HomeMy WebLinkAboutMHTFMinutes_2019_04_29Brookings City/County/School Mental Health Task Force
April 29, 2019
A meeting of the Brookings City/County/School Mental Health Task Force was held on
Monday, April 29, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. in the Brookings City & County Government Center. Present:
Mary Beth Fishback, Craig Pahl, Sylvia Buboltz, Andrea Bjornestad (arrived at 12:11 PM), Hande
Briddick, Dan Hansen, Debra DeBates (arrived at 12:15 PM) and Angela Boersma (arrived at 12:05
PM). Also present: Brookings County Commission Depar tment Director Stacy Steffensen, Brookings
City Manager Paul Briseno, Brookings Assistant to the City Manager Jacob Meshke and SDSU
Graduate Student Michael Dunn.
Co-Chairperson Fishback called the meeting to order. Introductions were conducted.
A motion was made by Hansen, seconded by Pahl to approve the agenda for the April 29,
2019 City/County/School Mental Health Task Force meeting. All members vote “aye.” Motion
carried.
A motion was made by Pahl, seconded by Hansen to approve the minutes from the March 11,
2019 meeting. All members voted “aye.” Motion carried.
Fishback gave an overview of the last meeting.
Boersma arrived at 12:05 PM.
Fishback said she received comments and suggestions regarding the survey results and
continues to refine the information. She said Dunn has done a thematic analysis of the written
comments in the survey. Dunn reviewed the demographics of the survey respondents. He said he
then looks at the written comments to find patterns or themes within that data.
Bjornestad arrived at 12:11 PM.
Dunn said he comes up with coding units or several different topics that were mentioned and
then looks for themes within the comments that fall under each coding unit .
DeBates arrived at 12:15 PM.
Dunn said the conclusions he derived from the information is that there is a lack of mental
health professionals, there are issues with affordability, there is a need for crisis support and
housing, there are concerns about substance abuse services, and there is a major concern with
mental health services for children and adolescents.
Meshke asked if these are perceived concerns because people aren’t aware of what is
available. Pahl said mental health issues are a challenge for the entire nation right now. The
group discussed what national organizations suggest the ratio of providers to population numbers
should be. Briddick said it is 1 to 250 for K-12. Bjornestad said the ratio is 1 to 1000-1500 for
college campuses and they aren’t even close to that at SDSU.
Fishback said the thematic analysis supports the original data from the survey. She said they
now have to tailor their recommendations for the June 3rd presentation, look at perceived versus
real problems and decide what items are highest priority.
Pahl presented information that he had submitted to Fishback. From conversations he has
had, there are three areas he would like to address. The first is strengthening existing community
youth mental illness detection and resiliency development resources by continuing to support and
fund the Brookings County Youth Mentoring Program and raising and maintaining the
counselor/student ratio in schools. His second recommendation is to begin planning for and
developing mental health service types in our community by creating a funded Brookings
City/County standing committee, selecting members to the Brookings Health System Board of
Trustees that have mental health care backgrounds and creating endowments or scholarships.
The third recommendation is taking a leadership role in the battle with “stigma” by sponsoring
regular and on-going community awareness, safety and emergency programs.
Pahl also said there is a need for in-patient care and detox services. Bjornestad said she
presented at a Crisis Intervention Training for law enforcement and they too are concerned with
the lack of in-patient care. Fishback said there is a need for short-term crisis in-patient stays. She
said a collaboration among East Central Behavioral Health, local law enforcement and the hospital
is needed. Boersma asked if it is a facilities issue or a provider issue. Fishback said it is both –
there are no short-term resources to support staffing. Pahl said there are conversations about safe
rooms included in the jail expansion.
Future meetings were set for Monday, May 13 at 12:00 PM, and Monday, June 3, 2019 at
12:00 p.m., with the joint city/county/school survey presentation on Tuesday, June 4, 2019 at 3:30
PM.
Fishback asked for everyone to submit their final comments and she will provide a draft of
the presentation at the May 13th meeting. She will also further research a joint effort with ECBH,
law enforcement and the hospital.
Motion by Hansen, seconded by Boersma to adjourn. All members voted “aye.” Motion
carried.
Submitted by Stacy Steffensen