I Okay. Yeah, I don't know if really where. If you see if I have one in here. No. Just a sec. Good morning, everyone. We have a long meeting, so let's get started with our presentations. Our first presentation is a recognition and celebration of the Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which is for this month of May. Congress established May as the American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month to coincide with two key milestones. The rival of the nation's first Japanese immigrants, which was May 7, 1843, and Chinese workers' pivotal role in building the Transcontinental Railroad, which was completed May 10, 1869. AAPI communities in Orange County have routes stretching back to the 1800s with early waves of Chinese immigrants coming to the west coast during the California Gold Rush and for the railroad construction. Orange County has a significant and growing Asian American and Pacific Islander population with nearly 600,000 Asian Americans and over 19,000 native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. The AAPI population in Orange County has increased by 47% from 2010 to 2020 compared to 6% growth and the overall county population. In Orange County's fourth district, which is my district, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders make up a significant portion of the population. A PI-owned businesses contribute significantly to the county's economy, generating billions in revenue and providing jobs to local economy. I would note the fourth district is also home to Koreatown and Buena Park And Buena Park's Korea Town is home to thriving Korean American businesses, but what we call the source mall to locally owned businesses. So this item has been jointly sponsored by Districts 1 and 5, so I call upon our vice chair, Katrina, assured lead off the presentation Thank you, Mr. Chairman good morning everyone. I'm Katrina Foley County supervisor Representing the fabulous fifth district fifth district covers Costa Mesa where I live all the way down to San Clemente And it is home to 100,000 Asian American Pacific Islander Hawaiian residents. I bring forward this resolution today in partnership with Supervisor Wynn to recognize Asian American and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander heritage month and celebrate the contributions that have been made to our local community right here in Orange County. This year's theme is a legacy of leadership and resilience. It encourages us to reflect on the unwavering strengths of those who paved the way for others to succeed and thrive. As mentioned by the Chairman, approximately 26% of Orange County's population is comprised of AAPI residents with nearly 600,000 Asian Americans and more than 19,000 Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. Orange County is home to the nation's third largest AAPI population. And of the 670,000 residents residing in District 5, which is the district that I represent, as I mentioned, nearly 100,000 RAAPI residents. Today, I've invited a few guests to join us here, and I'd like to invite up Mary Ann Foo, who is the founder and executive director of Ocapica, which is Orange County's Asian Pacific Islander Association. Marianne supported Orange County residents through the COVID-19 pandemic by serving meals to seniors. Ocapacca reported reaching out to at least 6,000 seniors. We have phone calls, social distancing. Ocapacca's mental health program helped clients endure the pandemic by identifying the source of stress for clients and offering direct assistance. They continue to serve the residents, and they epitomize leadership that is built on resiliency. Charlie Zhang is the founder of Pick Up Sticks. He's also one of our orange County Hall of Famers, Charlie collaborated in April of 2022 to host a gathering in Orange County, honoring scientists and everyday locals for their work during the coronavirus pandemic. Charlie also created the Orange County Music and Dance, a nonprofit performing arts school that aims to make the arts accessible to every child. His life story epitomizes leadership, the legacy of leadership, and resilience. Coming to America with just a clarinet and not much in his pocket. Jennifer Wang is the COO of Asian-American Senior Citizens Service Center. Asian-American Senior Citizens Service Center is entrusted to serve, protect, and celebrate our most vulnerable, our elders, our youth, and our families. Jennifer and her organization are leaving a lasting intergenerational impact on our efforts to build a stronger and healthier community. Ulaani Ho-Pi from Pacific Islander Health Partnership. Pacific Islanders are critically underserved population in Southern California and are disproportionately affected by chronic illness and cancer. Ulaani and the Pacific Islander Health Partnership remained vigilant, providing essential, culturally sensitive services to improve health and wellness in our Pacific Islander community. And then finally, Hima Nipuladi, Asian Business Association Orange County Board member. Hima is the visionary founder and president of BuzDNA, a dynamic IT solution firm specializing in software development. Hema has dedicated her career to champion the causes of small, minority-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprises. I welcome all of you today, and thank you for joining us here this morning. May, as you heard from our chairman, commemorates the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States in 1843 and recognizes the completion of the first transcontinental railroad and the United States, which had significant contributions from our Chinese workers in 1869. In the 20s and 30s, Japanese immigrant families farmed the land that is now Crystal Cove State Park in District 5. They build homes, cultivated crops along the coast, and established a Japanese language school and community center. If you visit Cottage 34 at Crystal Cove, which was previously Laguna Beach Japanese school, you can visit and learn a little bit more about the Japanese experience here in Orange County in the 20s and 30s. It's now open for visitors. Our county's investment in our AAPI community support is the reason that we are home to so many Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese, Vietnamese, markets, business chains, and restaurants throughout the county. In my hometown of Costa Mesa, the Marshall Islands first made the Costa Mesa their home in America when they came here. Countless organizations and leaders such as our guests guests today and others, have collaborated with the county, led the way to making sure that we have essential services that are culturally sensitive and that people can lead and be resilient in their communities. So I remain committed to supporting our invaluable contributions, achievements, and history of our Asian-American native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders that make Orange County a world-class destination for business, education, and entertainment. I look forward to our annual roundtable dialogue and discussion where many initiatives come out every year. And I thank you for joining me and Supervisor Janet Wynn in celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Thank you. I want to first thank our chairman for allowing us to today recognize the month of May as Asian American Pacific Islanders Heritage Month. Want to recognize my co-author Vice Chairwoman as well for joining me for us co-authoring this together. This is an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the many ways AAPI communities have contributed to our country, our state, and right here in Orange County. Throughout the history, individuals of Asian and Pacific Islanders, these that have helped shape our local economy, culture, and society through hard work, innovation, and perseverance. About, as mentioned, about 26% of Orange County residents identify as Asian, American, or Pacific Islanders in Orange County. In my district, we've got green business district, we've got little sagan, and little sagan alone in my district is the largest, actually Orange County hosts the largest Vietnamese population outside of Vietnam. Their contributions can be seen in businesses, the arts, public safety, and countless other fields that make Orange County a great place to live and work. This month gives us a chance to learn more about those accomplishments and to express our gratitude for the values of dedication, excellence, and community that the AAPI individuals have demonstrated. It is also a reminder of the importance of coming together to appreciate the richness of different cultures and background. I want to again thank you for joining us in this recognition today and we may, may and may we continue to foster a community with hard work opportunity respect or celebrate by all. Join with me today is La Palma may protect the test Patel. The test come on in the test. He was elected in 2018 and he serves on many numerous or he joins many numerous boards to represent the state of La Pama. In the last month and this month, we've got so many AAPI members to honor here. And so I told the test, or they may pretend, I gotta bring you over because you're one of those that we need to honor as well, who shapes the city of La Poma, huge population of Japanese, Taiwan, Chinese, and also Korean as well. And so we want to thank him for joining us here today. And at this time, I want to see if you can save a few words. Good morning. morning. First of all, thank you Supervisor Wynn and the Board of Supervisors for honoring API Month. API Month is important because it allows Asian Pacific Islanders to honor their rich heritage, culture and contributions in the community. Furthermore, it allows us to highlight our stories and to inspire future generations. So, again, thank you for honoring me and all the other leaders, Asian Pacific Islander leaders. And we wish to continue to bring good to this community. So thank you very much. Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem, and thank you, Vice Chair Foley and Supervisor Wynn for bringing the Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month presentation to us today. I'm Vicente the Santa Miento Orange County Supervisor for the second district. Good morning everybody. Thank you for joining us here. AAPI Heritage Month is a time to recognize and acknowledge the vibrant cultures, rich histories, and vital contributions of the AAPI community communities in the United States. There is no more American thing to do than to celebrate our tapestry of cultures that we call the United States. Spanning more than 50 ethnic groups in over 100 languages, the AAPI community has incredible diversity and strength. This year's theme, as was mentioned, a legacy of leadership and resilience recognizes the generations of AAPI individuals who have shaped American society through innovation, activism, and service, often in the face of adversity. Within the second district that I represent, which includes the entire city of Santana, or Grove, Orange, Anaheim and Tuston, Santa Ana holds this historic connection to the Vietnamese community. In 1980, Santa Ana became a vital hub for Vietnamese refugees becoming home to approximately 6,200 individuals and paving the way for many other Orange County cities to grow vibrant Vietnamese American communities and from what I'm told I think our area has more Vietnamese Buddhist temples than any other place in the country which is something that is very important for us to recognize and to celebrate. We also know that you know again as we celebrate today we do that knowing that our history with the AAPI community hasn't always been a positive one. One of the things that I know I'm most proud of when I was a former mayor of the city of Santa Ana, we knew that there was a thriving Chinatown there. Unfortunately, it was burned down and it was subject to a lot of critical views of the AAPI community back then. And many people were displaced businesses that were thriving were no longer there. And one of the things that we did when I was mayor on the city council there is to now look to erect a monument that will stand to show the community that was moved there. Unfortunately, it is affected by views that we now hopefully put in the past and now no longer espoused. But unfortunately, that was the reality of where we lived. So to all those who were displaced, to all those families who no longer could be with one another in that downtown, I apologize on behalf of everybody who had a role in that. And I think all of us need to recognize that those parts of our history are things that we need to come to grips with and understand that we are a much better society. Thanks to many of the people that we're recognizing here today, because we are also proud of the ongoing work of community leaders, such as those with us today, I especially want to call out Jennifer Wang. Thank you, Jennifer, for all the work that you do with your group. And also the dedication that you have to our seniors. And anybody else who walks through the door of that Asian American service Center. So we want to make sure that we use this opportunity to understand our past as we look to the future. And as we celebrate this heritage, let's commit to learning about the underrepresented voices standing in solidarity against discrimination to ensure a more inclusive and equitable future for all. Thank you. Thank you. At this time, I would like to invite up Hema Nupoletti from the Asian Business Association of Orange County to say a few words. Thank you so much, Mr. Boise Foley. Thank you for having me over. This is an honor, huge honor, for a woman in business, and woman in technology. My stories of resilience, and everything that I achieved out here could only happen because of the amazing community support. And I'm so, so proud of myself for standing here today and because of which I'm also, I'm also part of an amazing organization called ABAC who helps out small businesses, reach their goals. This is Asian Business Association of Orange County. We help all businesses grow, help them navigate through all the ups and downs of businesses. Please do reach out to us and thank you again for having me here. Thank you. Let's take a moment. All right, everyone look right here ready one two three thank you here please thank you Thank you so much for being here. She's for being here. I'll see you at the next one. Okay. She said yes. She said there was... she said he has... she said... I'm just sitting down. She said she's serious. She said she's serious. She said she's not going to be able to do something. She said she's serious. Good morning again. I'm Doug J.V., Chair of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. It's my honor to recognize and celebrate mental health awareness month this May. This is being brought forward by District district two supervisor, Somorinto Vincente. I'm sorry, he's sorry, but when I do that, you've been called. I know more Spanish than that, I'm sorry. So without any further ado, would you serve please, Lee Dawg? Yeah, as somebody said I've been called worse, but you know if if the chair chair you can refer to me anyway I'm perfectly fine. I want to thank you a chairman chave you for allowing us to bring this forward it as a resolution at our or me meeting to recognize mental health awareness month. And so, funny thing happened this morning when I was looking for a tie. I couldn't find when I just grabbed the first one. It happened to be green in honor of mental health awareness month. So, hopefully everybody is wearing their green. If not, I grab your pin. But it is a very important month as we recognize mental health as an essential part of our well-being. Addressing stigma, disparities, and barriers to care, especially in underserved communities. It is a responsibility that we almost have across all sectors. So let me just bring up a few people and recognize them as we do this presentation. I want to take a moment to give a special shout out though to our entire health care agency behavioral health team. So if you're part of the behavioral health team, could you please stand so we can recognize you for your incredible service and dedication. Please join me in recognizing them, giving them a big round of applause. See that area has a lot of grain. So thank you all. So I'd now like to invite here to the well to the podium are dedicated behavioral health champions, the incredible county staff, providers and advocates who work tirelessly to support the mental health well-being of our community. Dr. Veronica Kelly, the director of the health care agency, Ian Kemmer, the director of behavioral health services, Carmen Katzeroth, the executive director of behavioral health integration, Alan Albright, the chair of the behavioral health advisory board, and Mindy Andrews, the ED at the John Henry Foundation, Patana Pyeong, the ED at the John Henry Foundation, but Donna Pyong, the ED at the Cambodian Family, Dr. Anna Jimenez-Hammie, the founder and director of the Orange County Children's Theoretputic Arts Center, and Don Reese, the chairperson of the Youth Mental Health Subcommittee, the San Ana Task Force, and Linda Molina, Donna Smith, Mark Lawrence, and Jenna Jensen. I see you in the audience. If you all please could join us up here and give us a moment so we can recognize you and celebrate all of the work that you all do. So as a member of the Behavioral Health Advisory Board, I witness firsthand the tireless efforts across our community to improve and expand behavioral health access and equity. This year's theme, turn awareness into action, urges each of us to take meaningful steps to improve our mental health and support those around us. Mental health struggles are common, are much more common than we think. And if we think about it, really affect all of us in one way or another, whether it's directly or indirectly. According to the 2023 California Health Interview Survey, 16% of Orange County teens and adults experience serious psychological distress in the past year. Nearly one in five adults have seriously considered suicide at some point in their lives. Chances are we've all again been affected by somebody we know, a loved one, or a neighbor. So we want to make sure that we all know somebody who's hurting, we want to make sure that we be as supportive and collaborative in their efforts to improve as possible. Our county invests over $640 million annually into mental health services which reflects our strong commitment to behavioral health. There are 179 mental health service sites across the county delivering care to residents in every community. Cal Optima Health, where the chair and I serve as board members in partnership with the Orange County Department of Education has expanded mental health services in our schools helping children and teens access support early when they are really needed. This includes creating calming wellness spaces on campuses and providing telehealth counseling impacting over 400,000 students. In April 2024, Cal Optima launched the telehealth services for behavioral health care, significantly improving access to routine outpatient services. In just seven months, over 2,500 members have used these virtual appointments, which is incredibly important now when things are very, very difficult in people's lives. However, as