Bay Area
Alameda County Receives Grant to Help Mentally Struggling Individuals in the Justice System
Alameda County has received an $8.25 million grant from the California Department of State Hospitals (DSH) to expand residential care options for up to 88 people who have been found incompetent to stand trial after being charged with felony offenses. The grant will support the Alameda County Behavioral Health Department (ACBHD) in its mission to ensure that those in the criminal justice system suffering from serious mental illness receive behavioral health services in non-prison settings.
![John George Psychiatric Hospital. Photo: Alameda Health System.](https://www.postnewsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/mentally-struglling-individuals-featured-web.jpg)
By Magaly Muñoz
Alameda County has received an $8.25 million grant from the California Department of State Hospitals (DSH) to expand residential care options for up to 88 people who have been found incompetent to stand trial after being charged with felony offenses.
The grant will support the Alameda County Behavioral Health Department (ACBHD) in its mission to ensure that those in the criminal justice system suffering from serious mental illness receive behavioral health services in non-prison settings.
Juan Taizan, Director of Forensic Diversion and Re-Entry Services, said that consideration for eligibility for these mental health services is determined by the judge, the district attorney and the public defender on the case. Once a person is accepted, the care is tailored to each individual’s mental capacity.
“A clinical team will meet with the client, assess for medication needs, assess for individual therapeutic needs, and then really work with them around education, and competency education in particular, to help them understand their role in the court process,” Taizan said.
How a court will proceed with an individual’s case is based on a psychiatrist’s recommendation regarding their progress in treatment or whether they will need additional mental health services.
James Wagner, Deputy Director of ACBHD, said the severity of the person’s crime does determine eligibility. The individual could have committed a minor crime, like theft, or a major crime where someone was hurt, but the determination comes from whether the person is stable and mentally competent to endure and participate in a trial. They also are required to have received a felony charge or are likely to receive one.
Mental health facilities already exist in the county, but facilities that cater to those going through the justice system are now in the process of being built and resourced through the multi-million dollar grant.
The treatment in these facilities will vary on a case-by-case basis, but they’ll likely mimic locked institutions or involuntary treatment facilities because most of the clients are not yet ready to be reintegrated into the community.
Wagner said treatment plans for the individuals will include participation with a social worker, therapist or case manager on developing their goals. They’ll also attend rehab classes, be allowed socialization with other patients, receive individual counseling, and participate in group meals as a collective.
Taizan emphasized the need to have these treatment facilities available to allow for individuals to grow and be given the resources to help with their mental health difficulties in a less restrictive environment than incarceration.
“This funding really allows us to get these specific clients who would otherwise be waiting in jail for a state hospital bed to open up. It allows us to divert them to a treatment facility, in their community, where they can be best served, and with a goal of getting the treatment they need and being restored to competency,” Taizan said.
Imprisonment has historically been used as a solution to keep mentally ill individuals off the streets as opposed to giving them fair health treatment. Over 40% of people in jails and prisons have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder, according to the Prison Policy Initiative.
Shannon Scully, Director of Justice Policy and Initiatives for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), told the Post that most states and local governments are grappling with how to go from using incarceration as a solution to making more beds available for treatment.
Scully said that a lot of the crimes that people who are experiencing mental health crises are petty crimes or homelessness, which many cities across the country have criminalized, but have largely affected vulnerable communities.
She added that if national and local municipalities focused more on investing in social programs centered around housing, food accessibility and affordable health care, along with prioritizing treatment with voluntary therapy and medication, we could avoid the mass incarceration of these mentally ill individuals.
“What we want to see is a mental health response when you know there’s behaviors happening in our community from people with mental health conditions that might be concerning to us, and we, as the public, identify this as a mental health issue and not as a public safety or crime issue,” Scully said.
Neither Taizan nor Wagner could provide a timeline for procuring the necessary beds for the treatment facilities, but the county has until 2028 to spend the funding.
Alameda County
D.A. Pamela Price Charges Two with Attempted Murder in Freeway Shooting on Interstate 880
DA Pamela Price has charged Elias Nathaniel Jimenez, 22, and co-defendant Maria Rosalia Martinez, 43, with multiple felonies for an alleged freeway shooting in the City of Hayward. Both defendants are charged with one count of attempted murder, assault with a semi-automatic firearm, an additional count of shooting at an occupied motor vehicle, and possession of a large capacity magazine, among other charges. In addition, Jimenez is charged with two special allegations: use of a firearm and use of a loaded unregistered firearm.
![District Attorney Pamela Price](https://www.postnewsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/PAMELA1.jpg)
Special to The Post
DA Pamela Price has charged Elias Nathaniel Jimenez, 22, and co-defendant Maria Rosalia Martinez, 43, with multiple felonies for an alleged freeway shooting in the City of Hayward.
