Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout19-0729 FUSE MOUPage 1 of 9 Elgin Frequent Users Service Engagement (FUSE) Initiative Memorandum of Understanding Final as of 06/01/2019 Background and Purpose The City of Elgin, Presence Saint Joseph Hospital (“PSJH”) and Advocate Sherman Hospital engaged Corporation for Supportive Housing (“CSH”) to facilitate a pre-implementation planning process to identify and house persons who are experiencing homelessness and frequently being transported by Elgin Fire and Police to local hospital emergency departments (“Initiative” or “FUSE Initiative”). Based on data collected by the Elgin Fire Department, there are 30 unique persons who have been transported 483 times during the 2016 & 2017 calendar years. Of these, there are 5 persons who were constant in the two years, receiving 229 transports. The City of Elgin (Police, Fire, Mayor’s Office), PSJH, and Advocate Sherman Hospital are interested in developing a joint strategy to address this population. In addition to the public safety and health systems listed above, the following community-based homeless and mental health services providers have been engaged to assist with informing the identification, outreach, and intervention to the target group: Association for Individual Development (“AID”), Community Crisis Center Inc., Ecker Center for Mental Health, Elgin Cooperative Ministry, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (“LSSI”), Open Door Health Center, PADS of Elgin Inc., Renz Addiction Counseling Center and Wayside Cross Ministries. This Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) outlines the agreement between Advocate Sherman Hospital, AID, the City of Elgin, the City of Elgin Fire and Police Departments, Community Crisis Center Inc., Ecker Center for Mental Health, Elgin Cooperative Ministry, Open Door Health Center, LSSI, PADS of Elgin Inc., PSJH, the Renz Addiction Counseling Center, and Wayside Cross Ministries (collectively, the “Community Partners”) regarding the roles that each entity will perform to achieve pre-operational planning on this Initiative, and then implement the Initiative. By the end of December 2018, the Community Partners will be prepared to implement an engagement strategy that will include new interventions, communication, referral, and housing placement processes targeted to people experiencing chronic homelessness, with special focus on those receiving frequent use of emergency transport from street to hospital. Roles and Responsibilities City of Elgin:  Develop and support policy reforms that reduce barriers to permanent housing for people experiencing chronic homelessness.  Convene community stakeholders to garner support for supportive housing initiatives.  Identify funding sources - public and private - that are needed to fill services gaps for people experiencing chronic homelessness and to improve the coordinated response system to frequent users of emergency services in Elgin.  Act as liaison with other public-sector entities and community-based providers. Page 2 of 9  Provide information to the City of Elgin Mayor and City Council on appropriate response(s) to homelessness and chronic substance use population to inform future community- responses.  Support appropriate information-sharing related to the initiative and engaging the target population into supportive housing and attend regular meetings to discuss individuals.  Co-convene the monthly FUSE Initiative meetings during implementation to assess progress.  Collect monthly outcomes from the City of Elgin Police Department. Elgin Police and Fire Departments:  Collaborate on creating updated response protocol to support appropriate interventions in partnership with community-based providers, including reviewing staffing patterns and deployment of specially-trained officers.  Support appropriate information-sharing related to the Initiative and engaging the target population into supportive housing and attend regular meetings to discuss individuals  Partner with City staff to educate internal stakeholders on response to people experiencing chronic homelessness and/or behavioral health and/or substance use crises requesting emergency transport.  Track monthly outcomes for target population including changes in engagement with Police and Fire including number of ambulance calls, reports, contact with police/fire, and arrests  The Elgin Police Department will receive assessments from Community Partners, enter into common tracking form, and manage client contact updates from Community Partners.  The Elgin Police Department will send monthly outcomes to the City of Elgin. Association for Individual Development (AID) and the Ecker Center for Mental Health:  Engage and assess persons in the target population including those referred or identified by Police and Fire as frequent transport users.  Support appropriate information-sharing related to the initiative and engaging the target population into supportive housing and attend regular meetings to discuss individuals.  Prioritize housing and services resources for the target population that meet agency eligibility for individual housing and service resources.  Articulate supportive services barriers and make policy/practice recommendations for hardest to serve clients, including funding gaps to Initiative partners or other external stakeholders as appropriate.  Collaborate on creating updated response protocol to support appropriate interventions in partnership with public-sector partners and local hospitals. Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) and the Renz Addiction Counseling Center:  Respond to referrals from the FUSE Initiative of individuals who are impacted by substance use.  Coordinate services for the FUSE Initiative target population related to substance use services. Advocate Sherman Hospital and Presence Saint Joseph Hospital:  Collaborate on creating updated response protocol to support appropriate interventions in partnership with public-sector partners and community-based providers. Page 3 of 9  Educate and engage staff of behavioral health and emergency room departments about the Initiative and identify appropriate staff to inform new interventions and responses to patients in the target population.  