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County to contract three behavioral-health receiving "chairs" at WellSpace Sacramento as a one-year pilot
Summary
Yolo County approved a one-year pilot to contract three slots at WellSpace Health's Sacramento receiving center to provide 24/7 short-term crisis stabilization for county residents; funding combines a state Board of State and Community Corrections grant, city contributions and health-system support, and staff will return with utilization data and transportation plans.
The Yolo County Board of Supervisors voted to authorize a one-year pilot that will secure three behavioral-health receiving slots (often called "chairs") at WellSpace Health's Sacramento crisis receiving center.
The pilot is part of a board-directed effort to create a fourth, behavioral-health emergency pathway that complements law enforcement, emergency departments and mobile crisis responses. Monica Morales, the county's Health Services Agency director, told the board one of the project's originally planned county vendors (Safe Harbor) could not participate because of licensing constraints, and staff therefore recommended contracting with WellSpace, which already operates a Sacramento-area receiving program.
Tony (county staff) said the county would contract for three chairs on a full-year basis to serve Yolo County residents who voluntarily accept short-term crisis stabilization services. WellSpace reported an average 12-hour turnaround for voluntary crisis encounters at its Sacramento site; staff estimate the pilot would serve somewhere between 1,000 and 2,500 crisis episodes over 12 months depending on utilization and transport logistics. The proposed contract cost for the three chairs is about $500,000 for 12 months; funding would be drawn from a Board of State and Community Corrections grant, city contributions from Davis, Woodland and West Sacramento, and health-system partners.
Transportation was a recurring board concern because the receiving site is in downtown Sacramento. Staff said after-hours transport could use AMR (the county's after-hours medical transport partner) while daytime transport arrangements will be developed (a mix of crisis co-responders, county staff coordination and transportation providers). The pilot will include data collection for utilization, origin of clients, transport challenges and outcomes; staff promised interim check-ins with the board during the pilot period.
Supervisor comments urged close monitoring of transport logistics and a mid-pilot check-in so the board could evaluate whether additional resources or operational changes are required. The board approved the pilot and directed staff to finalize a contract with WellSpace and return to the board for contract authorization and periodic reporting.
Provenance: Staff briefing and board action on the pilot (topic intro SEG 7516; topic finish SEG 7762).
