Title
Health and Human Services Agency recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Agreement for Services 4002 with New Morning Youth and Family Services, Inc. for the provision of emergency shelter care services on an “as requested” basis, with a maximum contractual obligation of $200,000, for the term of three years effective upon execution; and
2) Authorize the Purchasing Agent, or designee, to execute further documents relating to Agreement for Services 4002, including amendments that do not increase the maximum dollar amount or term of the Agreement and contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
FUNDING Funded with up to 72% Federal and 28% Realignment funds.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
The County desires and has the duty to provide protection in the form of emergency shelter care for certain children who have been taken into protective custody by County’s Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA), and whom County takes or accepts into its charge to ensure their safety and well-being. Currently, the County is able to place children for short term emergency care with New Morning Youth and Family Services using the CDSS Group Home Agreement. With changes occurring due to Continuum of Care Reform, New Morning Youth and Family Services will no longer have a rate letter with the State to allow group home placement. This agreement 4002 for emergency shelter service will allow the County to continue providing a service through a direct contract with the vendor.
HHSA’s Child Welfare Services (CWS) program staff strives to ensure safe, permanent, and nurturing families for children by protecting children from abuse and neglect, while attempting to preserve the family unit. CWS accomplishes this goal by evaluating and referring clients to the services necessary to support families. WIC 16500 et seq. encourages HHSA’s CWS staff to provide services that promote reunification of children and families in the CWS program. Therefore, specific and specialized services are selected by CWS staff to assist individuals to overcome obstacles with the goal of improving client quality of life.
The services provided by New Morning Youth and Family Services, Inc. have been a valuable resource to the families served by CWS since 2005 and continue to be a successful tool in supporting HHSA CWS staff in ensuring clients receive appropriate services. All services shall be provided on an “as requested” basis to deliver necessary, and in some cases, court-mandated services. HHSA contracted for emergency shelter care services in the past with New Morning Youth and Family Services via Agreement 918-S0811, (File ID 08-0713, 5/20/08) which was a perpetual group home agreement renewed annually until it was terminated on March 6, 2017 (File ID 13-0674) due to the change in procedure for obtaining shelter care upon transitioning to use of the State of California 154 (Group Home Agreement) and SOC 154A (Foster Family Agency Agreement).
In accordance with Board of Supervisors Procurement Policy C-17, Section 7.11, the contractor selection process for service contracts in excess of $100,000 must include a review of the scope of services and contractor’s professional qualifications by a group of individuals (including at least one representative from outside the department requesting the services) qualified to judge the contractor’s ability to perform the services. HHSA has documentation on file that such a review was performed for Agreement 4002 with New Morning Youth and Family Services.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to approve this recommendation, HHSA will have difficulty meeting the immediate needs of youth placed into the care of CWS and those struggling to maintain placements.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
05/20/2008, 08-0713, DHS, Perpetual Group Home Agreements
06/20/2017, 13-0674, 06/20/17 HHSA FY 2017-18 Perpetual Agreements List
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Approved by County Counsel, Human Resources, and Risk Management
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Continuum of Care Reform has changed requirements for group homes and required programs to convert to Short Term Residential Therapeutic Programs or some other model. New Morning is not electing to convert and is operating on an approved group home extension, allowing business as usual. Previously HHSA could place children for group home services using the State Group Home Agreement and pay through a combination of county, state, and federal funds. Once New Morning’s group home extension runs out later in 2019, El Dorado County will have to utilize Social Services realignment funds for the cost of these placements. The increased use of Social Services realignment could impact services in other programs that utilize realignment. The County will pay more for this service under this model and is exploring other options for this service, however, until another solution is identified, it is critical to have a contract to allow emergency placements.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of Chair on two (2) original Agreements for Services 4002.
2) Clerk of the Board to return one (1) fully executed Agreement 4002 to HHSA Contracts Unit at 3057 Briw Road.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
N/A
CONTACT
Donald Semon, Director