we raise awareness about mental health, we also must raise concern because we're at a critical inflection point for behavioral health funding and service delivery. The state is transitioning from the Mental Health Service Act to the Behavioral Health Services Act, Effective Julyst, 2026. And so while the intent to modernize the system and transition has already caused concern across counties, including ours, about the impending loss of flexible funding. Many community-based programs that if historically relied on MHSA dollars, such as prevention, early intervention, and culturally competent services have unfortunately been eliminated or scaled back due to more restrictive BHSA requirements. Last Thursday, we were at the health care agency Gala, and I know that we recognized Dr. Kelly and her team, and E and Ken and his team, recognize some of those valiant organizations that have helped the county provide services to people in need of mental health support. And so those services will no longer be with us. And it was a very, very tough moment to see because we know we're living in a perfect storm. Because at the same time that this is happening, we're also facing federal funding uncertainties, as we all know, including proposed cuts to mental health block grants and the expiration of emergency flexibilities granted during the pandemic. So that is also occurring simultaneously. So as we navigate this transition, our collective focus must remain on preserving access, equity, and support for all those who need it most. A heartfelt thank you, though, goes out to all those who played a role in making sure that our health in the community and in our county has been a vital importance. I want to especially thank what the mission is for every day for those that are county behavioral health staff, your dedication and compassion are the backbone of our system. who our contracted providers and partners, thank you for being on the front lines of care and crisis response, seeing people on many times their worst day. To the advocates and family members and friends, you are the unsung heroes walking alongside loved ones. Sometimes very, very close loved ones through very difficult journeys. Make sure you take care of yourselves as well. Because a toll that it takes to care for someone and seeing them deteriorate before you rise sometimes is a very, very painful thing knowing that firsthand. I know that we as family, as supporters, as friends, it takes a toll on us. To our first responders who are on the front line, you are the first point in contact sometimes for folks. Thank you for always treating people with compassion, care, and dignity. So as we close out May, we want to make sure that if we know anybody who needs help, make sure you refer them to our resources, which is visit. OCNavigator.org, which is a user friendly platform to find mental health and wellness resources across our county. Or call OCLinks at 855-625-4657 for 247 support and connection to behavioral health services. In closing, I want to thank you all again for your courage, commitment and compassion. Let's continue breaking the silence because that is one of the most dangerous things to mental health support. People who don't want to speak about it because they feel that the stigma is just too strong. So not just today, but every day. Let's encourage that discussion, that conversation, to be able to talk about something that is very pervasive in our community, in a healthier, more compassionate ways or a county can be healthier. So thank you all, before I invite Ian to come up and speak on behalf of Mental Health Awareness Month, let me go ahead and give the podium and the floor to my colleagues if they'd like to make any comments. Thank you all for supporting this effort. Appreciate you. Thank you, Supervisor Sarmiento, for bringing forward this Mental Health Awareness Day, Mental Health Awareness Month, I should say, resolution and educational moment. One of the things I enjoy about our presentations is it always offers an opportunity for us to share about resources in the community, about activities that are going on in the community, or about our neighbors and friends and fellow residents. So I'm going to focus my comments today on three issues. One, supports for our residents, two, supports for our employees, and three, my concerns about some of the comments that were shared by Supervisor Sarmiento, my concerns about what's happening with our state and federal funding. So first, if you are a resident and you need supports, you can, if you are in a crisis, call 811, call 811 and whether it's an immediate crisis or it's something that is, you just need someone to talk to, they can refer you to the appropriate individuals. It's a simple number to remember 811. Or you can contact or you can go to the website and go to our OC Navigator page, just Google OC Navigator. And there's a whole plethora of resources available to residents at that page. Resources that are available despite and regardless of your income level. Our Orange County Health Care Agency received 46,209 calls for assistance in the 2023-24 year. Behavioral health services made more than 980,000 community connections promoting mental health and substance use awareness. So please do take advantage of these resources. If you're a resident, if you have a family member, if you have a friend, or if you yourself need help, call 811 or go to the website and look for the resources. Secondly, if you are an employee of the County of Orange, we are here to help. We have our EAP, our Employee Assistance Program. Last Friday, we had a staff retreat and Jessica Witt, our chief operating officer, shared with our team members about the resources available through our employee assistance program. Resources both for you, if you're in a crisis, if you're having, if you feel depressed, if you're just having stress in your life and anxiety. Resources for your family members. So please take advantage of these resources that we provide at the county for you if you're an employee, contact your EAP program, and you can just go to the Urika website that's on your desktop, and you can find all kinds of services. Please take advantage of those services. They're here for you and we want you to stay healthy and be well at work. And then finally, as it relates to the funding cuts, I sat in a meeting, both in person and on a Zoom call, when we were talking about the changes to the Mental Health Service Act funding, the Health Secretary in the Governor's Office. And we were promised here in Orange County because we had a system of care and we were the model that they were using in the state for how to spend effectively your mental health service dollars, your mental health service act dollars. And we pleaded with them not to gut our system of care. And they promised us that, don't worry, we're gonna work with you, we'll work with your healthcare director, we'll make sure that your system of care is protected because remember remember we're the model. Well, that is not happening. And I am very concerned about the cuts to our mental health services, especially when I'm learning that we are having cuts to our veteran programs, cuts to suicide prevention, peer-to programs, where those programs were providing a feeling, a gap, where the VA wasn't helping the other services weren't working, where it was peer to peer, a veteran talking to a veteran to help them to not kill themselves. So I am very concerned and if you're listening out there in the state please work with our county and help us protect our system of care because we now have no flexibility and we are seeing cuts from the federal government as well and so we have done done a lot of good work here, the healthcare agency, the behavioral health, our CEO, our CFO, several boards over the last several years to build out a very quality system of care that is a model. They keep telling us that. Well, if it's a model, then shouldn't we be protecting it. So please, if you're listening, don't gut our system. It's only going to hurt our residents. Thank you. Thank you. Again, I want to thank Supervisor Cere thank supervisors for bringing this resolution forward. Today we observe mental health awareness month, a time dedicated to fostering understanding, reducing stigma and supporting the well-being of our community. Mental health affects all of us directly or through the experiences of family, friends, or colleagues. It is an essential part of our overall well-being, just as vital as physical health. Too often, conversation about mental health remains in the shadows. This month serves as a reminder that no one should struggle alone. Support, compassion, and resource since exists for those in need. Here in Orange County, we are very afforded to have many organizations, professionals, and advocates, working to provide care and raise awareness. And I want to thank our Orange County Behavioral Health team and the staff of the healthcare agency. They work in and out every day trying to make sure they don't leave anybody behind. By working together, we can assure that everyone feels seen, heard, and value. So today, let us all recommit to creating a community where mental health is prioritized. We're reaching out for them. Health is met with understanding and where we all play a role in supporting one another. Thank you. Good morning. Thank you supervisor Sarmiento and the honorable board of supervisors for bringing this item today. I'm Ian Kemmer, the Behavioral Health Director for Orange County Healthcare Agency. As a Supervisor Sarmiento mentioned, one of the themes of this year's mental health month is break the silence, break the stigma. We all know someone who struggles with their mental health or their mental wellness, or we may struggle ourselves. It's so important for us to share our stories and to bring light to this subject. I wanna encourage everyone here today and those listening to focus on reaching out for yourself or someone you love and connect them with someone to tell their story. By sharing your story or by asking others how they're doing, you're letting people know that they're not alone. Hopefully, by telling your story, you're working with others to do the same. Just a short story from me the other day. During mental health month, I get to do a lot of things. One of the things that I got to do was a career day. And I went into the career day and for some reason maybe behavioral health wasn't the top priority. They had a former baseball player and they had a person who works at Netflix and they had an artist for Disney. And for some reason not everybody signed up for my behavioral health speech. But folks did come in and started to walk in and I noticed one young lady who walked all the way over to the side of the classroom and sat by herself quietly. And I put my clinician hat on for a moment, and I realized that she was feeling sad or it could have just been in that moment. But I decided to change things up in what I was going gonna talk about. And I spoke about how I felt when I was that age, and my struggles with depression as a 14-year-old in middle school. And then I went on to talk about all the wonderful work that we do in the healthcare agency and behavioral health and the work that folks do. And after that meeting, a lot of kids came up to me and talked, but I noticed that this young lady waited until the end. And after everybody else left, she came up to me and she said just a few words. She said, I wanna thank you for what you do, and I now know what I wanna do with my life. I tell that story because it's a small piece of what we do. The folks that I work with, our behavioral health staff, our provider partners, and many of the folks up here today touch thousands of lives a day. They don't always get that immediate feedback from them, but that message and that sharing is so important and brings us together. That's what we can do. A small amount of work that our staff does, they share stories. They share stories of hope, resilience, and healing with all of the community. This brings people together and helps protect our most vulnerable folks. I want folks to share their story, to reach out to folks that you may see that you think are in need. Ask questions, provide the resources that the supervisors have talked about today. You can visit OC Navigator, as was mentioned. You can visit OC links. we need to shine a limelight on our lime green. On this issue, breaking the silence, breaking the stigma is what's important. Every line of B. Otherwise we're not all going to fit. So if you want to step forward, You're not going to get a job. You're not going to get a job. You're not going to get a job. You're not going arms. It's all right, I might. Yeah, I'm standing next to you. I'm standing behind you. I'm standing behind you. I'm standing behind you. I'm standing behind have to go back to the left. I'm going to have to go back to the left. I'm going to have to go back to the left. I'm going to have to go back to the left. I'm going to have to go back to the left. I'm going to have to go back to the left. I'm going to have to go back to the left. I'm going to have to go back to the left. I'm going to jump the notes on. Okay, ready? Oh, I's wrong, Bruce. All right, everyone look right here. Ready, one, two, three. Okay, here's the first one. Okay, here's the first one. Okay, here's the first one. Okay, here's the first one. Okay, here's the first one. Okay, here's the first one. Okay, here's the first one. Okay, here's the first one. Okay, here's the first one. I'm sorry. Thank you. There you go. One more. Good morning again. I'm Dr. Chavie, Chair of the Board of Supervisors, also your fourth district supervisor. One more presentation. My honor to recognize and celebrate Jewish American and Heritage Month also in May. Jewish American Heritage Month celebrates a rich history of Jewish life in America and her contributions to American society in various fields, including culture, history, science, government, and certainly medicine as well. Then it's brought forward by Supervisor Janet Wynn, and so I'm going to turn the dio so over to her. Thank you Mr. Chairman. Today we take a moment to recognize Jewish American Heritage Month and the contributions Jewish Americans have made to our communities here in particularly in Orange County. Their impact can be seen in every corner of society, from businesses, science to arts and public service. Here in Orange County, dead dedication to education, civic engagement and philanthropy has touched countless lives. This month is an opportunity to reflect on achievements and appreciate the values of hard work and a strong sense of community that the Jewish Americans have continued to show. This also served as a reminder on the importance of learning from the past and continuing to foster understanding and respect. I want to thank you for joining me in celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month. May we always recognize and appreciate the contribution of all who make our community stronger. I would like to invite the following guests to come forward. Ivana Merrill-Ritch, CEO of the Jewish Community Action Network, Amira Kahuna, Kahana, Chairman of the Jewish Federation of Orange County, Alex Foreman, and several others from our Jewish American community to come forward as well. The Jewish Community Action Network Orange County primary focuses on social action and community engagement within the local Jewish community and broader Orange County. They work to address issues of concern, promote racial and economic justice, and support organization that benefit Jewish people and communities. Jewish Federation of Orange County conveys engages, convenes, engages and leads the Jewish Orange County community and its partner. Leavages its resources to enhance and sustain Jewish life, assist people in need, mobilizes on the issues of concerns to the local Jewish community, and strengthens the bond with Israel and also Jewish people globally. Before I ask Amir to come forward to say a few words, I would like to turn it over to my colleagues to say a few words first. Thank you, Supervisor Wynn. I'm Katrina Foley, County Supervisor, representing the 5th District, covers Costa Mesa, all the way to San Clemente. And in Orange County, we are home to 87,000 Jewish Americans. Orange County's Jewish community celebrates a rich history of perseverance and shows us how even the most fragile flame can illuminate a brighter path forward. This month of May, as we celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month, I want to remind the community that in 2024, the ADL recorded 9354 incidents of anti-Semitic harassment, vandalism, and salt in the United States. That's the highest total in the 46-year history of tracking this data, averaging more than 25 incidents per day. And a fight as big as this one, we oftentimes want to know exactly what do we do? What do we say? But as my Jewish friends teach me, we can dismantle age old hate by educating ourselves and our communities. There's a lot of places where we can do that right here in Orange County. Heatful beliefs are learned. It's not innate. But when we define anti-semitism, we can root it out. In Orange County, the hateful incidents that and hateful crimes that we have documented range from Name calling, etching swastikas into middle school lockers, Nazi salutes in our schools to targeted online harassment, vandalism of our businesses and assaults on our neighbors. Teaching about anti-Semitism is not only understanding the past, but it's also shaping a more compassionate and just future. Hate has no place in Orange County. I'm honored to serve the Jewish leaders that we have here today, as well as many from the fifth district. I want to spotlight some of our pillars of strength that we have and supports for our Jewish community right in the fifth district. The Jewish Federation of Orange County in Irvine, a non-profit organization since 1965, fosters Jewish community through philanthropy and develops the next generation of Jewish leadership. Hanafesh in Irvine, an inclusive reformed Jewish community, welcoming Jews of all levels of observance to develop and nurture a healthy spiritual life through learning and making a difference in our world. Temple Bethel of South Orange County in Aliso, Viejo welcomes a community of both conservative and reform Jewish families into their services. Habat Jewish Center of Laguna Ngael guided by the principle of Avot Yes Roa, I might have said that incorrectly, so I apologize, to love and be concerned for your fellow as you are for yourself. Shabbat Center for Jewish Life in Newport Beach. My office has directly supported the Shabbat Center for Jewish Life in Newport Beach by granting a $1 million grant for hate crimes investigations and to help fund our Center's Holocaust Museum. If you haven't been to the Museum at the Shabbat Center for Jewish Life in Newport Beach, I highly recommend you take a tour. The Shabbat Center for Jewish Life is hosting their violins of Hope event on June 9th at 7 p.m. allowing visitors to learn the incredible history of viol played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust. We also have Rabbi Yes Royal Center of Beth Jacob Congregation in Irvine established in 1986 by a group of individuals committed to