Health & General Welfare Committee meeting minutes — Thursday, June 17, 2021
Meeting was called to order at 5:30 pm by Jason. Jason welcomed members. Zanne read the mission of the San Francisco Black-Jewish Unity Alliance and the Health and General Welfare Committee focus. “The San Francisco Unity Group is a grassroots organization, made up of people of faith and or social activists, who are committed to the causes of racial, social and economic justice and dismantling systemic racism at the local, regional and national levels. Our Health and General Welfare Committee focus is to advocate for and partner with local organizations to support underserved communities' access to culturally appropriate health care, nutritional education and healthy foods, housing security, safe spaces for physical activity, and mental health and substance abuse services.”
Robert updated us our letter on SB 106 in which we, acting at the request of Jessica Brown, the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s Acting Director of the Office of Equity and Workforce Development, seek to amend the bill with a streamlined funding process. Malcolm approved the bill which will be submitted. Although the intent of SB 106 was to add some flexibility in funding for mental health services to underserved communities, the bill is burdensome with a time-consuming bureaucratic funding approval process that detracts from time needed for urgent mental health service delivery. Robert, a health care consultant with expertise in the legislative process, noted that each comment submitted to the authors is read. As we advocate through submitting bills, we, the SF Unity Alliance, become a known quantity. Letters make an impact and support principals. We are showing up and building credibility with thoughtful letters.
Zanne read our public comment, drafted by Robert, June 1 at the Health Commission meeting in support of the Department of Public Health’s proposal for a Drug Sobering Center in SOMA. It was passed by the Health Commission and subsequently the Board of Supervisors. Malcolm brought AB 988 and AB 816 to our attention. AB 988 implements the national 988 mental health crisis hot line in California, so a mental health crisis is handled by mental health professionals. We have written a letter of support, but we underscore that this is only a first step in building a comprehensive mental health support system. Malcolm approved the bill, and it will be submitted. AB 816 requires municipalities account for the funds they spend on programs for homeless residents with enforceable results based on accountability to end homelessness. We will reach out to Senator David Chui’s office for a template and possibly draft a letter.
June 8, Audrey, Linda and David met with Jessica Brown and Monica Steptoe, the Executive Director of Jelani House, to discuss Jelani House needs and potential support from the city. Jessica is new to her job and living in San Francisco. It will take some time for her to settle in, and she will not be able to adequately address this issue until October. However, Jessica feels that Jelani house will get some support from the city. Audrey offered to connect Jelani House with Jewish Family Services. Monica declined the help and mentioned some support Jelani House was getting from a Homeless coalition. A future partnership is uncertain. Currently, vaccination is not mandatory and many clients are unvaccinated. As such volunteering at the site is not viable. Dropping off food was suggested as a possibility. Jelani House may benefit from an outside consultant’s advice on their mission, operation and volunteer program. We need Malcolm’s opinion.
Ann spoke with Olivia from the Coalition on Homelessness. She would like to come talk to our group about the Compassionate Alternative Response Team (“CART”). CART is community run rather than city run like the Street Crisis Response Team and the Street Wellness Response. The argument for CART is people on the street (well, surely many) want to be in the care of people who understand their plight firsthand. Olivia says that a problem with services being connected to “institutional powers” is that they are susceptible to political pressure, such as when a business might want a sweep. We need more information. Jason and Zanne will reach out to Olivia to learn more.
Robert reminded us that learning about and discerning what partnerships are viable for us is a work in progress.
Zanne reached out to her supervisor Catherine Stefani, and she and Jason will meet with Supervisor Stefani on July 21,2021 to discuss possible partnership opportunities. Zanne will put a prototype Supervisor outreach letter on SLACK.
ACTION ITEMS:
Outreach to supervisors to introduce self and the UG- EVERYONE
Submit letters for SB 106, AB 988 and possibly AB 816
Jason and Zanne reach out to Oliva at Coalition on Homelessness
Suggestions from Anne Quaintance of CONARD HOUSE- JASON
Research gun laws to support- General idea for group to research
Dr. Nadine Brooks Harris, Surgeon General of California- Anyone who has contact with Dr. Harris
Promote within UG the Street Crisis Response Teams-JASON
Suggestions from Anne Quaintance of CONARD HOUSE- JASON
SF African American Faith Based Coalition-LINDA