Ousted Health Chief Awarded Contract

A consulting firm headed by former Ventura County mental health chief Stephen G. Kaplan has been chosen to draw up a game plan for distribution of nearly $12 million in tobacco tax revenue.

At a Friday meeting, the county’s Children and Families First Commission chose Kaplan & Associates, because it submitted the strongest proposal, said Supervisor Kathy Long, the commission’s chairwoman.

“It was a unanimous decision, because he brought forth a very strong team,” Long said.

California will receive about $700 million that will be distributed to counties as a result of Proposition 10, which added a 50-cent tax to each pack of cigarettes. The money will be distributed to programs aimed at improving the lives of children under age 5.

Before the county can receive its $11.7-million share, the commission must create an action plan for how to allocate the money. Kaplan & Associates will be responsible for identifying county needs and making recommendations.

The firm will hold town hall meetings and organize a focus group to collect public comments. The commission will then allocate the funds to existing providers or to new programs, Long said.

Kaplan was pressured to resign as director of the Behavioral Health Department in March because of his role in the county’s bungled attempt to merge its social service and mental health departments. He has been consulting with government agencies since then.

Fallout from the merger has cost the county $15.3 million, so far, and it could lose millions more. Long said Kaplan’s involvement in the ill-fated merger was considered during the decision process, but his experience in the county and background in drug-prevention programs made him a desirable candidate nonetheless.

“The commission discussed it, and the concern was about public perception--not a reflection of his skills or the team.”

Kaplan & Associates will receive $80,000 for the six-month contract.

“This is going to be an exciting challenge, in that it is focusing much-needed attention on an age group that doesn’t get a lot of attention,” Kaplan said.