establishing a modern Orthodox community in Orange County. Congregation, sheer ha, malote of Irvine, a reform synagogue in Irvine. As you can see, Irvine is home to many of our Jewish community. Now more than ever, we must continue to educate, root out hate, and make sure that we support our Jewish friends. Thank you. Good morning again. I'm Vicente Semyon, the Orange County Supervisor for the second district. And thank you Supervisor Wynn for bringing forward the presentation, recognizing Jewish American Heritage Month. And thank you all for being here and joining us. Please remember, this is the People's House, and you are obviously an important role, and play an important role in our community. In Orange County, we are proud to be home to many Jewish Americans and specifically in the second district. We have many vibrant synagogues, including Temple Best Shalom in San Ana, the Habad at Chapman University and the Habad of Tustin and many, many more, each serving as pillars of faith, education, and community connection. I had the privilege of working with specifically the Temple Beth Shalom for many years first as a Santa Ana City Council member and then mayor and now as county supervisor. And I want to especially recognize Rabbi Sobel for her leadership and dedication to the community. As she prepares to retire at the end of June, her presence will be surely missed. Temple Best Shalone has been a valued partner in our Interfaith leadership meetings that we hold here in the second district, collaborating on critical issues like housing, homelessness, and hate crime prevention alongside our faith-based partners. Their commitment to these efforts has made a meaningful impact and they've opened the doors. They've opened their doors to provide not only faith and worship, but places to provide meals for those in need at their shelters, brought people together by hosting interfaith thanks services, and led educational programs to fight anti-Semitism and racism by promoting dialogue and understanding. We know that temples are a place of worship, but there are so much more. They make sure that they open up their doors to address all issues that the communities are facing, and I just want to make sure that people understand that the Jewish community has always been on the right side of issues having to do with civil rights. When this country was going through its civil rights struggles in the 1960s, it was the Jewish community that joined the black community to make sure that those civil rights protections were championed, were recognized, and they went shoulder to shoulder on many of those marches. So for that, we want to make sure we recognize their courage, their valiance, their valor, and their support. But more than anything, here at the Temple of Best Shalom, it's always been a place of welcome, a place where anyone, no matter what their background is, their race, religion, or identity, can find support, kindness, and community. So while Jewish Americans have made profound contributions, as we said, and as was mentioned previously, they've also faced discrimination, prejudice, and anti-Semitism throughout their history. So history has taught us important lessons, and it's on all of us to make sure that hate has no place in any of our communities and we know we stand with the Jewish community to make sure we continue to fight that. It's important to make sure that our communities feel safe, valued and welcomed not just in Orange County but across the country. So I want to thank Supervisor Wynn for bringing this presentation and allowing us this moment to show the county support and make sure that we realize we are a county that has so many groups that deserve our attention, our support and the opportunity to recognize, celebrate, and honor the Jewish American Heritage. Thank you very much. Applause. Good morning everyone. This is an incredible honor for me to be here today and very grateful to Supervisor Wynn and all of the Board of Supervisors for being here for us during our time to need. My name is Amir Kahana. I'm an immigrant to this country. I moved here from Israel when I was seven. I have lived my entire adult life in Orange County and I love our home. And the last two years have been incredibly hard. We have faced anti-Semitism like most of us have never seen in our lives. And we remember and appreciate and notice to people who are there who understand the fight against hate. I think it's particularly important to note. and I appreciate that we're here at the same time as Asian American month, because along with Jewish people, Asian Americans have been subject to incredible amounts of discrimination and hate. And while sometimes people try to complicate these issues, it's actually not that complicated. Hate is wrong. Pregidists and discrimination is wrong. You can disagree on politics. You can disagree on all kinds of things, but there's no justification for it. I know that after October 7, I had friends who are Muslim, Afghan, Iranian, reach out to me. Now you hear people denying what happened, like people deny the Holocaust. Like these rapes and murders and the atrocities never happened. The reality is, is my Afghan and Iranian friends understand, and everybody who really understands what's going on knows. This is a fight against extremism. That's what it is. It's the people who can live together in peace versus the people who want to be extreme and can't live with others who might disagree with them. You see it in the calls for a ceasefire, but no calls for peace. What we need is peace. We need to end the wars that have been going on for hundreds of years so that we can coexist. So I really just want to express my extreme gratitude to everybody here, to the supervisors, to Alana, who helped arrange this. And just thank you all for the support during our time in need. Thank you. I'm sorry. Okay, ready? Okay, great. All right, everyone, look right here. 2123. Thank you. Okay, great. All right, everyone look right here. 2123. Thank you. All right everyone look right here. 2123. Thank you. Okay, last one I promise everyone to do. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. I'm sorry. Thank you. Thank you. That includes our presentations. We'll start a record meeting at about Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I'm sorry. you you you you you you you you I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. 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Deposit your completed form in the box adjacent to the speaker podium. Public comments can also be submitted electronically via email at response at ocgov.com. Good morning, everyone. Again, welcome to this meeting the Board of Supervisors for May 2020-25. reading with the invocation be offered by Supervisor Samoento and Teadee's pledge of allegiance will be led by Supervisor Wagner. Would you all please stand. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And before we begin in our moment of reflection, let me just acknowledge some friends who helped draft these words of inspiration that is pastor Nathia Alvarado, his beautiful daughter, Bri, and her two month old, his two month old grandson, Elijah, that is attending his first board of supervisors meeting. We want to thank them for all their work, not just for today's words, but also because the pastor and his daughter and an incredible team at neutral ground do gang prevention and intervention throughout the county for us. So please bow your heads, join me in reflection. We gather in these chambers not just to deliberate or decide, but to remember why we serve. The work we do here has impact far beyond these walls. It touches families, shapes futures, and in many ways helps determine whether tomorrow looks more hopeful than yesterday. But even as we commit to this work, we are sometimes reminded of just how urgent and sacred it is. Today I want to take a moment to acknowledge the tragic loss of Atomando, a young life from San Ana that was taken far too long from a senseless stabbing. We hold his family in our hearts, especially his mother, and we grieve with her. No parent should have to bury their child. And yet her pain is a reminder to all of us that the decisions that we make here must always center the dignity and safety of our youth. I believe that in moments like this we are called not to despair but to deepen our commitment, to lead with empathy, to fight for what's right, and to never lose sight of the real people behind the policies. So today, I pray that we stay rooted in purpose, that as we give our time, our talents and our hearts to serve others, we are also refreshed and reminded of the why behind it all. Let us act with humility and courage, let us honor every family that's endured lost by working to prevent the next. Let us never forget that every effort that we make to support and stand in the gap that is a step towards healing and hope. Let's keep showing up. Let's keep believing and let's keep changing the story. Thank you, amen. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And ladies and gentlemen, we meet today on the eve virtually of Memorial Day the day we remember those many men and women over the course of the long and glorious history of this country that have given their all and made the final sacrifice for our freedoms and our liberties as we meet today and pledge allegiance to that flag that they rallied around. Let us remember not just the cause of that flag, the cause of those men and women who gave so much, but remember the nation and the principles for which that flag stands. Please join me as we renew our commitment leaving the room in the back there. All other doors are alarmed and for emergency exit only. Please set all phones to mood or vibrate at this time and for duration of the meeting. The listing of changes to today's agenda, along with agendas, and requests to speak, are located in the lobby outside the board room. The board will be breaking for lunch around the new hour during which time we'll also recess to a closed session which today is likely to be rather long. Parking validation should you need one for the P4 parking lot adjacent to the County administration North is available. Please see the deputy clerk next to the podium to receive a parking validation card. Now proceed to the agenda for this morning's meeting. Gender contains a brief description of each item to be considered. Except as otherwise provided by law, no action shall be taken on any item and not appearing today's agenda. It genders divided into sections. All matters on the consent calendar are approved in one motion, let's say board member, or member of the public, because several action on a specific item. If you wish to address the board, please simply to speak or request form located in the lobby outside the boardroom. Completed forms must be deposited in the box. Next to the podium before the item is called. For example, before the consent, I count as call you must have your request to speak on any of those items in the box. And as we go through the agenda for other items, be sure that if you wish to speak on item, you have your speaker form in the box before that item is called. Speakers may address the board and up to three occasions with one and a half minutes allotted to speaker per occasion. Have a large number of public speakers and also a very lengthy closed session that we anticipate will take some time today, as well as a very long agenda. your call to speak please step to the process. We will take some time today as well as a very long agenda. When you are called to speak please step to the podium. If you state your name and city residents for the record please note the light on the podium. The green light means you have one and a half minutes. The light changes to yellow when you have one minute and the light turns red when your when your time has expired. I ask you to observe the time limits, so all who wishes to speak will have the opportunity to do so. If you're asking the board, please suggest a board as a whole through the chair. At this time, members of the board of supervisors may comment any agenda or not agenda item, and may ask questions or give Description to staff Provided no action may taken on any off agenda items that's authorized by law Any board members wish to speak supervisor to win Do you wish to speak? Okay supervisor Sarmana? Suvizer Foley. Thank you, good morning. May 18th through the 24th is Emergency Medical Services Week, and this year's theme is We Care for Everyone. Emergency Medical Service professionals provide a vital public service that serves Orange County by filling in health care gaps providing impactful out of hospital care, including preventative medicine, follow up care and access to telemedicine access to quality emergency care improves the survival and recovery rate of Orange County residents and visitors experiencing sudden illness or injury. So I want to thank our emergency medical service workers, you care and we care for you. Additionally, I want to make a correction. So during the middle-health awareness presentations, I got my numbers mixed up. We have too many of these three digit numbers. It's 988. It's not the number I said, it's 988. And if you know that other number, it's a little funny. But also wanted to give an update on our AMTRAC passenger rail service and to let the community know that the San Clemente rail closure is resulting from us correcting some hotspot areas so that we can be proactive in preventing a closure, unexpected closure of the railroad track. We're fixing some of the areas that have a catchment wall that's being added on the land side. And then we're working to add some sand and some rip wrap to protect the rail. The San Clemente Amtrak passenger rail service will be suspended between April 28th and it's for six weeks. So we expect it's already closed. We expect that we will be back running in early June. You can go to the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner or MetroLink Pacific Surfliner, Pacific, I'm sorry, MetroLink passenger rail websites and find out information about bus shuttles or the coaster that can take you so that your travel needs can still be met. And we are looking forward to getting that work done. We have one more permit to secure for the 300,000 cubic yards of sand that we're adding to what's called area four. And then I would like to invite the community to our Flag Day celebration. The Army's 250th birthday is on June 14th. And this is our fourth annual Flag Day celebration. We'll have this event at Baby Beach, again, this year in Dana Point. And the flags will be set up from June 12th through June 15th, 250 American flags. You can go out there, visit, take pictures. I loved last year. We caught some video of some women practicing their Hula dancing in front of the beautiful flowing flags. So it was kind of very patriotic and wonderful. So join us this year from June 14th at 2 p.m. for our ceremony. And then finally Memorial Day, as Supervisor Wagner mentioned, we all know is May 26th. We will be participating in several Memorial Day activities. There's a lot of events in the community. In District 5, you can catch the data point ceremony at 10 p.m. Hosted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9934 at Pines Park, Laguna Beach Memorial Day at Heistler Park at 11, Laguna Nagel Memorial Day at C Country Community Center at noon, Memorial Day barbecue at Babel Island Park in Newport Beach from 12 to 2, Memorial Day at Marine Monument in San Clemente at 2 p.m. are just a few of the Memorial Day celebrations or recognitions I should say happening in District 5 and I thank you. My office is hosting two upcoming events. And Thursday May 29th we are hosting our annual virtual grants workshop with California Consulting from 10 a.m. to noon noon, opportunity for local cities, school districts, nonprofits, and others to learn the best practices to grant funding. And lighted the budget cutbacks, I think, is a good idea to learn how to obtain a grant. Then the next day on Friday, May 30th, we're hosting the fourth district conditions of children, community forum, partners of the first five at the Habitat City Hall, Atrium, who 9 AM to 11 AM. Program will discuss, particularly, children and families, mental health, attendees will receive a copy of the latest conditions of children report in Orange County. In last week, I attended the Orange County Court, sorry, the Orange County recorders pop up a post-steel event at the County Administration's South Building. They had a great turnout. We broke a record with attendees arriving as early as 6 a.m. They're able to beat their record for a possible services serving over 700 attendees. Secretary of State Shirley Weber attended the event. I was glad to be able to discuss with her about the importance of having staff on her department here in Orange County full time to process this needed service. This service and the opportunity to have that here is her call. So it was a pleasure to meet with her and discuss the need. When to thank our clerk recorder for continuing to find new ways to expand services. Madam CEO, do you have any comments? Yes, thank you chair. Just wanted to let the public know that the county's fiscal year 2526 recommended budget will be released tomorrow. And we will issue a press release when the document is available. So you can look for that. And then wanted to let you know that on Thursday, May 29th, we will have our public budget workshop. There are two virtual options, one at 3pm and one at 6pm And you can register for one or both of those events online at ocgov.com and that information will be included in the press release. So if you miss that information, look for it tomorrow. And then just a reminder that our next board meeting June 10th is our public budget hearing for members of the public that are interested. And just a shout out to the county budget and finance office team. Thanks for all your hard work and dedication to get us to this point and tomorrow's the big day. So thank you. Thank you, Chair. Thank you. Supervisor Sarmandole, you had a comment. Yes, thank you, Chair. I just wanted to thank the CEO and her team for the efforts that they're making to make sure that they share with the public the upcoming budget. I also wanted to just let the public know that we are going to be hosting a county budget town hall meeting for the community on Wednesday, June 4th, from 530 to 630 at Yorba Middle School for the second district at 935 North Cambridge Street in the City of Orange. Please join us. You have now multiple opportunities to have your voice heard. Understand, ask questions. We thank the CEO and the CFO's team for lending their staff to come answer questions and share information with the public. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, colleagues and Madam CEO. Now let's go on to our agenda items at this time. It asks the clerk to identify any changes to the agenda and any request received the public to hear an item consent calendar for separate consideration. Madam Clerk. Thank you chair. On the discussion calendar item 21 and 37 have been deleted. And items 27, 71, 74 and 84 have been continued to June 24th, 2025, 930 AM. And the public has requested to pull item 15 from the consent calendar. Does any board member wish to have an item on the consent calendar heard separately? Seeing none, may I have a motion to move in seconded so items except for item 15 are now approved. Let's go on to item 15. I would click on the board. Approved proposed amendments to the Conflict of Interest Code designated Feather Exhibition for Orange County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. And we have one request to speak on agenda item 15. Patty Cabada. Paddy Cabada. the the the the the the the the Commission on the status of women and girls. This will ensure that no supervisor will try to push an extreme progressive agenda, nominated trans women that will only open the door to hate failed accusations from members of the Rainbow Mafia and their allies, which at this point in my opinion seems to be extremely progressive white liberal women that publicly bash biological women who are speaking up for biological girls, especially for- The decision you're not within the agenda item. Item 15, correct? Now this concerns the designated filers who must report on the items, the 700 form. Your comments would be appropriate during general comments. So not on 15. Yes, I know. That's not a, that's not a gen die's that way. My mistake, I apologize. Okay. Mr. Schaeke. Oh, thank you for comments anyway. All right. No, for this because, Mr. Chair. All right. May I have a motion on item? Okay. We just I could have motion carries. That's at this time. I'd kind of like to move on to, I believe it's where there are so many speakers that have signed up. We have item 36. Oh, 36. So if the clerk would please read that item and then call the speakers. I would like your agency to contract with Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance Inc. For suicide and self harm reduction services. I approve contract with D.D. Hers Psychiatric Service to Inbusis as D.D. Hers Mental Health Services for 988 Crisis Hotline Services. An authorized County Precurement Officer at Debitized has a need to execute contract. We have 40 requests to speak on agenda item 36. I will call three names at a time if you can please line up in the center of the room. Behind the podium when your name is called. Rosie Aguirre, Christina, and Paul Huang. My name is Rosa Aguirre. I reside in Huntington Beach. I lost my father to suicide with the added trauma of him taking my mom with him in one soup. I lost my parents before my 30th birthday. For years I knew therapy would be helpful in managing the deep depression that came with the type of loss therapy was out of my reach financially. Meeting with a therapist caused me 200 bucks or more and I couldn't afford it. Years into my depression I found out my medical provider started offering mental health services. I tried these services, however they were not working. I tried every session, but was not learning anything. And there was a point when just to cry and I often felt worse afterwards. I found myself so depressed, I would pray to God to end my life. I didn't want to live in this pain of loss and grief. I think God for helping me find services at When I first started at D.D. Hersh, I was drinking Thursday through Sunday, often blackout drunk. I was not Thursday through Sunday, often blackout drunk. I was not focused on my career anymore, and Monday through Wednesday I worked, came home and slept with any free time that I had. I slept with the use of cannabis. I was isolating myself not wanting anyone to see my pain, trying to be quote-unquote strong, in public for my family and friends. but I was anything but strong. The help I got at D.D. Hirsch was on parallel to any therapy I tried before. I'm so grateful the time... in public for my family and friends. But I was anything but strong. The help I got at D.D. Hirsch was unparalleled to any therapy I tried before. I'm so grateful that time these services were no charge, suicide-specific, and top quality care. Through one-on-one therapy and group therapy at D.D. I found emotional understanding, grace, and healing. I learned I was using alcohol and cannabis as a maladaptive coping mechanism, using these vices to avoid processing my deep, sorrowful emotions. I learned healthy copy mechanisms like painting, grounding, myself, meditation, and not only that, but these are methods I used to this day to better understand my own mental health and behaviors, to manage my feelings and learn how a healthy community and my faith is a mission where I Hi, my name is Christina. For 35 years, I've worked in Orange County's health care system, starting as a high school or a hospital, then working in the emergency room and OR, and later coordinating mental health services for adolescents struggling with suicidity, anxiety, and depression. I understand the challenges of providing care, but what I've learned through both my professional experience and my personal struggle with mental health is that timely access to the right resources can make the difference between life and death. That's why I'm here today, not just as a healthcare worker, but as someone who has lived through the darkness of suicidal ideation. I am also a suicide attempt survivor. I carry the weight of a lifetime of struggling with those thoughts, but because of the support I've received from D.D. Hirsch, I'm still here today. I'm here to tell you that without the support they provide, the survival of people like me and the countless others in our community who face similar struggles would be at risk. The first time I ever felt I could speak safely about my personal struggles with suicidality was within the safety of D.D. Hershey's individual therapy sessions and then later with some convincing their group sessions. I had never heard anyone else share so openly my darkest thoughts and feelings. From both professional and lived experience, I knew that if I spoke openly I could immediately be hospitalized, have my rights taken away or worse. I'm not alone in this fear. Every day people avoid seeking help because they fear being judged, locked away or dismissed. Their fear internally leads to silence and shame, and that silence can have permanent consequences. D. D. H. Hercesthar, Bistreuse and Bistreuse. Thank you, ma'am. After Paul Huang, the next three speakers are Rick Mogul, Lynn Morris, and William Kim. Good morning board, supervisors, and the public. My name is Paul Huang. I am my licensed clinical social worker. I've been in the field for over 20 years. I dress in suicide prevention and suicide response. I was also a former CAT team staff member. the county CAT team and a PRC team member, also a service chief, overseeing the process response team. I'm also a suicide survivor who I've attempted suicide three times when I was in high school. I've lost several friends. Recently, do the suicide. One is a police officer who was one of my partner when I was a PRC clinician. Suicide, especially right now, in the state of California and in the nation, is the highest risk of suicide for all youth in America right now. Vietnamese American has been identified as the highest rate to suicide in the country, ages 15 to 24. And as someone has already said earlier, Orange County has the highest, it's the home to the highest largest population of Vietnamese outside Vietnam. Last year alone throughout agency and our partnership with Diri Hirsch, we were able to provide training, free training to over 10,000 residents, teenagers and parents here in Orange County. We were able to provide free therapy sessions, 400 therapy sessions. And all of this was possible because of the support of Lady Hirsch and the funding they support us and the guidance they support. So I wanted to say thank you. Thank you so much for this opportunity to speak before you. I'm Rick Mogul. I'm the former program director for the Survivor Support Services here in Orange County. I'm a part of this because of my younger brother Suicide in 2003.icide, DD Hirsch saved my life. That's the only way I can put it. And then when I became a employee, I was able to provide services for survivors throughout LA, Orange and then to her county. It is a vital, vital service thatTHERS provides for this county and it's saving countless lives. Those of us who are survivors are at 50% greater risk of dying by suicide. And I just wanted to be able to make that point and to share my brother with you. Thank you so much. Thank you. Good morning. My name is Lynn Morris, and I'm the CEO of D.D. Hirsch Mental Health Services, and want to thank all the supervisors today for your time in learning more about D.D. Hirsch's expertise in suicide prevention, and the impact we've had on your residents in Orange County. It's been my privilege to dedicate my career to suicide prevention for 25 years. And I know the impact that peer support, our relationships, partnerships can have in our communities to help those who need us most after the death by a suicide. support groups for survivors of suicide loss and attempt, which DD Hertz developed in 1980 and 2011, respectively, employed trained clinicians paired with peer facilities to build a safe healing environment. DD Hertz is home to the nation's first suicide prevention center in the nation, and in the last 15 years, DD. D. D. Hersh has been providing the Orange County community with specialized suicide and self-harm reduction programs. We've served over 547,500 people through our individual and group therapy, training and outreach and linkages to outpatient care for clients leaving hospitals after a suicide. By fostering hope and survivors of suicide attempts and equipping parents with tools, we are empowering them to get the help they need. We are breaking the stigma. We are equipped to provide these services. We exceeded the requirements of the RFP and we're able to build Medi-Cal. So we understand the funding challenges, but we are respectfully asking for the supervisors to reconsider this agenda item and award the contracted DDPR to do our expertise. Thank you. The next three speakers after William cam are David Kissler, Grant and Joe Dwyer. My name is William David Cam. My wife Ruth died by suicide March the first 2021. It was a year of struggle before I called DD Hirsch. I think it might have been the most important phone call I've ever made in my life. DD Hirsch counselors put me back together again slowly and methodically, brick by brick, until I was whole, enabled to in the world again. As an engineer I've worked on projects where there's been a change in management or vendors or even software. The transition never goes smoothly, there's always issues with new management styles, inexperienced personnel, possibly inadequate training. I think it should be said that the change of organization, a change in counseling approach or or even a lack of counselling for a short period of time could be catastrophic to some people, to some clients. If the counselling world is anything like the engineering world, the transition could take weeks if not months to achieve. The connection between a client and D.D. Hirsch counsellors is sacroscent and could be one of the most important relationships that the client will ever have. takes time to build New York, and the city of New York, and the city of New York, and the city of New York, and the city of New York, and the city of New York, and the city of New York, and the city of New York, and the city of New York, and the city of New York, and the city of New York, and the city of New York, and the city of New Thank you David Kim. It was a lot of the fear of talk to you. Thank you My name's Grant and I live in Orange. I'm a former client at D.D. Hersch and I ask the board to save this organization for the good people that work there, for all the people they've helped and may yet help. They helped me through one of the darkest moments of my life and I'm very grateful. Thanks. Hi, my name is Joseph Dwyer from Costa Mesa looking at you misfold. What a for you. Thank you. I appreciate the words. Oh, I'm sorry. I appreciate the words that were said earlier today in the presentations. They were very well put and I think they speak well to the current situation that we're looking at in the funding crisis here. The services of DD Hirsch are something that have saved my life. I have since 2015 survived multiple suicide attempts. I have lost loved ones to suicide. I have gone through all of those things. And because of DD Hirsch, I am alive today. But not just that. I am a peer facilitator there. I have come to the point where I'm helping other people. And I also work in schools now that where English is a second language. And it's a Chinese school. And because of the pressures there, they suffer from suicidal ideation at 10 years old, and from the pressures of just being a child, and what they need to be. But because of the D.D. Hirsch, not only have they saved my life, but I can use those resources, and the outreach is beyond what they can do there, but from what I can do for the children and the youth of our future. Thank you. Thank you. The next three speakers are Janet Bale, Sarah Kennedy and Ashley Lucas. Hello, my name is Janet Bale, and I live in Mission V.A. Home. Seven years ago, I lost my husband to suicide. I had two young kids, 10 and 11. And somebody in our community already committed suicide. And I went to an outreach and I found out about D.D. Hirsch. And they changed my life, they changed my kids life. I have worked as a nurse for 27 years. I work with mental health, but I don't know mental health. I'm not suicidal, I'm not depressed. They taught me how to talk to my kids. They taught me in different ways. The other counselors couldn't do. Other counselors don't know the empathy and all that. And they helped me. The first thing people ask, how do you die? And when you say suicide suicide everyone goes, you know, and so they taught me how to deal when my kids, everyone did that to my kids. At 10 and 11 for people to have that stigma, they taught me how to react and to teach them. And now my kids are very, very aware and how to react to that. And I just can't say enough about the company. Thank you. My name is Sarah Kennedy, a system program director for D.D. Hirsch, the current sole provider since 2010 for survivor support services. I'm an Orange County resident, born and raised in Orange County and mother of two. I'm here today to urge you to continue funding D.D. Hirsch for the now suicideicide and Self-Harm Reduction Services. This program saves lives and no other provider has our expertise. As there are many speaking today, I wanted to specifically highlight D.D. Hersh's irreplaceable expertise in Suicide Prevention Community Outreach. Our program has specialised training and expertise in community suicide law support, which is a new expectation for the next fiscal year contract. Although this has never been a formal program goal, DD Hirsch has done it anyways when needed due to our specialised training and the portance of meeting Orange County community needs. For example, there was a young, young 10 year old student who very sadly died by suicide. We contacted the district and school and provided a meeting response and insisting with debriefing the school, the family of the girl, and students impacted. The principal of that school is still there today and wrote a letter of support for D.D. Hirsch. Finally, I cannot begin to tell you how many lives have been saved by a program well in the field conducting outreach. I would like to share a real story. After conducting a suicide-specific training and outreach at a high school, a young teen so close by and appeared upset. Long story short, Suicide intervention skills were used by the D.E.H.H.H. staff, and it was discovered that the team was about to walk home and follow through with the Su.D. her staff and it was discovered that the team was about to walk home and follow through with the suicide plan. Before his dad got home from work. After further intervention and parent involvement, the team was able to say alive and his father became visually emotional as he was so relieved that his son did not go through with the suicide plan. I respectfully urge the board to continue finding D.D. hers for Suicide and self-harm reduction services. Thank you. Next three speakers are Julia Jagels, Sasha, and Tony Ruff. Hello, I'm Ashley Lucas. I live in Lake Forest. I am a Cal State Fullerton graduate from Class of 2022. I'm a mother of one. He just turned four last week and I am a survivor of suicide and tent ideation, loss, family, boyfriend, and more, dad's friends, etc. Well, I'm coming here today because at a very critical time in my life postpartum, I was was very sick with postpartum disorders. I had a very hard time reaching out to, I went to 15 different programs in Orange County. I was, I was weekly through Cal Optima with a therapist. I had a psychology today, one that I paid out of bucket, who let me go because it was the suicidality was out of their scope. I wasn't receiving the help that I needed and I was at risk for maternal suicide which in the first month, first year is very high. If it wasn't for the cognitive therapy specifically for suicide prevention, I really don't think I would be here right now or I would be a shell. So whatever you can do to maintain DD Hirsch funding grants, please support this specific program. Thank you. Hi, my name is Julia J. Eagles. I live in Mission Viejo. I'm a therapist at D.D. Herschen. I'm reading on behalf of a client who was not able to make it this morning. So good morning. I'm Laura Bergiano. I live in Sania and in California. I have a master's in clinical psychology with emphasis in marriage and family therapy from Pepperdine, and currently not in practice. I am also a survivor of my brother's successful suicide. My brother Kenneth Schwab was declared deceased in accordance to maritime law this past October in which he jumped from a high level balcony of a cruise ship nearly one and a half years ago, five miles off of Hila, Hawaii soon after the fires. My brother, Kenneth Suicide, impacted me greatly, in which I needed to utilize the incredible services that are provided by the D.D. Hirsch Organization here in Santa Ana. They offer free programs of counseling, individual and group. Had it not been for them, I do not know where I could afford to go to afford such help. Statistically, it is well known that those who are survivors of a loved one who suicide increases their suicide rates. I have learned about this in other facts and graduate school in which I was also taught that D.D. Hersh is the most renowned organization on suicide. The critical mental health work in support of those with mental health crisis due to surviving suicides is something that is not replaceable. Thank you. Good morning. My name is Tony Roof, RLUFF. I'm a resident of Lake Forest of Libden Orange County since 1965 when I was a freshman at UC Irvine, the first year of the school. of the school. I want to thank you for listening to my story. I do want to tell you supervisors that I appreciate what you do. I'm sure it can't be an easy job. This is my son, Elliot. January 5th was the third anniversary of Elliott unexpectedly taking his life. 31 years old, lived at home and married. This is the cross that he wore every day. The morning he left his room for the last time he left this on his nightstand. There are certain things in life that we just are not built to handle on our own. My wife Bonnie and I spent most of a year trying to find meaningful help. Not sure how, but I came across DD Kirchberg organization. They took me from truly feeling like I was wandering in an endless desert with no help and no direction. And after 12 weeks of one-on-one zoom counseling, I was able to function and even beyond that help other people, followed by eight weeks of group sessions. I know this organization saves lives and I urge you to continue the funding. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Next three speakers are Laura Manchester, camera, bonnet, Jacqueline Rivera. Good morning chair and members of the board. It's not easy to talk to someone about thoughts of ending your life. Let alone stand in a public and talk about it. But I'm here today because D.D. Hirsch was a place where I could do exactly that and receive the support that I needed most. My name is Sasha and I've been a school counselor in Irvine and Santa Ana for 10 years. I first learned about D.D. Hirsch through a professional training. It was clear this wasn't the typical Know Your Science talk. These clinicians truly understood when it meant to be a survivor or a loved one. And I immediately added them to the top of my resource list for students and families. A year later, I was referred to D.D. Hirsch as a client, and I've struggled with suicidal thoughts throughout my life and sought help multiple times before. but this was the first time I received care from therapists who specialize in treating them. It was like having a sick, matized heart condition and finally finding a clinic full of experts. and sought help multiple times before, but this is the first time I received care from therapists who specialize in treating them. It was like having a sick, matized heart condition and finally finding a clinic full of expert cardiologists and others healing too. Because of D.D. Hirsch, I've gained the tools to face my pain and their support has helped me stay alive. This is more than a funding decision. It's about real lives and real hope. I'm just one story in a community of many, but I know that I am living proof. Dede Hirsch must remain the provider for suicide support services in Orange County. Thank you. My name is Cameron Bonnet and I am here today as a mother who has experienced the most imagined malice apparent kinder. The loss of my 14 year old son, Jaden, to suicide. I have four children, three beautiful daughters, and my sweet son, Jaden, who would be 19 this year. Jaden was a typical 14 year old. He played tennis, loved dungeons, and dragons, and filled our home with laughter and light. We were a family full of love and joy. Suicide does not discriminate. It can tear apart even the happiest families and it torn mine part. On November 30, 2020, my world came crashing down in the most horrific way. I found Jaden that morning, and my life as I knew it shattered into a million pieces. How could this happen? How could I have not have seen the pain in my son's heart? In the aftermath of Jaden's death, I felt completely lost. I was drowning in the pain and my family was falling apart. My other children were struggling and I couldn't even help myself let alone them. In my darkest hours, a friend who had lost a child to suicide recommended I reached out to D.D. Hirsch. D.D.H.H. D.D.H.H. was not just therapy, it was a lifeline. The true healing came from D.D.H.H.H.H. There's nothing more important than finding a community of people who understand your pain and can walk beside you in your grief. Please don't let them go. choose D.D. Hirsch to continue providing these life-saving services. They literally saved my life and I believe they can continue to save many more. Thank you. I would like to thank the community for their support and support for the community. I would like to thank the community for their support and support for the community. I would like to thank the community for the support and support for the community. I would like to thank the community for the support and support for the community. I would like to thank the community for the support and support for the community. I would like mental health services in Orange County. I've been with the program since the very beginning in 2010, not only as a professional deeply committed to suicide prevention, but also as a lifelong Orange County resident and I'm a mom of three boys that attend public school in Orange County. D.D. Hirsch is not just important, we are irreplaceable. No other program in Orange County matches our depth of expertise. Our evidence-based models or the robust infrastructure we built including our peer volunteer network. This is not something that we can, that can be recreated overnight, it took decades. It is true that many services are shifting in Orange County toward Medi-Cal reimbursement and Orange County D.D. Hirsch is fully equipped to adapt. Most of our agencies programs already operate under Medi-Cal. We have infrastructure, season billing specialists and the capacity for retroactive billing during certification. In short, we are ready. What D.D. Hirsch offers is not general mental health care. It is specialized suicide intervention and bereavement. General mental health will have suicidal clients, yes, but this is not their focus. We are just one, we are not just one of many. We are the leader in the field for Orange County and all over. To lose this program is not simply to lose just a provider. It is actually losing Orange County lives. Thank you for your time, your attention, and your commitment to the well-being of the community. My name is Roger Shen. I live in Laguna Woods Village. We are all seniors out there. And every week I see at least two to three fire engines into into the village. And one day it was my wife. My wife had a very deep depression in 2020 because of COVID. Last year for three years and at that time it was very difficult to find help. It's almost impossible to get any emergency service at that time because the circumstances over the COVID. So one day that suicide took away my wife and then I thought I understood depression but I tried to help her but I couldn't because I wasn't professional and I thought I understood depression, but I tried to help her, but I couldn't, because I wasn't professional. And I thought I was. And then after she gone, I was the one that was going to come to a suicide. I came to suicide for a reason, because I had a purpose. And for some reason, I don't know why, but did he hurt for me. I realized that for a person that's in depression, we hide. We don't want people to find us, because I want to come here to suicide. I don't know why, but they kept calling me, they could send me emails. Finally, I talk to them. Thank you so much. They saved me. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I just have no words because it is just so heartbreaking that only one provider can be chosen. And just like what Vice Chairman Katrina Foley said is that we are a model of care here in Orange County. There's so many amazing, just incredible behavioral health providers here. And almost all are doing services for people who have suicide ideation and depression. And just like what Supervisor Sarmiento said was that because of Proposition 1, there are many good things about Proposition 1. But the way that it's being done from the state and we're losing money here in Orange County is that now we're having to have just a few providers that are funded. And so what breaks my heart is that there are so many great organizations and that we're all trying to work together and we're partnering with the county and the health care agency has been excellent in providing services and working with us. And so how we continue to work together to make sure that all services are there, how we continue to try and figure out how services are reimbursed. Because of the way Proposition 1 is, it's with Medi-Cal reimbursement. It's really focused on working with people who are on house and who are severely mentally ill. I just really want to just say just thank you to everyone here today because I know you all everyone everyone here is with the same purpose is to make sure that we're providing support for everybody. Thank you. Thank you. The next three speakers are Joshua Domine, Yudi Adiputera and Sarah Wilkes. Hi, I'm Regina Peralta, Director of Finance for Ocapica. I'm here for two reasons, for personal and professional. This is my nephew, actually, who has died 2017, jumped off a building, and he is gay. So, I'm here not to discuss and deepen the sort that I have suffered for that, but because I believe a copycat should have a fair share of the funding. And also we believe that procurement. So we bid for it and we got 50 more higher points than other providers that go for it. But we believe for the procurement process. And we believe each one of you here will really decide. And not just one, she gave it to one funder or one provider, but to everyone who needed. So I actually been a bit of a cappica for almost 70 years. I could tell you and assess to you that we strictly complied. We are ready, they want to start this funding. Delaying this will not help any of our community or any other people. So we believe on this process, and we acknowledge that everyone has a story, and we can bring everyone here. But we are really grateful for having a chance that we are considered and we are grateful. Thank you very much for the consideration. Hello, my name is Josh and I'm a therapist at Ocapca. I'm here to highlight the vital work that we do to support individuals and families from diverse cultural backgrounds, communities that often face unique challenges when it comes to mental health. At Ocapca I've had the privilege of serving clients from a wide range of diverse communities and the majority of my case load reflects this diversity. Our services are tailored to meet the specific cultural, emotional, and behavioral health needs of each client. A central focus of my work is suicide prevention and supporting individuals who experience self-harm and suicide ideation. Many of the individuals I work with have a history of suicide attempts and I also support their families as they navigate these incredibly difficult experiences. There are a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and trauma-informed care. We help our clients build skills to manage their symptoms, reduce distress, and meet their mental health goals. We address stigma around mental health directly, breaking it down within the cultural context of each client. These conversations are critical that stigma often presents individuals from seeking or continuing care. This is what culturally responsive community-based health mental health care looks like. It saves lives. And I hope today's testimony reinforces why support for a CAPCIS not only necessary, saving for the communities we serve. Thank you. Thank you. Good morning, board. My name is Yudam at Therapist at D.D. Hersch. I want to begin by acknowledging that Ocapacus is an outstanding agency. Their culturally responsive work within the APAC community is essentially an admirable. As a former therapist at Ocapacus, I know firsthand the dedication and compassion their team brings to the population they serve. But this decision is not capability in a general sense. It is about specialization. As a clinician who has worked across multiple systems in Orange County, I believe I had a solid foundation in supporting clients affected by suicide. That changed when I joined Edie Hirsch. In the last two years, I've learned interventions, and frameworks that I didn't know I was missing. When I was out Capica, we referred active suicide risk cases to the county crisis team, because our infrastructure wasn't built for that level of clinical need. Well, it's likely that Ocapica has expanded suicide-related services, developing true expertise in suicide care requires more than policy updates. It demands years of focus training, practice, systematic support, all of which DDHERS has built over decades. If Orange County were reallocating funds for AAPA community, DDHERS would not be the right fit. Likewise, offering suicide-related services does not make an agency a suicide prevention center. The question at hand isn't whether or cap-as capable. I believe they are. It's about which organization is most deeply rooted and competent in the specialized nuanced work of suicide prevention. From my experience, I've come to understand how much depth this work truly requires and how critical it is to have a team train specifically in this area. Thank you. Thank you. Next three speakers are Darcy, Esther Bryant and Wendy Wood. Hello, my name is Sarah Wilkie. I'm a resident of Orange. I'm a licensed married and a family therapist who has worked at DD Hersh Survivor Support Services for seven years. For those who may not know, at DD Hersh we are a non-profit mental health agency that has been providing specialized suicide prevention and post-vention counseling services in Orange for the past 15 years. We provide individual family and group counseling services in person and via tell health for survivors of suicide loss, survivors of suicide attempt in ideation and caregivers of those who have a loved one at risk for suicide. We also educate the community on how to understand suicide and help those who may be at risk. At D.D. Hirsch, suicide prevention and postvention is our sole focus and specialization. And we're the only program in Orange County that provides services of this kind. For the past 15 years, we have built trusted relationships with other organizations and survivors of suicide in our community. We have invested time and money training our therapists and evidence-based practices such as applied suicide intervention, skills training, and cognitive therapy for suicide prevention. We have listened to our clients and tailored our programs to meet the needs of our survivor community. We have listened to our clients and tailored our programs to meet the needs of our survivor community. We have broken down stigma that exists around the topic of suicide and establish ourselves as these safe space people can go to during their darkest hours. I've encountered countless clients over the years tell me that our program is the first in the only place they have ever felt like they could openly talk about their suicide loss or attempt. I'm up here for them, many of whom are in the audience today, because I believe in our program, and I believe that we are the best at what we do. Our program is at risk, and please, I ask you to continue our funding. Applause Hello, my name is Darcy. I'm the parent of a 12-year-old that's currently being treated in D.D. Hirsch. I don't know any of you, but it's probably likely that at least one of you has kids. So I really like for you to imagine that your child has come to you and said that they don't want to live anymore and that they intend to make it on it by throwing themselves in front of traffic. I want to know what do you tell them that makes them value their life. What do you tell them? How do you make them understand? That their death would destroy you. How do you make a total of understand that? What do you say? I didn't have the words. I don't have the words. And Google's not as helpful as you'd hope it would be. I don't have the words to convey how that feels, how hopeless it feels, how painful it feels, and how just stranded you feel, to not know what to say, and to not know how to help your child. If you cancel the D.D. Hersh program, you cancel my daughter's therapy halfway through the program. Please don't cancel it. Thank you. Thank you. As to Bryant Survivor, Suicide Prevention Advocate, bilingual volunteer for the last 26 years with D.D. Hirsch. I am here to ask for funding to keep our doors open. I lost Nathan, my 13-year-old son, to suicide. It was devastating. My life was shattered. And did he hurt, saved me? Since then, I become a volunteer advocate. The unique services, The unique services Didi Hirsch provides is immeasurable, that the Department of Mental Health and other organizations do not specialize in suicide trauma like D.D. Hirsch. If D.D. Hirsch is forced to close its doors, where will our survivors go? Where will our clients go? Where do the compassionate staff go? I want to end with you habit wrong. Instead of deep funding, D.D. Hirsch, we must allocate funds to D.D. Hirsch mental health services right here in Orange County so that we may continue to serve those in need. Thank you for your attention in this so worthy matter. The next three speakers are Stevie Daniels, Nala Kayali and Casey Heron. Wendy Wood, Lagoon and Agal. Thank you, board for listening to me. I'm advocating for D.D. Hirsch. We lost our son to suicide. And I received information from another person who lost her husband. She said, look, you need a therapist that knows about this. There are other therapists, they know about problems with marriage, addiction, this is different. So I went to D.D. Hirsch, but I also went to two other therapists one before and then one later. And I did not receive those specialized services. I'm a health care provider myself who provides specialized services. I see people who don't get what they need for months or years. I'm going to ask you now not to just listen to me and others, but listen to Jack Jordan. Jack Jordan is, he would be the keynote speaker at suicide,, Suicideology Conventions. He's done this for 40 years. This is an expert in the field. What he says is what you've heard echoed. He has heard, as I've outlined here, I've heard far too many horror stories about therapists who mostly out of ignorance about was normative after suicide Have been at best helpful and at worst overtly injurious to their survivors He illustrates at the end the lack of experienced knowledge and Training in this area. I'm a specialist. Please keep DD Hirsch. Thank you Thank you. Good morning. in this area. Thank you. Specialized. Please keep DD Hirsch. Thank you. Good morning. My name is Nala Kayali. I'm the founder and executive director of Access California Services. A trusted nonprofit community-based organization that has proudly served Orange County for over 25 years. California services is is subcontractor with DD Hirsch for nearly 15 years through subcontract partnership. DD Hirsch trained our staff in suicide prevention and crisis, response to and we, in turn, a provided outreach and education within the immigrants and refugee and underserved community we serve. With DD Hirsch expert guidance, we were able to deliver life-saving information and resources culturally-relevant language accessibility, accessible ways without the partnership many of our refugees communities would not have access to these critical suicide prevention services. One of our clients, a young refugees. A young refugee man was in deep crisis attempt suicide, but thankfully it was not completed. He was referred to us because of this program. And through our partnership with D.D. Hirsch, he was connected to a care urgently needed. Our therapists began working with him one on one at the time. He had dropped out of college and just once a semester left, because of he missed so many classes, he re-enrolled and seemed to reach our therapist encouraged him to return to school. And as we made it on behalf of the