Both defendants are charged with one count of attempted murder, assault with a semi-automatic firearm, an additional count of shooting at an occupied motor vehicle, and possession of a large capacity magazine, among other charges. In addition, Jimenez is charged with two special allegations: use of a firearm and use of a loaded unregistered firearm.
The criminal complaint alleges that on or about Aug. 6, Jimenez and Martinez shot into another vehicle that was occupied by an adult and an underage passenger traveling on Interstate 880.
“These allegations involve shooting from a moving vehicle at another car driving on the freeway, which is beyond dangerous,” said Price. “The charges, which include enhancements, reflect the seriousness of these alleged crimes and my commitment to hold those accountable who use guns in our community for such senseless and violent acts.”
If convicted and sentenced of all charges, Jimenez faces a maximum of 23 years and 9 months in state prison while Martinez faces a maximum of 13 years and 2 months in state prison. Both defendants are scheduled to appear for a bail hearing on August 27 in Department 112 at the Wiley Manuel Courthouse.
This story comes from The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office media office.
Arts and Culture
Oakland Architect William ‘Bill’ Coburn, 80
William (“Bill”) Pierce Coburn, longtime Oakland architect who helped Oakland and Berkeley preserve its architectural heritage, passed away on July 24. He was 80 years old.
![William “Bill” Coburn. Courtesy photo.](https://www.postnewsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/bill-coburn-featured-web.jpg)
By Michele Lamont
Special to The Post
William (“Bill”) Pierce Coburn, longtime Oakland architect who helped Oakland and Berkeley preserve its architectural heritage, passed away on July 24. He was 80 years old.
Coburn was born on May 10, 1944, in Melrose, Massachusetts, to Frank and Rachel Coburn. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Massachusetts College of Arts in 1966, and a master’s in architecture from Harvard School of Design in 1971.
In 1978, Coburn opened his own firm in Berkeley and eventually moved to West Oakland. He was passionate about the City of Oakland and found his calling in preserving Oakland’s architectural heritage. He spent many years as a professor of Architecture and Design at UC Berkeley as well as instructing at international universities in India and Hong Kong. Bill mentored many young architects from India, helping them to jump-start careers in the US.
Coburn’s process and design became a rare craft in the industry as he drafted entire home designs by hand without using any digital software. Many of his clients felt the drawings were more a work of art than just a blueprint. Many of his drawings are recorded in the UC Berkeley Architectural Archives.
Bill’s love for his community seeps through every crack in the sidewalk, where he planted flowers to beautify the land. It spans generations, where he worked as an architect to keep the historic beauty of Oakland and Berkeley alive through his dedication to restoration projects.
Bill was an integral member of the Oakland Heritage Alliance as a subject matter expert on the history of many significant historical buildings and sites.
He was an instrumental contributor to the City of Berkeley by selecting buildings to be moved and placed in the Delaware Street Historic District in West Berkeley.
Recognized by the City of Oakland for his work in the reconstruction of West Oakland after the massive, tragic destruction caused by the devastating 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, Bill volunteered countless hours of his time and skills as an architect to residents needing to rebuild their homes and their lives. He was a visionary designer contributing to the modern-day Mandela Parkway development, which is now a verdant artery of the community.
Bill’s dedication to community improvement is evident in nearly every Oakland neighborhood. Driving through the city, you will see trees he planted, houses and buildings he designed with his hands, and a community which is a little better than when he found it.
After becoming a newly graduated architect, Bill loaded his VW Minivan with his dog and a sleeping bag setting out on a journey to the West Coast. Little did he know he would find his calling in the City of Oakland where he saw the potential to build a better world.
The love he had for all of the people in his community was omnipresent, sharing all that he had to those who needed it. Bill and his wife, Subhashini (Sue), have led the First Presbyterian Church of Oakland’s Food Ministry program for over 20 years, guiding a team of 50 volunteers to deliver 15,000 meals a year to encampments, host special holiday events for the unhoused, and provide those in need with hot meals at the church each week.
He was a gracious father, husband and a very humble soft-spoken man. William Pierce Coburn passed away at 7:55 P.M. July 26 after a four-year battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Subhashini, and sons Rahul, Rajiv, and granddaughter Arjuna Rose.
A memorial service for Bill will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Oakland, 2619 Broadway, Sept. 7 at 11 a.m.
Bay Area
Discover Medi-Cal’s Vital Supports for Californians Experiencing or at Risk of Homelessness
California is transforming Medi-Cal to better support and meet the whole-person care needs of members experiencing, or at risk of homelessness. Medi-Cal provides members with access to new and improved services to get well-rounded care that goes beyond the doctor’s office or hospital and addresses their physical and mental health, and also social drivers of one’s health such as housing. Medi-Cal is opening the door to essential health care services for the most vulnerable populations, no matter where they live or seek care.