Develop appropriate information-sharing protocol to support implementation of the Initiative, including at the individual and case management level.  Support appropriate information-sharing related to the initiative and engaging the target population into supportive housing and attend regular meetings to discuss individuals  Track and report monthly on the number of emergency department visits and number of hospital admissions for persons in the target population.  When appropriate, complete a historical comparison on change in emergency and hospital use over time for the target population.  Send de-identified patient monthly outcome information to the City of Elgin, subject to receipt of required patient consent and/or authorization permitting release of patient information. Community Crisis Center Inc., the Open Door Health Center, and PADS of Elgin Inc,: For the individuals seen at their sites:  Engage and assess persons experiencing chronic homelessness including those referred or identified by Police and Fire as frequent transport users.  Support appropriate information-sharing related to the initiative and engaging the target population into supportive housing and attend regular meetings to discuss individuals.  Prioritize housing resources for those experiencing chronic homelessness and frequently using emergency services.  Articulate housing barriers and make policy/practice recommendations for hardest to serve clients to members of the Initiative.  Educate and communicate to the Continuum of Care (CoC), the planning body recognized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that facilitates funding and monitors performance on homeless-related services for the designated service area that includes Elgin, the status of the Initiative and implications for larger coordinated access. Each CoC is required by HUD to establish a coordinated access system or coordinated entry system for homeless services and housing.  Convene existing landlords and housing providers to engage on serving higher-need clients.  Communicate status of target population in the engagement and housing placement process.  Collaborate on creating updated response protocol to support appropriate interventions in partnership with community-based providers.  Co-convene the monthly FUSE Initiative meetings during implementation to assess progress.  Report progress on housing placements including referred to housing (including housing partner), offered housing, applied for housing, move-in date, and housing stability. Wayside Cross Ministries:  The Elgin Wayside Center will provide free daytime services to the under-resourced and homeless in the local community. Within the limits of available resources and capacity, these include shower facilities, laundry facilities, clothing, breakfast, and lunch. To assist guests in improving their situation, Wayside will also provide free access to a computer, phone, copier, fax machine, and printer. Page 4 of 9  Subject to advanced scheduling and the Director's approval of content, the Elgin Wayside Center will make its facilities available to other partner agencies to present/conduct clinics and workshops that deal with life skills, legal advice, health topics, financial training, and other relevant subject matter. Elgin Cooperative Ministry:  The Elgin Cooperative Ministry will continue to support the homeless and needy through ECM support of our member Soup Kettles and Food Pantries. General Terms A. Term. This MOU will be effective on July 1st, 2019 (“Effective Date”) and will continue for a twelve (12) month period. This MOU will automatically renew with the same terms and conditions annually thereafter except where any party provides written notice of non-renewal described below or this MOU is terminated in accordance with the termination provisions of this MOU. B. Termination. Any party may terminate their participation in this Initiative at any time with or without cause, and without penalty by giving written notice to the City of Elgin Neighborhood Redevelopment Division. C. No Recourse. This MOU is intended to support the integrity of the community collaboration and the parties hereto shall have no legal or financial recourse against any other party arising from this MOU. In no event shall any party hereto be liable to any other party for monetary damages for any reason whatsoever arising from this MOU. D. Public Disclosure. The parties will mutually agree in writing before issuing or making any public reports, statements or releases with respect to this MOU; provided, however, that the City of Elgin’s compliance with the state or federal Freedom of Information Act shall not constitute a violation or breach of this MOU. E. Mutual Representations. Each party hereby represents and warrants that: 1. Neither it nor either of its employees, agents involved in the Initiative under this MOU, is now or has been, to its knowledge,: (i) a “sanctioned person” under any federal or state program or law; (ii) listed in the current Cumulative Sanction List of the Office of Inspector General for the United States Department of Health and Human Services for currently sanctioned or excluded individuals or entities, (iii) listed on the General Services Administration’s list of Parties Excluded from Federal Programs, (iv) listed in the Specially Designated Nationals list, and (v) convicted of a criminal offense related to healthcare. Each party will notify the other party immediately if it no longer complies with this subsection. If a party fails to comply with the terms of this provision, the other party will have the option Page 5 of 9 of immediately terminating this Agreement without penalty. The parties agree that the foregoing provision in this MOU is binding and enforceable on the parties. 