students, please. Thank you. Thank you. Sorry. Thank you. Thank you. Sorry. Good morning. My name is Stevie Daniels. I'm from Laguna Nigel. I speak on behalf of D.D. Hersh today and it's my pleasure to do so because it's the least I can do for an agency that supported me and my family during the suicide of my 17-year-old son. So, losing a by any means, but especially to suicide, is a grief compounded by a profound loss, confusion, disorientation, and even for some of us, a crisis of identity. To navigate through such a storm at any time requires an experienced team of people who are well-trained and empathetic to the situation. Our loss occurred during the exceptional difficult time during COVID as it first began and before vaccinations were created. The isolation of that time, as everyone here is probably very experienced, but imagine having police officers come to your door, give you the news that your child has passed and how, and then for you not to have your family and friends come to support you through this trauma. We were very fortunate to have D.D. Hirsch made known to us through the tips team for the Orange County, the trauma team that showed up with the police officers at our door. Within a few weeks, my spouse and I were going through individual counseling with D.D. Hirsch to help us manage our loss, but also help us understand the loss through the lens of suicide. This understanding is paramount to healing and only an organization that specializes in suicide with a history and mission of counseling, education, and prevention can ensure that thousands of families who will experience the loss of a family member or friend will not only cope with the loss, learn how to manage it, but come through the other side. Didi Hirsch was also, has also created ambassadors of those of us who have helped and carry the mission of suicide words. Thank you, Bill. Please continue to support. The next three speakers are Amber Lamasters, Kelly Tran, and Nancy Lane. I'm Casey Herron from Anaheim. My dad died by suicide in June of 2021. My guilt for not seeing the signs, the constant reminiscing of moments I might have missed and their regret from living in another state from my family is overwhelming. The completely unexpected sudden loss of my dad was and still is devastating. After several years being stuck in my grief, my individual therapist recommended DD Hirsch. She explained that the facilitators are specially trained in supporting suicide survivors. I spoke to a DD Hirsch therapist on the phone and she helped me decide which of their programs would be the most beneficial for me, given my prior open group experience and comfort level sharing my story. I joined a virtual eight week private group session run by facilitators and in attending those sessions with other suicide survivors that understood what I couldn't even begin to articulate and being gently guided by the facilitators created a safe environment for me to begin processing my grief. The facilitators had a plan every week. I knew what topics would be discussed for the duration of the program and the additional reading materials that were incredibly helpful. The care the facilitators would take every week of closing sessions to bring us back to that neutral emotional state which I will be doing in my seat right after this. And I would not have the courage to speak to you today without DD Hirsch. Thank you. Thank you for your story. Applause. I'm Nancy Lane, and I live in Redondo Beach. On the morning of January 3, 2021, at 4 o'clock in the morning, my text notification woke me up. It was from my best friend who lives in Lugin' Nagel, my best friend of 34 years, and said to call her as soon as I woke up. I called right away. She and her spouse told me that their 17-year-old son, Lucas, had taken his life. Lucas was a junior in high school and an outstanding student and outstanding human being. I've had my share of tragedies in life, but this was the biggest shock I've ever had. There were no red flags leading up that Lucas was struggling. I learned that navigating the layers of suicide seemed more complicated than launching a rocket. Fortunately throughout the next few weeks, months, and years, D.D. Hirsch program provided support that we could never have imagined. The therapist's available specializing counseling suicide survivors, in addition to means and other functions to increase visibility, the comfort provided by D.D. Hirsch cannot be measured. Thank you. Thank you for sharing your story. Thank you. Thank you for sharing your story. Next speaker. Thank you. Good morning. Firstly, I want to say thank you to all those for sharing their deeply personal stories. It's as someone that suffers with depression and suicidal ideation, I found it, your story's very touching. My name is Amber Lamasters. I am a resident of Los Alamedos. I relocated to Orange County almost, excuse me, nine years ago in 2016 as a single parent of two. I began my journey with Ocapica as a client seeking for force development services through CalWORKS at that time. I hadn't worked in years. I had, excuse me, zero credit. car and I was transitioning from an abusive relationship and living in a domestic violent children with my two sons. The invaluable services and support that I receive from Ocapica were crucial to rebuilding my emotional wellbeing and self-esteem. And equipping me with the resources that I needed to nurture my mental illness and to become self-reliant and work toward a healthy and self-sustaining future. My job developer, RF, placed me in the Ocapica Administrative Office as an office assistant. I'm now a human resources coordinator at Ocapica and one of their senior staff. And my role I navigate and connect community and members to contact the agency to the services we offer such as mental health therapy, peer support, housing and workforce services. I'm extremely proud to be part of an agency that takes such care to ensure that all members of our community receive the compions of care and services to support their mental health and well-being, provide intervention services and prevent suicide and self-harm. Thank you so much for listening to my story. Thank you. Next three speakers are Shakita Butler Josué Rodriguez and Fabia Hi, good morning. My name is Kelly Tran and I'm here to share with you in term in three perspectives One is as a family member and the other as a survivor and a third one will be as a ocapica staff. So as a family members and a survivor, I've had lots of challenges and lots of encounters in terms of for family members, multiple hospitalizations in and out. And then for us, for a survivor, I've been there as a peers, as well as, I'm only one of the examples in Underwater Capica. We have 75% of our staff are peers. So we are able to connect and we are able to support we've been there. As far as the specialized, we are trained and certified in many of the evidence-based practices, including DBT, CBT, everything that we can support the community members and overall. I think recent years we also certified as an LPS and were able to voluntarily and involuntary, initiating that process to ensure safety for the clients. We have been in the community and we've been providing services for over 20 been co-located at multiple locations and it's all across Orange County and services not only general but also specialized in all different areas. And our demographics, we have served and opened to all ethnicities. And we've been with the community members that we serve. We have 80% of folks per year that we serve and half of that is behavior health services overall. And 85% of that is suicidal population. Thank you. Hello. My name is Shakita Butler. I live in the city of Enheim. I am a program supervisor at Ocapacca. I've led the workforce development housing and calmerx program. And through that work, I have the privilege of walking alongside families, or doing everything they can to build better lives, often in the face of overwhelming challenges. Many of the individuals and families we serve are dealing with depression, trauma, sometimes even suicidal thoughts. These are incredibly difficult moments, but there are also where meaningful interventions can happen. That's why we're closely with our mental health program to provide prevention, early intervention and support, right when people need it the most. Now, while O'Cappell began with the focus of Asian and Pacific Islander community, we've involved. And today we serve everyone. We work with white, black, Middle Eastern, and Latino families. And let me tell you, they all walk through our doors with open hearts, leave seeing, supported, and respected. We make sure that everyone feels welcome and that's a promise Ocapacca stands by. I've seen our community struggle, but I've also seen their resilience and I'm incredibly proud that a capital could not only provide comprehensive services in house, but also works with hundreds of partners to wrap our clients and their families in much support as possible. This work is not easy, but it is essential. And I truly believe that by showing up with compassion, commitment and community, we change lives. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Good morning, board. My name is Joseo Rodriguez. I'm the program director, Overseen Ocapacas, workforce programs, and our former CalWORKs programs. My team has been providing workforce development, supportive services, and housing to low income community members. In Orange County, our team provides services in Spanish, Arabic, Farsi, Vietnamese, and of course English. Over the past year, we provided over 9,000 community members with services, including mental health and wellness services to ensure that members can reduce their depression, and also can maintain and keep a job. Having wellness services for those who are out of work has been crucial to help the community members obtain, and maintaining their jobs while also addressing issues causing their depression and suicide ideation such as trying to stay out of poverty. We're so proud of all the comprehensive services that we provide to ensure that we address the root causes of community members having mental health needs and not being able to obtain a job. We're excited to start the suicide and harm reduction program because we know it will impact so many who are unhoused out of work and are just trying to get back to becoming self-sufficient. I look forward to Ocapica starting this vitally needed program. Thank you. The next three speakers are Jenny Lobos, Joanne Hadfield and Tony. I get afternoon board of supervisors. My name is Fabianne. I'm a current resident at Fullerton coming up on two years. As one of two bilingual therapists at D.D. Hersh mental health survivor support services, I've had the opportunity to serve as this community for nearly two years. I would like to speak to what I witnessed during this time. I've had the privilege of speaking with the various clients, some as young as 12 years old, others as wise as 80. Each of them will throw a unique story of crossing paths to TDHERSH agency, whether they call them themselves or will refer to us. Just as in medicine, there are general physicians and neurologist cardiologists, which specialize within medicine, our agency specializes within the field of mental health, specifically supporting suicide, loss survivors and attempt survivors. We support and have specialized in different programs and create an LGBTQ survivor of support services, monthly job and groups, both in Spanish and English, caregiver support services, suicide, after survivors have to suicide support services in both Spanish and English. The reason why I wanted to go in and take this time to speak was to discuss the need for both English and Spanish speaking services at this time. Me being one of two support therapists, it is viral essentially that we not only support on an individual level, but also at a community level where we have been able to provide community events such as the Little Muertos or yearly OC Pollock. Thank you. Thank you. Good morning. My name is Joanne Hadfield. I live in Laguna and a girl. One thing no one's really seemed to mention is how this decision was made. I reviewed the staff report and the attachments and the scoring, and there's no real explanation on why D.D. Hurses' contract is not being continued, and I'm hoping the board discusses that. There's scoring that just does not explain. I compete for contracts as an environmental consultant and that's kind of unusual. But my personal story at 21 years old, my son and only child took his life on May 1st, 2016. I will never forget the mortuary. When one of their service counselors said, have you found a grief group? I said, my pain is so raw and intense. I can't imagine combining my story and my grief with the tragedy of others. Listening to their stories would be overwhelming. Within a couple of weeks, I did visit D.D. Hurts and started participating in their individual counseling followed by their group sessions. I was so wrong about my initial reaction. I found that no one understands suicide survivor like another suicide survivor. In my months after my son's death, I lived for the weekly group meeting. For some time, I found that my only real relief once a week. I still marvel at D.D. Hurses' counselors. They greet the most distraught people at the worst time of the victim's lives with extreme compassion and understanding. Day after day, year after year, talk about taking a cumulative grief. Thank you so much big hand. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. She can't feel upside down. My name is Jenny Lobos. Born and raised in Saint Clemente, California, but deeply grateful for the city of Santa of Santa Ana. In six days from today, Walmart's six years of losing my mother to suicide, a gorgeous woman with a beautiful soul that loved everyone that came at her path. It took me two years after that moment to finally seek support. As I made phone calls, gripping my phone in one hand in my wallet and the other, knowing that I probably wasn't going to be able to afford those services and scared. After getting off the phone with Dee Dee Hirsch, I cried and I looked at God saying maybe this is when things will change, maybe things will get better from here. Dee Dee Hirsch was the beginning of my second chance, meeting other people that had one commonality with me, that we all were a part of a team, that we didn't want to be a part of. I want to thank you for you being a part of my second chance, too. Thank you. And just to say, let's continue this journey together to continue to make an impact so we can give other people the second chance that they deserve too. Thank you. The last three speakers are Vatana Pyeong, Laura Manchester and David Kisler. Hi, thank you for listening this morning. I just want to play with you to keep D.D. Hirsch for continuity of care. I'm a yoga teacher in the largest yoga studio in Orange County in Costa Mesa for over 22 years. And I've dealt with thousands and thousands of people who feel safe to confide in me about things. And I can't tell you how many of my students, not only are survivors of suicide and speak well of DD Hirsch, but also families who've lost children and loved ones to suicide. And one thing to consider please is Ocapica and they are amazing, I've heard. But they can still continue in the county if they don't get the funding, but D.D. Hirsch will not. So I plead with you. And even I know of two yoga teachers as well over the 22 years who died by suicide and how D.D. Hirsch has helped their families. And so thank you for listening. Continuity of care tapped into police hospitals, public schools, elderly places, they're well known in the community for 15 years. Please let them continue. Thank you for listening. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Good morning, supervisor. My name is Vatana I'm the executive director of the Cambodian Family in Saniana. Ocapica has been a long time partner with the Cambodian Family in providing behalf of your health services to diverse and underserved community member in Orange County. We have partnered together in serving Orange County resident for over 25 years. Our organization have referred many patients and their families for mental health and suicide reduction services. Okapeke is one of the most trusted organizations in Orange County that has not only provided excellent services for our community member but also have helped build the capacity of smaller community based organization like us. especially in developing that medical building infrastructure including medical for housing, navigation, and hand care management ECM and community health worker services. And that's what a lot smaller CBO needed to sustain our capacity in partnering with different organizations. In addition, OkaBika also strived on respecting and partnering with diverse community-based organizations in addressing cultural and linguistic challenges in addressing the behalf of your health services. In conclusion, I'm urging the board to support the selection of Ocapica for this contract and looking for other funding options to support other providers who have served our community. Thank you. No for the speakers, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Thank you everyone for coming up and speaking. I'm sorry to cut your story short. It's just a time in allowing everyone to speak, that's what we had to do. So now we're going to bring this back for consideration. And I first saw a supervisor to win the light on. