Recovery Resources disbands; Shaker Heights to hire First Call staff temporarily while seeking a regional host

The council heard an update on the First Call behavioral-health response program after Recovery Resources announced it was disbanding. CAO Carroll told council the city has been working to identify a new host and, given the urgency, will on a short-term basis bring roughly six field employees on as Shaker Heights employees so service delivery continues uninterrupted.

"We're going to need on a short term basis to hire the employees as Shaker City employees," Carroll said, adding that Annette Wallace remains a city employee who supervises the team and that the transition is intended to be seamless for service delivery. Carroll said the program currently has grant funding that covers the existing five participating cities through roughly April 2027, and that the county has identified a little over $3,000,000 it intends to put toward countywide efforts to expand the program. Four additional municipalities have indicated interest in joining, which would increase staffing and funding needs.

Councilmembers pressed staff on insurance, liability and the possibility of charging an administrative fee to participating cities. The law director said the city has self-insurance for workers' compensation but not for general liability or professional liability, and noted the city uses stop-loss coverage and procures liability insurance through bids. Council asked for a work session to develop a strategic plan and review administrative and legal implications for hosting additional municipalities; staff agreed to schedule it and continue pursuing a permanent partner (nonprofit or governmental) to operate the program long term.