Title
Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board:
1) Make findings pursuant to Section 3.13.030 (B) of the El Dorado County Ordinance Chapter 3.13, Contracting Out, that the Child Welfare Services therapeutic counseling provided by Alice Rodriguez, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Inc. (Alice Rodriguez) are in the public's best interest and that there are specialty skills, qualifications, and equipment not expressly identified in County classifications involved in the performance of the work;
2) Make findings in accordance with Procurement Policy C-17 Section 3.4(2f) exempting the competitive bidding process, with Purchasing Agent concurrence, because “the procurement is for services where the continuity of providers will provide efficiency or critical knowledge, and other providers of the services cannot provide similar efficiencies or critical knowledge”;
3) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Amendment I to Agreement for Services 9109 with Alice Rodriguez, increasing the amount of the Agreement by $71,284 for a new maximum obligation of $150,000, with no change to the term of three years from November 5, 2024, through November 4, 2027;
4) Authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute amendments relating to Agreement 9109, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management, which do not increase the maximum dollar amount or term of the Agreement; and
5) Authorize the HHSA Director, or the Chief Assistant Director, to execute programmatic, administrative, and fiscal documents relating to Agreement 9109.
FUNDING: 37% Federal Funding, 21% State Funding and 42% County Realignment Funding.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
HHSA Child Welfare Services (CWS) is required to provide services to promote family reunification for children and families, pursuant to California Welfare and Institutions Code Sections 16501-16508. Such services are designed to promote the well-being of children by ensuring safety, achieving permanency, and strengthening families to successfully care for their children.
HHSA maintains agreements with providers for the provision of therapeutic counseling and related services to ensure the capacity and immediate availability of crucial services to support CWS family reunification. This ensures that CWS clients can be referred by their caseworker on an "as needed" basis to receive necessary, and often court-mandated services from the most appropriate and conveniently located provider. The choice of provider is based upon the specific needs of each individual HHSA client.
HHSA CWS currently utilizes Alice Rodriguez to provide services under Agreement 9109 for clients who do not qualify for therapeutic counseling services through their private insurance which includes: attendance at juvenile court appearances, Child and Family Team (CFT) or Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meetings, brainspotting therapy, individual/couples/family/group therapy, individualized substance abuse counseling, initial and progress reports, and juvenile court document preparation/reports. This provider works collaboratively with CWS staff to assist clients with addressing their trauma and other issues via therapy with the goal of family reunification and/or safely maintaining children in the home.
Agreement 8109 with Alice Rodriguez with a maximum obligation of $78,716 was executed by the Purchasing Agent on November 5, 2024. Amendment I is necessary to add additional funds, update rates, and update standard contract provisions. The increase to the maximum obligation is due to the overall increased demand for therapeutic counseling services and substance abuse counseling in the County. Alice Rodriguez is one of the contracted providers located on the West Slope of the County that offers both brainspotting therapy and substance abuse counseling, allowing clients the ease of seeing only one therapist/counselor for both services. As a result, the overall utilization of this agreement by clients has increased.
In accordance with Board Procurement Policy C-17, the contractor is exempt from competitive bidding, with Purchasing Agent concurrence, per Section 3.4, (2f) which states, "the procurement is for services where the continuity of providers will provide efficiency or critical knowledge, and other providers of the services cannot provide similar efficiencies or critical knowledge." HHSA recommends Board approval as the proposed agreement would ensure continuation of necessary therapeutic counseling services for CWS clients.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board decline to approve this recommendation, the courts could find a lack of reasonable efforts conducted by the County for family reunification cases, which could result in children remaining in foster care for longer periods, and would further delay family reunification. In addition, there could be a negative fiscal impact due to the inability to claim federal dollars for those families impacted by the lack of County substance use testing and outpatient services.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel, Human Resources, and Risk Management. The Auditor Controller was notified of this Amendment in accordance with Policy B-12.
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no Net County Cost associated with this agenda item. Sufficient appropriations were included in the fiscal year (FY) 2026-27 budget and will be included in future budgets for the term of the Agreement.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of Chair on one original Amendment I for Agreement 9109.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Olivia Byron-Cooper, MPH, Director, Health and Human Services Agency