Motion by Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky

AUGUST 29, 2000

MOTION BY SUPERVISORS ZEV YAROSLAVSKY AND MICHAEL ANTONOVICH

During the past two decades, a large number of congregate living houses, group homes and apartment complexes have emerged throughout Los Angeles County to provide sober living housing for people recovering from alcohol and drug problems. These sober living facilities are supported primarily through fees paid by residents who are recovering from alcohol or drug addiction.

In recent years the sober living model has been replicated to offer congregate living to other groups, including the mentally ill, disabled and homeless. Today there are more than 400 sober/congregate living facilities in Los Angeles County housing approximately 8,000 individuals in recovery or rehabilitation.

There are eight regional Sober Living Coalitions in Los Angeles County that oversee quality control in their member’s facilities. These coalitions serve as forums for information and resource sharing, peer review and mutual assistance. Collectively, these coalitions represent an expanding recovering community within Los Angeles County. The organization called Sober Living Network provides training, technical assistance and advocacy for the regional coalitions and for sober living homes in general.

The development of sober and congregate living housing has become an important adjunct to the more formal system of community-based and government sponsored alcohol, drug treatment and rehabilitation programs in Los Angeles County. Some County funded agencies have developed sober/congregate living centers in order to help their program graduates move into housing environments conducive to their long-term recovery and rehabilitation.

The usefulness of congregate/sober living housing has expanded into the criminal justice system. The courts rely on these facilities as a diversion option for persons charged with alcohol and drug related offences. Sober living is a resource for inmates desiring to live in a sober environment upon their release. The Parole Division of the State Department of Corrections is a major referral source for sober living housing.

An important issue regarding sober/congregate living is the lack of formal certification and monitoring of these facilities. While the regional coalitions monitor quality through their own peer-review process, this does not provide the kind of independent review needed to assure an appropriate standard of operations. There have been discussions among sober living coalitions, County departments and State officials regarding the need for formal monitoring of sober living facilities. However, no action has been taken to formally implement such a system.

Recently, representatives of Sober Living Network proposed that the Board of Supervisors form a Countywide Sober/Congregate Living Task Force. The purpose would be to develop recommendations regarding implementation of a formal certification and monitoring program.

WE, THEREFORE, MOVE that the Board instruct the Director of Health Services to convene the Los Angeles County Task Force on Sober and Congregate Living; assign staff to the Task Force; and administer the activities of the Task Force with regard to scheduling meetings, keeping records and writing reports. The Director shall appoint the members to the Task Force, including representatives from the following organizations and groups:

one member designated by each Supervisor
one member from the Sober Living Network
two members from sober living coalitions
two members from the Department of Health Services, including the Director of the Alcohol and Drug Program Administration
one member each from the Departments of Probation, Mental Health, Community and Senior Services, Public Social Services, County Counsel and Los Angeles Superior Court
Three additional members as determined by the Director of Health Services

WE FURTHER MOVE that the Los Angeles County Task Force on Sober and Congregate Living be instructed to develop recommendations regarding the certification and quality control of sober and congregate living facilities in Los Angeles County. These should include standards of operation, organizational, and administrative system requirements necessary to maintain quality assurance of these facilities. The Task Force shall return to the Board by February 1, 2001 with a report reflecting their findings and recommendations.