DPH honors sobering center and shelter-in-place teams; managed alcohol program to continue and expand

The Health Commission honored Department of Public Health staff who developed and operated two COVID-era programs: the Whole Person Integrated Care Sobering Center's Managed Alcohol Program (MAP) and the Whole Person Integrated Care shelter-in-place teams.

Commissioner Dorado read the commendation describing MAP as a 10‑bed, clinically monitored residential program for people with severe alcohol-use disorder designed to reduce withdrawal seizures, emergency-service utilization and other harms. The presentation included program statistics: 23 unique clients across 29 admissions, an average length of stay of about 100 days for discharged clients and about 240 days for those still enrolled, and an evaluation estimate that the program diverted an estimated 589 911 calls with projected cost savings of $1,300,000.

"People experiencing homelessness, especially those suffering from chronic illnesses, including chronic substance use, were among those we were most worried about when COVID first hit," Dr. Halley Hammer, director of ambulatory care services, said in remarks honoring the teams and their partnerships with EMS6 and community providers. She and commissioners emphasized the importance of continuing the program while DPH searches for a permanent site; the MAP currently operates in a leased hotel.

Commissioners also recognized multidisciplinary shelter-in-place teams that provided on-site urgent care, behavioral-health linkage, naloxone distribution and low-threshold buprenorphine for residents at SIP hotels. DPH said the MAP will continue with support through Prop C and other DPH funding, and staff plan to scale to 20 beds with a target to serve Latinx and indigenous Mayan communities among the expansion.