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Board approves MOU to retain regional Family Urgent Response System services
Summary
Yuba County approved a memorandum of understanding with Sutter County and county probation to retain oversight of a regional Family Urgent Response System (FERS) offering a 24/7 crisis hotline and mobile response teams; staff said counties are mandated to provide teams under state law and described response standards and funding allocation issues.
The Yuba County Board approved a memorandum of understanding among Yuba County Health & Human Services, Yuba County Probation and Sutter County Health & Human Services to retain oversight of a regional Family Urgent Response System (FERS) for July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025.
Tony Gordon, deputy director for Child and Adult Protective Services (SEG 1193), explained that FERS provides a toll‑free 24/7 statewide hotline staffed by counselors trained in de‑escalation and, when needed, dispatches county mobile response teams for in‑home stabilization. Gordon cited Welfare & Institutions Code sections and AB 79 as the statutory authorities establishing counties’ obligation to provide mobile response teams and described the program’s intended outcomes: preventing placement moves, reducing law‑enforcement contacts and connecting families to specialty mental‑health services.
Board members asked about costs and utilization. Gordon said the program is state‑mandated, allocation methodology changed in recent years, and counties receive an allocation (commonly $450,000) that must be invoiced and drawn down; Yuba’s expenditures were roughly $12,000 per month and staff estimated about $130,000 used to date. The board moved, seconded and approved the MOU by voice vote.