2. It will perform all obligations as under this MOU consistent with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and the regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, as amended, as well as all other applicable federal and state information privacy and security laws. Each party is responsible for obtaining any legally required consents or authorizations from individuals prior to exchanging information regarding such individuals pursuant to this Initiative. F. Confidentiality. During the term and at all times thereafter, each party will maintain the confidentiality of any confidential and proprietary information of or relating to the other party, and the other party’s affiliates, that is shared or exchanged pursuant to this Initiative (“Confidential Information”). For so long as the Confidential and Protected Health Care Information remains confidential, no party will, without the prior written consent of the other party or as required by law, including but not limited to, the state or federal Freedom of Information Act and all laws pertaining to protected health care information, either directly or indirectly: (i) use any Confidential Information of the other party except in the performance of the duties, responsibilities and obligations under this Agreement, or (ii) disclose any Confidential Information of the other party to any third party. The provisions of this Section on Confidentiality shall survive the expiration or early termination of this Agreement. G. Amendment. This MOU may be amended only by a writing signed by all parties. H. Assignment. No party may assign this MOU or any right or duty hereunder without the prior written consent of the other parties. Any attempt at assignment without such written consent is void. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each party has the right to assign any duties, rights and benefits under this MOU to its successors or affiliates without the written consent of the other parties. I. Third Party Beneficiary. None of the provisions in this MOU are intended by the parties, nor will be deemed, to confer any benefit on any person not a party to this MOU. J. Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any particular provision of this MOU, or the application of the provision to any party or circumstance, will not affect the other provisions hereof or the applicability of such provision to other persons or circumstances other than those as to whom or which it is held to invalid or unenforceable, and this MOU will be construed in all respects as if such invalid or unenforceable provision were omitted. K. Waiver. No term, covenant or condition of this MOU can be waived, except to the extent set forth in writing by the waiving party. The subsequent acceptance of performance by a party will not be deemed to be a waiver of any preceding breach by any other party of any term, covenant or condition of this MOU and the waiver of any term, covenant or condition will not be construed as a waiver of any other term, covenant or condition of this MOU. Page 6 of 9 L. Entire Agreement. This MOU, together with all addenda, attachments, schedules and exhibits hereto, constitutes the entire MOU between the Parties relating to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous MOUs and understandings, whether written or oral, regarding such subject matter M. Execution of this contract. This MOU may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same MOU. For the purposes of executing this MOU, any signed copy of this MOU transmitted by fax machine or e-mail shall be treated in all manners and respects as an original document. The signature of any party on a copy of this MOU transmitted by fax machine or e-mail shall be considered for these purposes as an original signature and shall have the same legal effect as an original signature. Any such faxed or e-mailed copy of this MOU shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as an original document. At the request of either party any fax or e-mail copy of this MOU shall be re-executed by the parties in an original form. No party to this MOU shall raise the use of fax machine or e- mail as a defense to this MOU and shall forever waive such defense. [Signatures on following page] Page 7 of 9 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this MOU the day and year written above. ADVOCATE SHERMAN HOSPITAL Signature: ________________________ Printed Name: _____________________ Title: ___________________________ ASSOCIATION FOR INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT Signature: ________________________ Printed Name: _____________________ Title: ___________________________ COMMUNITY CRISIS CENTER, INC. Signature: ________________________ Printed Name: _____________________ Title: ___________________________ CITY OF ELGIN Signature: ________________________ Printed Name: _____________________ Title: ___________________________ Page 8 of 9 ECKER CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH Signature: ________________________ Printed Name: _____________________ Title: ___________________________ ELGIN COOPERATIVE MINISTRY Signature: ________________________ Printed Name: _____________________ Title: ___________________________ ELGIN FIRE DEPARTMENT Signature: ________________________ Printed Name: _____________________ Title: ___________________________ ELGIN POLICE DEPARTMENT Signature: ________________________ Printed Name: _____________________ Title: ___________________________ LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF ILLINOIS - ELGIN Signature: ________________________ Printed Name: _____________________ Title: ___________________________ Page 9 of 9 OPEN DOOR HEALTH CENTER Signature: ________________________ Printed Name: _____________________ Title: ___________________________ PADS OF ELGIN INC. Signature: ________________________ Printed Name: __ ___________________ Title: ___________________________ PRESENCE SAINT JOSEPH HOSPITAL Signature: ________________________ Printed Name: _____________________ Title: ___________________________ RENZ ADDICTION COUNSELING CENTER Signature: ________________________ Printed Name: _____________________ Title: ___________________________ WAYSIDE CROSS MINISTRIES Signature: ________________________ Printed Name: _____________________ Title: ___________________________ Page 10 of 9 CSH Signature: ________________________ Printed Name: _____________________ Title: ___________________________