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Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign revenue-generating Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) 10004 with the County of Alpine for the provision of limited as-needed administrative, technical, and service support services provided by HHSA's Protective Services programs, with no maximum obligation for a perpetual term;
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign revenue-generating MOU 10103 with the County of Alpine for the provision of limited as-needed administrative, technical, and service support services provided by HHSA's Self-Sufficiency programs, with no maximum obligation for an initial three-year term with an option for a two-year extension, and
3) Authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute amendments relating to MOU 10004 and 10103 which do not increase Net County Cost, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
FUNDING: Fee for service revenue from the Alpine
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
On February 11, 2020, the Board approved the Chair to execute revenue generating MOU 4364 with Alpine, for a term effective upon execution through April 4, 2023, which approved as-needed limited support and administrative services to be provided by EDC Child Welfare Services (CWS) staff to Alpine for the Child Welfare Services Content Management System (CWS/CMS) and services related to the California Automated Response and Engagement System (CARES) (Legistar file 19-1473).
Following execution of MOU 4364, Alpine identified additional needs for expanded services to be provided from other HHSA divisions, which included program support and technical assistance for a variety of EDC programs, such as but not limited to CWS case management, on call-staffing for the CWS hotline, California Statewide Automated Welfare System (CalSAWS) support, Adult Protective Services (APS), In-Home-Supportive Services (IHSS), Public Health Nursing support, and limited Behavioral Health (BH) and Public Guardian (PG) services.
On July 8, 2022, the Board approved the Chair to sign MOU 6156, which was an agency-wide contract shared by multiple HHSA divisions, for the term effective April 5, 2023, through April 4, 2026, with an option to extend the MOU for two additional years, for a maximum term through April 4, 2028 (Legistar file 22-1289). As the new MOU 6156 is a shared agency-wide contract, the MOU was overseen by the HHSA Administration/Finance (Admin) division, which made it difficult to administer due to the scope and it was not advantageous to have HHSA’s Admin Division oversee or approve the work, as the expertise and staff time being used was in each of the named divisions. Consequently, each HHSA division that wants to continue offering the provision of EDC services to Alpine will be entering into separate MOUs for their division’s specific service needs to ensure that any services requested by Alpine can be approved by the impacted EDC division’s Contract Administrator.
HHSA’s Social Services division has competent and experienced staff and is able to perform the various services through MOUs 10004 and 10103 that may be requested by Alpine. In exchange, Alpine will reimburse EDC for staff time provided as HHSA will invoice Alpine quarterly for services provided through these MOUs and Alpine will be charged at cost as applicable through State claiming plus a 15% administrative fee. Upon final execution of these MOUs, existing MOU 6156 between the parties shall be terminated.
HHSA is recommending the Board approve this agenda item to allow its Social Services division to provide Alpine with as-needed programmatic, technical, and administrative support for critical services, including CWS, APS, IHSS, and Eligibility programs. Support may include technical assistance for systems like CWS/CMS, CWS-CARES, SAWS, and Medical Eligibility Data System (MEDS), as well as on-call social worker staffing for 24/7 abuse and neglect hotlines. This partnership ensures continuity of essential services and compliance with all applicable laws.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could decline these MOUs thus denying Alpine as-needed HHSA Social Services division staffing assistance. The existing MOU 6156 will expire on April 4, 2026, and Alpine will be notified that EDC will no longer be able to offer as needed administrative or technical support thereafter.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
1) 02/11/20, 19-1473, HHSA MOU-Alpine County CWS Technical Support
2) 03/21/23, 22-1289, HHSA - MOU 6156 Alpine County
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel, Risk Management, Human Resources
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with this agenda item. HHSA will receive fee for service revenue from Alpine for any services rendered to Alpine through these MOUs.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Obtain signature of Chair on MOU 10004; and
2) Obtain signature of Chair on MOU 10103.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
N/A
CONTACT
Olivia Byron-Cooper, MPH, Director, Health and Human Services Agency