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Board committee backs $271,200 DPH grant for vocational rehabilitation services
Summary
The Budget and Finance Committee recommended approval of a retroactive $271,200 grant to San Francisco Department of Public Health from the California Department of Rehabilitation to fund vocational services for people with serious mental illness, including a 0.8 FTE coordinator and placement supports.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance Committee on Wednesday recommended approval of a retroactive $271,200 grant to the Department of Public Health to continue a long-standing vocational rehabilitation partnership with the California Department of Rehabilitation.
Charlie Mayer, vocational services director for the Department of Public Health, told the committee that "This agreement has provided vocational development services for severely mentally ill patients since 1992," and said the arrangement leverages local mental-health dollars "practically 4 to 1," with DPH providing a cash match of 21.3 percent. Mayer said the state grant will fund a DPH 0.8 full-time-equivalent vocational coordinator to plan, coordinate and evaluate the program locally.
The agreement, Mayer said, covers comprehensive assessment services, occupational skills training, and employment placement and retention support within the competitive workforce. He told the committee the program served about 280 clients last year, with nearly 200 finding employment.
Darlene Rutkowski, district administrator for the California Department of Rehabilitation, said the department’s cooperative contracts span Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo counties and that the partnership helps "hundreds of individuals with significant mental health disabilities, throughout the city and county of San Francisco." Budget analyst Mr. Rose reviewed the financial tables and confirmed the $271,200 allocation is shown in the report to fund the 0.8 FTE position.
One public commenter, Gerald Banks, described his experience in the program and urged expanded outreach into single-room-occupancy buildings so residents who live there can learn about and access services. Banks said local provider Citywide assisted him in preparing a resume and pursuing employment opportunities.
Chair Supervisor Mark Farrell said the committee would move the item forward with recommendation; the committee approved the resolution "without objection." The item will appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda for final action.
