution during the session. Mayor Michicky said the hospital is currently funding the program from its operating budget and that hospital leaders hope to obtain grant funding in the future.
Why it matters: The change shifts responsibility for dispatching a non-law-enforcement behavioral-health response from a prior MIH grant structure to a hospital-run CrisisNow model. Proponents said the hospital model aims to reduce law-enforcement responses to behavioral-health calls by dispatching clinically oriented teams.
Background and discussion: Mayor Michicky said the mobile integrated health model began under a grant and that the Borough later worked with hospital behavioral-health staff to transition the service. He said the hospital adopted an intervention model the Borough observed on a visit to Phoenix and hired a program director to run the expanded behavioral-health response. The mayor told the committee, "There were some dollars, I don't have the exact amount, that were left over that were utilized or spent by CPH. I would call it residual. And then that grant expired. At least funds were spent and now it's a CPH funded service." (Mayor Michicky)
Committee members asked about funding and background. Assembly President Ribbons offered to cosponsor; Assembly member Cooper also volunteered. A number of other members signaled they would be sponsors. Chair Cox closed discussion after members confirmed sponsorship offers.
Next steps: The resolution was introduced to the committee; no formal vote or final action occurred during this meeting. If advanced, the agreement will return for formal action per the Borough’s legislative process.
Ending: Committee discussion focused on funding transition and local interest in the hospital-run CrisisNow model; members expressed support and interest in seeing the program operate under Central Peninsula General Hospital’s expanded behavioral-health services.