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to first thank everybody for coming here and sharing your stories. I guess tonight, can we ask some questions to staff, Mr. Chairman? Yes, please go ahead. Yes, staff comes up. I just got several questions. I guess, can you help us to understand how we get to where we are today? Obviously, no one here doubts what DD Hurts can do. But I want you to let the public know why we are here today. Thank you supervisor Ian Cameron, behavioral health director for the health care agency. Yes, I just I also want to say thank you to those who shared their stories today. It shows the reason why we are keeping this service. This is not a service that's going away. and D.D. Hirsch does actually keep the 9-8-8 line. This is just the post-vention services that we're talking about that went out to RFP. This happened through a fair process, through our procurement process, that Ocapica scored higher on that, on the process for that. And so we are recommending the award go to Ocapaca who can also provide these services due to that score on the procurement process. Why did they score so low when they've done this works for so long? The lower scores came through the interview process and in in that process, the scoring was related to answers specifically around the Medi-Cal certification, which was a new portion of the scope of services in this RFP. So it's the billing side? Correct. Can DD Hurst bill for Medi-Cal? Correct there their can they can at not at this point through that they can go through the certification process to get To get licensed to bill for for Medi-Cal And the reason why we're going this direction is because if not the county would have to then pay for the cost costs versus getting an organization to be able to reimburse for the costs. Correct, every service that we are not able to bill for means that we are having to utilize different funding to pay for that. And that funding is allocated to different programs. So yes, the reduced, there would be less money for our other services if they were unable to bill and get reimbursed for the services that they're providing. So my understanding though is that D.D. Hurst can bill in Los Angeles. Are they licensed to bill in Orange County? Not at this point. We're working through that process with them for them to be able to get license to bill. So if they were awarded a contract they could. The issue is not around that but the procurement process and how they and who the higher score was in this. But they look, I understand the scoring, but the lower score focuses a lot on not being able to build, because that's really one of the main for this contract. And it's focused on their answers to those questions related to that. And so why when they're able to build in LA, they were not able to answer questions related to Billing in Orange County. That was not done well through our procurement process and one of the reasons why that score was low. How long does the process usually take to be able to get the license with the Feds to be able to bill for MediCow? The license goes through us at the county, and then the state, those processes that the entire process, from the local process to the state process, takes somewhere between three to six months. Is there a way that once they, obviously the contract recommendation is different? I mean, it's just questions. Is there a way that we can make sure that if they are able to eventually get bill, can the contract also be including them if the board chooses that today? If the board chooses that, we could do that. We do, just to state though, we do plan so that there's no disruption in services to continue any people who are currently in services and won't be complete by the end of this contract we plan to continue for three months to ensure that they can continue with DD Hirsch through that period. And last question from me for now is how much are we talking about that would have cost the county if we didn't if we went through a process a process of them not being able to bill. So for the year, the likelihood is that they could, if they were at 40% productivity for their 7.6 staff, it would be about $1.8 million of revenue. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for now. Supervisor Foley. Thank you. Can we, can I just get some clarification? I thought the contract was for 1.65 million. Correct. Okay. So you just said 1.8 million. That's how much money they could bring in in revenue for the county. So that would be revenue above the 1.65 million? The 1.65 is the Mental Health Services Act dollars that we're putting into this. That would be a federal financial participation that we drew down through the medical billing process. Okay, but my question is, is it 1.8 million as a gross? So the net would be to the county 1.8 million after we pay 1.8 million. That's the approximation based on. Okay. All right. One of the speakers from Diddy Hirsch, well first of all, let me just back up. Let me just say thank you to all the speakers who shared your personal stories, your pain, your struggle, and your surviving. And it is very hard to hear, and I don't want to go without acknowledging that you all have shared your stories, but also because you are here sharing those stories, D.D. Hirsch has been a valuable provider to all of you. So I want to thank you for being here. And I also know that sometimes these stories made trigger people and cause pain. And we have a lot of people in green shirts here today. So if you need help, please reach out. So Mr. Cameron, one of the speakers from D.D. Hirsch mentioned that they can do retroactive billing. Now in our staff meetings with a healthcare agency, we were informed that retroactive billing would not be allowed can you clarify. So the the the first point at which somebody can bill is once that once they are certified the only piece that could possibly be retroactive is once that application is submitted the state allows us to go back to the submission of that application, but not prior to that. So even if they were providing services and got certified, let's say they submitted their application tomorrow, that would be the farthest back they could go for billing, not all the way back to the beginning of services. I know that's a bad example because we're talking about 7-1, but that would be the way it would work. Okay, so when will they or have they already submitted their application? They're working with our quality management team to do that. That's our internal team that starts that process. We do most of the certification locally. We cannot actually provide the submit the application to the state to get approval until we have a contract with the provider. Well, you do have a contract with the provider right now. But why couldn't you have submitted it already? On the current contract, that's not a requirement. So we don't we can't go on the current contract. We would have to amend that contract to add the Medi-Cal billing piece so we so we need a contract that shows that there will be Medi-Cal billing in the program to be able to submit to the state. So why didn't we do this you know already? Why didn't we submit for Medi-Cal billing and amend the contract and have them generating Medi-Cal billing before now. So the service was funded through prevention dollars. This is moving forward in preparation for the BHSA and it is a new requirement of the service that we have, that is a requirement in that service that it must be, that providers must be certified and able to build medical. I understand that's the new requirement, but my question is more related to why weren't we collecting this revenue so that we could offset our costs prior to now? For those, why did we have to be directed by the state to do it? Correct. For those prevention services, they're very specific. For us to build what we need to be able to build for is specialty mental health services. So in the way that we're changing that scope of service, these services are going to be under that specialty mental health service. And that's why they can be billed now. In the past, under prevention services, those types of service we could not bill through our fee for service medical population. Okay, so we're talking only about medical clients, but DD Hirsch is serving more than just MediCal clients. So my concern is that we have focused solely on the MediCal piece and are ignoring the overall program. And so I guess I'm, you know, I feel like there should be a way and we've talked about this for us to be able to split the contract to provide the opportunity for an existing well-established, well-respected, credible, highly effective organization that has been a good partner with the county to be able to continue to provide those services as well as to bring on what I do think there's value in having Ocapica come online. I think they fulfill maybe a gap in services that we haven't had at the county, but I'm just not understanding why we can't build it out so that both can continue to serve and it sounds like if we did that and we moved forward with submitting the application, we would probably generate more revenue because we would have more capacity to serve. If we're talking about generating the revenue from the medical reimbursements, but we also can generate the revenue from the private insurance that's covering some costs. Is that right? So they're correct. They would have to build the private insurance as well. Just back to splitting the contract that's not something that my team or I can do through this procurement process. We're recommending that the bitter that had the highest score. And so in splitting those programs wouldn't necessarily result in higher medical billing only for the reason that at that point we need to certify two sites. And the cost of what we have for the program is still the same amount of dollars. And so splitting those programs and certifying two sites and having two sites There's some economies of scale there that would caught that would actually have an increased cost and For just to have that increased cost for the sites would actually reduce the amount of dollars that we had to pay for the clinical piece But you're telling me that we are going to cover all the cost and make 1.8 million dollars So it's a matter of, we might not make 1.8 million, we might make a little less than 1.8 million under your scenario. There would be less revenue generated, and then yes, that means that other funding would have to fill those. We would not have that bill that funding. Which we count on our medical funding to fund our services. Well, I know, but you're, unless I'm not understanding what you're sharing, it sounds as though we will cover all of our costs because of the medical requirement. And then generate 1.8 million or their bouts in revenue. So cover our costs and net 1.8 million. So that tells me that either way we could cover all of our costs, it's just a matter of how much more revenue. And we aren't even talking about the private insurance revenue that would come in, which I suspect would be higher than the Medi-Cal reimbursement? The Medi-Cal reimbursement would likely be the higher reimbursement, but the, but the, you're correct, that the amount of Medi-Cal would likely be reduced because there would be less services provided due to the economies of scale. I'm not saying that we couldn't split those contracts. That's just not something that like we recommend based on the procurement the procurement process for the highest bidder. Okay, I understand. And then the highest bidder, though, was based on this one question which related to whether or not they were currently certified as a medical, able to build medical. Because if you looked at the scoring, all the other questions in terms of the services, the programs, the programmatic piece, which frankly I care more about, the programmatic piece they scored extremely high. So it was just solely based on the issue of the medical billing. And I know we talked about this in my office about how the person answered the question, neither of us were there, so we don't know. But, I mean, from my perspective, you either can build metacallor. You can't, how a person answers that question. I don't know if that's that relevant. Okay, and then we had some individuals come up who were subcontractors of D.H.H.H. that would be impact. How many subcontractors will lose their contracts in this change? It's two subcontractors. OK. 3, 3. Okay. All right. two subcontractors. Okay. Three. Alright, those are my main questions and I know this is a hard one for me. Mr. Page, I have one last question for Mr. Page. While the healthcare agency is not allowed to split the contract, can the board split the contract? Yes. Yeah. That would be a question of policy for the board as to whether or not it's an efficient economic-old delivery of services, but there's no legal reason why you couldn't. All right, thank you. All right. May I ask the next, okay, supervisor Wager? Thank you, Mr. Chairman, don't go away. Yeah, I've had obviously plenty of opportunity to look at this. We've talked, I've talked with Ms. Morris and the D.D. Hersh folks. I've talked with Ms. Foo and the Ocapica folks. And I'll agree completely with this, if I was fully this one's a tough one and it's a tough one in part because not just did we hear really heart-wrenching stories today but we've known all along the great work that D.D. Hirsch does and know that those stories are out there in the community. But to be honest with you, you know that as well as I do. But what this scoring came down to as was made clear by Supervisor Wynn and Supervisor Foley is just money. And so I am intrigued about an opportunity to find a way to not necessarily cut back by dividing it, but to enhance the services available to our citizens by dividing this contract. Because the truth is, oh, capital does great work as well. So I am interested in exploring that. I do have a couple of things to trouble me. That the idea, well, the billing is important, it is. And D.D. Hersh is not yet in a position to do that billing. But you guys wrote the RFP knowing that. Because the RFP doesn't say you must be able to bill Medi-Cal. It says, or willing to go apply. And so, DD Hirsch is fully compliant with the RFP. It just strikes me as odd that that would then become the determining factor when it was sort of, for lack of a better word, kind of a throw away in the RFP. That'd be one or the other. We don't really care, except we care. That's what we're going to make our decision on. The issue of retroactive billing, if they've applied or applied before this current contract ends, assuming they get it in their license in L.A., that shouldn't be a problem. Should it? The funding issues disappear. At that point, don't they? So just to be clear, the reason that they're not getting the contract is not that they don't have the ability to bill. It's the way that those questions were answered in the RFP process. I don't understand what that means. The scoring, like our scoring for the RFP process is how we do that. The answers to those questions were not so well. Were they not succinct, were they fluffy, were they insulting? I just, I don't mean to make light of it. I genuinely don't understand. It's a binary question. Are you able to bill or are you willing to bill? Yes or no? Are willing to apply? Yes or no? What do you mean you didn't like how they answered? It's not liking. It's a panel of scores who all scored their answers to the interview as low. That is why the process went. Whether they can bill or not, that's separate aside. This is based on our procurement process and how we're moving that. I'm sorry. Anything? I mean, who are you? Juan Corral, ETA, procurement and contract and Contract Services Division Manager. Supervisors, one of the differences that was made during the RFP process was that it's not so much the ability to whether or not they would be able to bill MediCal, as it's just that it was not addressed at all. They did not provide information as to what was going to be the plan. When they share the information regarding the way that they built private insurance and L.A., it didn't touch upon the Medi-Cal billing process. It was not mentioned that Medi-Cal certification had been attained in L.A. County. Did you know it anyway? Or was it news to you now that you find this out? No, we did not know it at that time because it was going through the last process. I was not in the, in the, in the, All right, okay, so we don't have the people. All right, let me ask a different question. Does this change, if we are to make it today, threaten particular ongoing treatment of patients? You said there will be a three month grace period, to which I saw Ms. Morris on behalf of D.D. Her shaker head. Now, I don't know. I don't know. In your mind, does this jeopardize ongoing patient care like we heard it might? I don't think it would. I know that the why not? So that the extension of those so this is intended to be an eight week service. We have already started to ramp down the new referrals. Of course, there are people who require longer term service. And so the plan would be to extend with D.D. Hirsch to serve those folks that needed to go beyond the eight week service with them. For up to three months to ensure that there would be no disruption for any client who is currently with D.D. Hirsch to be able to serve. All right. I will end for now with this. Part of my trouble here is that, I mean, we heard great stories from D.D. Hirsch. No doubt, Ocapac can come and tell the same stories. We recognize both as quality providers of services in our community. My concern is you guys are the specialists. And on the RFP, you've done the digging. And the generalists up here don't have really, in my mind, certainly speaking for myself, the expertise necessarily to second gas. But we do bring a sensitivity to the community by virtue of our position here that I will just say not wanting to second gas HCA. This one is very much a challenge because, well, for all the reasons that we've batted around here, and none of us wants to be so crass as to say, it's money. Money's important. No question. And we are going to have a big ol' ugly budget hearing in a month. But at the end of the day, we've got to serve the people. And if there's something that works as a middle ground and maybe we don't make as much money off of it, but can extend services to more people or better services to the people getting served, I would really want to explore that because I think both of these are quality providers. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, supervisor. Supervisor Sarvanteau. Yes, thank you, Chair. And let me begin before I ask a couple of questions. And just by thanking not just the speakers, but both the principals and both agencies, just because you've treated each other with respect. And I think you both have a lot of, you know, history with, you know, doing the work. So it's good to hear that nobody is sniping at each other unnecessarily. And we're just trying to problem solve here. And I think, you know, what I see is that this is the result of this transition from MHSA to BHSA. that's really bringing this matter before us. I don't think it's a matter of capacity or competency or the delivery of service that's been suffering because my understanding is that the experience that D-Hersh has been solid. We know the work that Ocapica does, which is also equally strong. So I guess my question is just a few questions. I saw that there were three, there were actually four respondents, but the two, the second and third responded, D. D. Hirsch and Phoenix House scored very similarly. What was the reason for Fenix being sort of in that same range as D.D.H.H. Fenix House did have a higher scores on the interview portion again. So that was what brought them up to closer to what D.D.H.H.H. Are they Medi-Cal certified? They are Medi-Cal certified. So they were able to answer that threshold question on whether or not they were certified to bill medical. So the reason they scored less was because of just being able to deliver the service. And I know you weren't on the panel, but was that your interpretation? My interpretation is that the lower scores for Phoenix House were more related to the service provision and their experience providing those types of services. Got it. And I guess it would just be the contrary for D.D. Hirsch where they could deliver the service but they couldn't answer the questions as well as the panel would have liked when it comes to medical certification. Correct. Okay. So, one of the, you know, sort of questions I have is that because this was such a threshold question and because we know we're transitioning from, again, MHSA to BHSA, we know that PEI dollars from that are, you know, from, from, you know, MHSA covered this contract, we kind and then going into that, going into this know, MHSA covered this contract. We kind of knew going into that going into this that it was going to be critically important that we have providers that are able to build MediCal for these services. Why wasn't that sort of a threshold question and those who couldn't answer in the affirmative to say we're just not certified at this point. It's going to take a while. Wouldn't that be considered a non-responsive once you say you can't or you're not medical certified at the time of submitting your application? So the application was to be certified or to be able to get certified. And the responses to that were a part of the interview but they were also a part of the written documentation. And some of those written responses put together that information. So when that written response comes in, that wouldn't, that says that they are going to be able to do that, that wouldn't disqualify them. Now, a lot of the written responses to RFPs are done separately, so that is why the interview process exists is to be able to ask those specific questions and drill down on the expertise in those areas. Got it. And I think in order to be certified, you also have to have a contract, right, to be able to move that forward. So that's another, you know, that's another reason why. And I think back to Supervisor Wins' question, was I've seen people's organizations really struggle to get certification. So three to six months is, to me, pretty ambitious. I've seen others just have a difficult time even when they did have contracts because it's not a simple process. So that's my concern. I think a lot of questions have already been asked and answered and thank you Ian for standing up there standing tall and you're already tall to begin with. But just, you know, fielding a lot of questions I think that we all have and you can tell we're all struggling at least everybody who's spoken so far seems to be struggling. I know I am. I don't take unwinding or bypassing direction from a procurement because I feel like the panel and others have had a lot more time to drill down on the questions we've asked and hopefully they've asked them during that not only interview portion but also the written portion. So I always tend to show deference and I come into these saying, give me a compelling reason why we should unwind the recommendation on procurement. So that's where I'm struggling because I know that without bringing on a provider that is medical eligible to build medical. This is not a sustainable service. So that's my baseline concern, is that, can we continue the service through a provider that is competent and has a capacity? And it sounds like we can, but we realize we have this dilemma where we have two providers that are equally strong. and is able to immediately build Medi-Cal for these services and would relieve us of having to backfill that. And another that is in the process, it appears. So I do, if somebody can come up with a good solution to this where this is shared, it sounds like that's not the ideal because we always would prefer to have one provider for administrative cost for just monitoring and operational and making sure that we're efficient and effective. So I'm certainly open to extending this as well because I know that the transition, if we decide to go with the prevailing bitter and not the incumbent, you know, I certainly think that we need some time to make sure we transition well. But secondly, I'm not opposed to, you know, having these services handled by both groups. I just don't know if that's the most efficient and that's where I fear that we want to do it because we've heard some really difficult stories and we know that they're both quality operators. So at this point I am very open to suggestions from the floor and from you all as well. And I will actually show more, I think as was said, we really defer to you all as experts in this and the direction that you give assessing what you see before you now is something that'll carry a lot of weight with me. So those are my comments for now, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Mr. Advisor. If I may, I want to drill down a little bit on these applications, a little bit, if I understand it, it starts at the county. Where are we as a county in this process? So we have started the process with the provider to accept their application. The steps that we need to take to certify are to do a to review their regulations, their policies, and procedures, and then do a site visit. We're at the point where the site visit, and then we send the application to the state if there's once there's a contract in place, where we are right now is reviewing the regulations and policies and procedures. We're at that step. Any estimate on how much more time that will take? A lot of that is based on those policies and procedures and whether or not they meet the criteria. I would say again that three to six month time frame is really, is really that. The additional time would be on whether or not we have to go back and forth on any of those regulations. So that's the county's timing on the process. not the state. The state portion should be a short process when it goes to the state for that. Again, they come out and look at that, but they mostly accept because this is an outpatient program, mostly accept the county's recommendation on that. A question, when we have a nonmedical qualified person who also doesn't have private insurance, how do we pay for that? That is paid for through the MHC funding that we have set aside. Funding might come into play anyway. Correct. Yeah, no, I like my colleagues in Torn on this. I appreciate we have two very qualified applicants before us. One has the additional benefit of being able right now to Bill and Medi-Cal. As far as services go, they seem to be equal when I've seen in red. So, and there's a lot of good stories on every side of that. So let me go back again, Supervisor Nguyen. Thank you, Mr.. I'm, when I asked a few more questions, just following up on what my colleagues have asked. So you mentioned about the site visit and having to get through that process. So is that what you're doing currently with Ocopica? We were working through the process with both parties. With a copica. Yes. And it would take you how long to get that site to be certified by us. So that process has started again because of the thought that the award would go to a capica based on the procurement process. That process started a little sooner. sooner so we have we're a little farther along. How many how long has it been? About three months longer from now. So it's been three months already? Did you've gone through this process to certify a couple? About two I believe. Two months so far? How much longer do you think it's going to take? Approximately three to four months. So if you were to do, let's just say hypothetically, if the contract is awarded to D.D. Hirsch today, how long would it take to certify their current site? That's three to six months that I had mentioned earlier. Even though they're current provider, they're ready certified by us for the last 25 years. Yadi, yadi. It's three to take that long. Did you see D.D. Hersh? So they are not currently a medical certified provider, so that we're starting a little bit later in that process with them. So the site approval that you're doing right now with Acopaca is via Medi-Cal. Correct, both, both, both. Certification, both process. But they already have the license. Do you going to take you three months? Correct. Okay. So, I guess, okay, my next question, well, I'm not sure if it's a question. Oh, it is. So you talked about the county's cost would be approximate $1.6 million. And if they were able to build Medicare, a revenue of 1.8 will come back. That's the estimate, yes. What would you be doing with that 1.8 million after it conspired to. What other programs would that money go to? Well, that would fund this current program. What would happen would be a reduction in the MHSA dollars. So that's our budgeted MHSA. There would be a reduction in the MHSA dollars that we would need to put into this contract. So the actuals would be less based on the revenue that we generate for the contract. So the MHC dollars could go to a different program. To a different program area. And. that we generate for the contract. So the MHSA dollars would go to, could go to a different program. To a different program. To a different program area. And I remember in our staff, in my briefing with you, an HCA staff is that, if we were to have two sites, that would be double the cost. So we would essentially, potentially, be 1.6 and 1.6 on, is that what that would, I No, so we have the 1.6. That's all that we have for this service. So that cost would need to be split between those two sites if we had two sites. And again, because of the two sites, that would reduce the number of staff who provide the service that we could have. Each site. Correct. Okay. The next comment I have is going back to is, they would be willing to get licensed to bill and the RFP. And they can retroactively bill as well. I guess I go back to what the Vice Chairwoman stated is that, one, it's really unfair. They came and start the submission of the application without this contract. So we've actually lost so much time in even allowing them to be able to retroactively. So we would have, I mean, we would lose time. And this wasn't shared to me when we were meeting. It was just shared that DD Hurts cannot bill, nothing we can do. We got to move on. Ocopica can bill, and they can also do the same work. Both can do the same work. There's no doubt. I've known of a copica for decades. I, be honest, this is kind of the first time I really know of DD Hirsch. But obviously, they've done the job and they've done a great job as well. So if we were to, you know, I guess is that would be helpful to us when in these briefing in the future, is to let us know that if we're asking a provider to do X, but we can ask you, and our concern is the revenue or the cost to the county is that they can retroactively bill. Let us know that would have been helpful because you know this was continued new and we could have been a month done already in being able to do that. I think that that would be helpful for us in the future. Colleagues I I'm struggling I think you know is you know DD Hersh has shown that they've been able to do the work. They've been able to, you know, be very helpful to the county for the last 25 years. A copica can do the job as well. If I can suggest a solution is have the county continue this item, have the county come back to us with a proposal on what the cost would be when we do two sites, two contracts instead. Second. And I think that way we can at least pause and know what those numbers are versus having to go through it blindly today if we want to split, I guess the baby in half. But let's see what those costs would be to us and where we go from here and what that process would be. Okay, now back to Supervisor Foley. Thank you. Thank you, Supervisor. I was kind of thinking along those lines in terms of getting a continuance to be able to better understand the budget because it really does seem to boil down to money and we don't have that we don't have a like the line item budget revenue expected estimates etc. We don't have that as part of our review here today. I think it's the first time I'm hearing today is this $1.8 million net and so I would want to know what is the projected estimate for the private insurance billing to be paid back to the county. So I think it's important that we understand the full scope of what this contract really is before we decide to dramatically change course. I also, I didn't understand or follow the conversation about you, you, you started, that Ocopica had to get certified, because in my meetings with you, I thought what you said was they were certified and that's why they scored you know 198 on that part of the interview panel whereas we have DD Hirsch scoring you know 50 points less. So I don't understand how could you begin a certification process for a provider that we hadn't voted on yet? And you couldn't begin the certification process for the other provider. Why not do both of them simultaneously? And then we would be in a better position to know which provider we wanted to go with, especially given what you admit in the RFP, it was kind of either or, you know, either come and you and I spoke about this, I absolutely disagree with that kind of phraseology. If the litmus test is going to be based on one item, that needs to be bold, red, caps all over the application so that people know that that's the main priority. So I guess I don't understand the conversation about the certification, which is another reason why I think a continuance is worthy. Thank you. Supervisor Sarmiato. Yes, thank you. I just want to speak to I guess the motion before us. And so can you walk us through what that timing would look like? Because again, what's tricky is at this contract is set to end on July 1st. So when would this come back to us for consideration? And you know, would it be the 24th of June, I guess, which would be the next regular meeting after the budget is at? Correct. The 24th would be the next. Okay. You know, I'm not opposed to revisiting this. I know that it's probably not the ideal based upon what, you know, what the thought was going into this, where you would have one bidder and one operator. It makes it tricky. What I want to know is, and it is funding. I mean, you know, we have to be blunt about that and honest about that. But I think there's also just, you know, the delivery of the service, you know, Will that suffer as a result of having two providers? And so you have to give that to us honestly when you do. And I know you will, but that will be a factor. And we can bring that back. It is, but it is still based on what I've described as those additional processes and the additional certification. There is no more dollars to put in. And so if we're paying for sites with this money, that doesn't fund the clinicians. And so those 7.6 clinicians would have to be less split between the two programs. And that's what I think I'm asking for is what does that loss amount to? And get that. And real hours or however you want to gauge that. The second is, I'm not sure if the question of cultural competency was addressed in the interview. Can you, and if it is, I might have missed it if you can draw that out for us as well. I know that both appear to do that, but that's important for me just because of the demographic of my district. In general, the issue of ensuring that we are providing services and threshold language in a culturally competent way is a part of any service that we are providing that is a medical billable service. And they both seem to perform well in that. That was that those areas were similar in their scoring. Okay, great. Final question is where they based. We know Ocafica's based in Garden Grove here in Orange County. Where's Dedehersh based? San Anna. That's where their main offices. Okay. Um, for whatever reason, I think my information was different, but I'm good to know they're both here in the county. They both have their headquarters here in the county and their service and their staff. Um, okay. Well, I'm supportive of the motion. Thank you. Thank you. If I may, when you come back with some information, I'd like to know on the financing side if we don't have medical billing, what services might be cut, because we'd have to move the money around. And ask county council, we've had I think 61 people speak. If we bring it back, do we need to again have a public comment? So can we just bring it back for a board discussion? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just answered that question for another member of this board. The exception that the Brown Act does provide for public comment, for the requirement, for public comment does not seem to apply here. It speaks of when an item has already been considered by a committee of comprised of all of the members of the board. And just we've never operated that way. So the board's consistent practices to allow public comments on each and every item on the agenda. All right, so if the motion continue to June 24, I think it's going to be passed. Means we again need to reopen for public comments. It is always within your authority and progatives the chair to encourage members of the public to be brief in their comments so that everyone can be heard and so the board can conduct its business in an efficient manner. I'm afraid I'm not always that persuasive. So. Yeah, I would hope we can limit those comments because we spent a long time and now we're past the new hour and we had talked about going to closed session and we do have a ton of business yet to go to today. All right, is there any objection to continuing this item? So we get questions answered to June 24. Seeing none, motion carries. Thank you all for coming. Stand by. All right, now. Colleagues, we have a large number of items in our closed session. Do you want to go to closed session now? Or should we come back and go a while on our agenda? We will have to come back in any case, I believe. Let's say, that in track, will you read the closed session items? C is one out of county council conference with legal counsel, existing litigation, pursuant to a government code section 54956.91. Name of case, Claude Parrish, as county assessor, Princess County Orange Assessment Peales Board, Assessment Peel Application, number is 22-006020-2200-620-2300-21 and 2300-035. SCS-200 under CUN Executive Office Public Employee Appointment, pursuant to Governor Co-Sixon-5495-7B, Title County Executive Officer, supplemental, under, supplemental Clistician 3 under CUN Executive Office, they were, conference, they were negotiator pursuant to government code section 545, 575.6, agency negotiator, Jamie Newton, chief human resources officer employee organization, workers, represented by United domestic workers of America regarding terms and conditions of employment, SCS for under county council, conference and legal council existing litigation pursuant to a government section 5 for 956.91. Name of case James A. Nasser versus county orange. Supplemental closed session five under county council conference at legal council existing litigation pursuant to a government section 5 for 956.91. Name of case Jeffrey Tucker versus county orange. Supplemental closed session or the county council conference of legal counsel existing litigation, pursuant to a government code section 5496.9 D1, name of case Dalia Rodriguez versus County Orange, supplemental closed session 7th or county council, conference legal counsel existing litigation, pursuant to a government code section 549 for 6.91, name of case B H versus Orange The case . The case . 0.91. all versus county orange at all. Supplemental, close session nine, under county council, conference of legal counsel, existing litigation, pursuant to government code section five for nine, five, six, point, nine, D one, name of case, John Barber, versus county orange, and supplemental, close session 10, under county council, conference of legal counsel, existing litigation, pursuant to government code section five for nine, five, six, point, nine, D one, name of case, Gene Inoy versus Kenny Orange. And we have no requests to speak on the closed session items. Thank you, Madam Clerk. We are adjourned to closed session. I'm sorry. The meeting of the County of Orange Board of Supervisors will be