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AGENDA ITEM NO. 12.
CITY OF HAWTHORNE City Council AGENDA BILL For the meeting of 02/11/2025 Originating Department: Housing |
City Manager:
Department Head:
SUBJECT:
Telehealth Committee Report
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
The staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Provide direction for future meetings regarding the Telehealth Van Project given the limited funding remaining for services.
2. Receive and file report
1. Provide direction for future meetings regarding the Telehealth Van Project given the limited funding remaining for services.
2. Receive and file report
DISCUSSION:
On January 28, 2025, The Hawthorne City Council requested the City Manager to establish a special committee to review and assess the city's Telehealth Van Program (TVP) for mental health services. The request aims to evaluate the cost-effectiveness, accessibility, and outreach available to residents and the detailed reporting of services provided. The committee comprises City Manager Von Norris, Community Services Manager Kywanna Bowie, Homeless Services Supervisor Dulce Medina, Assistant Recreation Supervisor Michael Perez, Housing Director Kimberly Mack, and Revenue and A/P Manager Shuntell Dixon.
The committee met on January 29, 2025, with the TVP administrators dedicating the first half of the meeting to focus on the key aspects of the services rendered. The administrator provided an overview of program practices, detailing how virtual mental health services were delivered and maintained. They also explained the appointment scheduling process, ensuring accessibility and efficiency for residents seeking support. Additionally, they reviewed some demographics of the population served, emphasizing outreach efforts to underserved communities. A critical part of the meeting centered on data collection and reporting, where the administrators did not clearly outline their methods for gathering data and analyzing service utilization, patient outcomes, and program effectiveness.
The second half of the meeting was the newly formed committee engaged in a brainstorming session to develop recommendations for improving the TVP services and reporting format and frequency. One discussion point was establishing clear definitions for homelessness and residency within Hawthorne to determine eligibility and service priorities. The committee also debated the optimal location for the telehealth van, considering areas with high need, such as areas closed to commercial areas with heavy traffic, transit hubs, and other parks. Additionally, they addressed how long individuals should receive assistance from the van, ensuring a balance between immediate support and long-term care referrals. The committee emphasized the importance of reports accurately measuring program success and recommended more frequent and detailed reporting going forward. Other considerations were reducing the fleet to just one van to allow for extended service within city limits, given funding restraints, or maintaining two vans requiring a calendar of van locations with dates and times for 4 days per week as per their approved agreement. This initial discussion set the foundation for the City Council's request for a committee to evaluate further and enhance the TVP.
The administrators of the telehealth van have proposed new services that are exclusively for City of Hawthorne residents, offering accessibility to all. The details of those services have been attached.
Given the current services being provided, we calculate that the available funding will only last until June 2025, far before the end of the year. If the goal is to have funding last until December 2025, additional funding will be needed well before then or an adjustment to services provided.
Given the limited funding for services, staff recommends that the City Council provide direction for future meetings regarding the Telehealth Van Project.
The committee met on January 29, 2025, with the TVP administrators dedicating the first half of the meeting to focus on the key aspects of the services rendered. The administrator provided an overview of program practices, detailing how virtual mental health services were delivered and maintained. They also explained the appointment scheduling process, ensuring accessibility and efficiency for residents seeking support. Additionally, they reviewed some demographics of the population served, emphasizing outreach efforts to underserved communities. A critical part of the meeting centered on data collection and reporting, where the administrators did not clearly outline their methods for gathering data and analyzing service utilization, patient outcomes, and program effectiveness.
The second half of the meeting was the newly formed committee engaged in a brainstorming session to develop recommendations for improving the TVP services and reporting format and frequency. One discussion point was establishing clear definitions for homelessness and residency within Hawthorne to determine eligibility and service priorities. The committee also debated the optimal location for the telehealth van, considering areas with high need, such as areas closed to commercial areas with heavy traffic, transit hubs, and other parks. Additionally, they addressed how long individuals should receive assistance from the van, ensuring a balance between immediate support and long-term care referrals. The committee emphasized the importance of reports accurately measuring program success and recommended more frequent and detailed reporting going forward. Other considerations were reducing the fleet to just one van to allow for extended service within city limits, given funding restraints, or maintaining two vans requiring a calendar of van locations with dates and times for 4 days per week as per their approved agreement. This initial discussion set the foundation for the City Council's request for a committee to evaluate further and enhance the TVP.
The administrators of the telehealth van have proposed new services that are exclusively for City of Hawthorne residents, offering accessibility to all. The details of those services have been attached.
Given the current services being provided, we calculate that the available funding will only last until June 2025, far before the end of the year. If the goal is to have funding last until December 2025, additional funding will be needed well before then or an adjustment to services provided.
Given the limited funding for services, staff recommends that the City Council provide direction for future meetings regarding the Telehealth Van Project.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN:
None.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
NOTICING PROCEDURE:
The Brown Act