Phoenix-based Connections Health Solutions will operate a 25-bed site sobering center in San Francisco under a 26-month performance-based contract with the city, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Feb. 26.
The RESET Center, expected to open in April, will serve as an alternative to county jail, allowing police to drop off individuals arrested for public drug use. The board of supervisors voted 9-2 to approve the facility.
Under the agreement, Connections’ funding is tied to speed, staffing and outcome performance metrics. The contract stipulates five performance indicators: average officer drop-off time; staffing levels; the percentage of people who stay until deemed sober enough for release; the percentage who voluntarily remain for recovery support; and the percentage who are linked to services at discharge.
The approval came despite a warning from the city attorney that the center does not meet state standards for detention facilities and could pose “very high legal risk,” according to an internal memo first reported by Mission Local.
One supervisor who voted against the measure said she was “concerned that there are going to be very few outcomes to actually show this will be worth it,” according to the report.
At the highest performance tiers, officer drop-off takes less than eight minutes, with more than 30% of people leaving connected to recovery services.
Connections stands to earn $657,018 per month in its first few months of operations. Payment could increase by 12.5% per month if it meets the highest performance targets. The monthly base rate is set to drop to $528,339 this summer and rise to $555,797 next year, the Chronicle reported.
