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SHERBURNE <br />C 0 U N T Y <br />December 24, 2018 <br />Zach Carlton, Planning Manager <br />Elk River City Offices <br />13077 Orono Parkway <br />Elk River, MN 55330 <br />Re: ResCare Intensive Residential Treatment Services (IRTS) <br />Mr. Carlton, <br />Health & Human Services <br />MaryJo Cobb, Director <br />Sherburne County Government Center <br />13880 Business Center Drive, Suite 100 <br />Elk River, MN 55330-1692 <br />(763)765-4000 <br />1-800-433-5239 <br />fax(763)765-4096 <br />Public Health fax (763) 765-4004 <br />I attended the December 17, 2018 Council meeting and spoke in support of the ResCare IRTS. I would like to <br />reiterate the reasons for this support. <br />Minnesota is sadly lacking in mental health services, specifically in-patient services. Before the closing of the <br />state hospitals, there were 10,000 mental health. hospital beds. Today there are only 2000 state and privately <br />operated beds. The State of Minnesota Department of Human Services operates the facilities at Anoka and <br />St. Peter as well as 7 Community Behavioral Health Hospitals (CBHHs). Medical Assistance pays for hospital <br />care as long as the patient meets medical criteria for hospitalization. As soon as a patient does not meet <br />those criteria, the counties are billed $1400 per day until a step-down service can be found. Some patients <br />are able to return to family and community, but others require housing with services such as in an IRTS. <br />There are currently 48 IRTS in the state of Minnesota. Waiting lists are 2 to 8 weeks long. In the past year, <br />Sherburne County Health & Human Services has referred 13 Sherburne County residents to IRTS facilities. <br />These facilities were located in St. Cloud, Brooklyn Center, Minneapolis, Robbinsdale, Maplewood, Austin, <br />Marshall and Rochester. The goal of services is to assist the patient to master skills that will allow them to live <br />independently in their community of choice. Skills needed include accessing medical and psychiatric care, <br />medication management, finding appropriate housing, managing finances, etc. A person may live in an IRTS <br />up to 90 days in order to master these skills. <br />Everyone living in an IRTS facility has a County case manager. The case manager attempts to establish a <br />supportive relationship with their client. This is more easily done if the patient is living nearby. An IRTS facility <br />in Elk River would allow mental health case managers to drop in frequently and work collaboratively with <br />their clients. It is far more difficult to establish and maintain relationships with clients who are 50-200 miles <br />away. <br />Having an IRTS facility in Elk River would also allow for the development of strong working relationships with <br />the IRTS staff. Monitoring of the facility would occur very naturally in the course of working with clients <br />residing there. County staff would have a good sense of the operation and whether there are any concerns. <br />Equal Opportunity Employer Web Site: <br />PublicFYealth <br />