![Orange, CA - June 3, 2023: Partners in Hope Clothing Distribution, including food and medical help. The event provided showers, washer and dryers, and phone charges for the homeless population.](https://www.postnewsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MEDI-C1.jpg)
Advertorial
California is transforming Medi-Cal to better support and meet the whole-person care needs of members experiencing, or at risk of homelessness.
Medi-Cal provides members with access to new and improved services to get well-rounded care that goes beyond the doctor’s office or hospital and addresses their physical and mental health, and also social drivers of one’s health such as housing.
Medi-Cal is opening the door to essential health care services for the most vulnerable populations, no matter where they live or seek care.
Enhanced Care Management
Enhanced Care Management is a new Medi-Cal benefit that assigns a dedicated Lead Care Manager, a personal guide who helps qualified Medi-Cal members navigate all medical, dental, social, and community services such as housing navigation, housing deposits, and more.
Enhanced Care Management takes a whole-person, interdisciplinary approach to care to address clinical and non-clinical needs of members with the most complex medical and social need and serves as a safety net of care coordination for high-risk groups, including, but not limited to, individuals experiencing homelessness.
“Our unhoused population has inadequate access to shelters and experiences a lack of food and care,” said Glenn Tsang, Policy Advisor for Homelessness and Housing for the California Department of Health Care Services. “These members tend to have extensive medical and mental health needs that are difficult to address in an unstable living environment. To help address their needs, the Enhanced Care Management benefit builds consistent connections to medical care, mental health care, substance use disorder treatment, and housing stabilization services.”
Addressing Health-Related Social Needs through Community Supports
Community Supports are services or care settings, in addition to those required under the California Medicaid State Plan, that Medi-Cal managed care plans may elect to offer. The goal of Community Supports is to provide services that address a member’s health-related social needs that may be exacerbating their health condition, such as housing instability. Among the 14 services available as Community Supports services, six are specifically focused on helping unhoused members.
Many of these services empower high-risk individuals and families to live healthier lives in less restrictive settings and avoid unnecessary emergency visits and inpatient nursing facility admissions. They include services that go beyond traditional care received in a doctor’s office and may include housing deposits, housing transition and navigation services, housing tenancy and sustaining services, short-term post-hospitalization, recuperative care, and day habilitation.
Street Medicine
Street medicine is a set of health and social services developed specifically to address the unique needs and circumstances of individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness, delivered directly to them in their own environment. The fundamental approach of street medicine is to engage people experiencing unsheltered homelessness exactly where they are and on their own terms to maximally reduce or eliminate barriers to care access and follow-through.
Medi-Cal Expansion
Starting on January 1, 2024, all eligible Californians qualify for full scope Medi-Cal coverage, regardless of immigration status.
This expansion allows even more Medi-Cal members to potentially qualify for Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports, among other services, to improve outcomes for California’s most vulnerable populations.
“By expanding Medi-Cal, we’re addressing the root causes of health disparities and providing equitable access to quality health care, leading to a healthy California for all,” said Tsang.
How Providers Support Members
Providers are vital in delivering Medi-Cal’s expanded services, ensuring the most vulnerable members receive the care they need. These providers include, but are not limited to, housing service providers, housing organizations, and other organizations that have an existing footprint consistent with Community Supports activities and in the communities they serve. Providers are essential in providing dedicated care management, ensuring seamless transitions and continuous support across various housing settings.
Street medicine providers also offer direct medical care to individuals on the streets, build trust by consistently providing compassionate services, and use comprehensive care management platforms for efficient coordination. Providers include Federally Qualified Health Centers, mobile medicine units, and many other organizations that provide care to unsheltered members living on the street.
They collaborate with community-based organizations and community support systems like schools, food banks, and housing agencies, and offer proactive support when patients transition through emergency departments, homelessness, or incarceration.
Encouragement to Seek Services
If you or someone you know is experiencing homelessness or is at risk of homelessness, Medi-Cal’s expanded services offer vital support for members enrolled in a managed care plan to improve their health and well-being.
For more information, call the state’s Medi-Cal Managed Care Office of the Ombudsman at (888) 452-8609 or email MMCDOmbudsmanOffice@dhcs.ca.gov.
In Alameda County, Medi-Cal recipients can contact:
* Alameda Alliance for Health: 510-747-4567
* Kaiser Permanente: 855-839-7613
In Contra Costa County, Medi-Cal recipients can contact:
* Contra Costa Health Plan: 877-661-6230
* Kaiser Permanente: 855-839-7613
In Marin County, Medi-Cal recipients can contact:
* Partnership Health Plan of California: 800-863-4155
* Kaiser Permanente: 855-839-7613
In Solano County, Medi-Cal recipients can:
* Partnership Health Plan of California: 800-863-4155
* Kaiser Permanente: 855-839-7613
So, if you are at risk of or experiencing homelessness in the Bay Area, your health and well-being matter. Medi-Cal’s expanded services are here to support you every step of the way.
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