Title
The Health and Human Services Agency, Mental Health Division, recommending the Board consider the following:
1) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Agreement for Services 040-S1511 with Foothill Indian Education Alliance, Inc., for the provision of culturally specific Native American prevention and early intervention services for the term July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2017 and with a maximum contractual obligation of $377,175; and
2) Authorize the Purchasing Agent or their designee to execute further documents relating to Agreement for Services 040-S1511, including amendments that do not affect the maximum dollar amount or the term of the Agreement contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
FUNDING: Mental Health Services Act.
Body
BUDGET SUMMARY: |
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Total Estimated Cost
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$377,175 |
|
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Budget - FY 2014/15
. |
$125,725 |
Budget - FY 2015/16
|
$125,725 |
Budget - FY 2016/17 |
$125,725 |
|
|
Total Funding Available
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$377,175 |
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Change To Net County Cost
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$0 |
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost
There is no impact to the net County Cost associated with this agenda item. Sufficient appropriations have been included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2014-15 budget and will be included in future budgets for the term of the Agreement. If changes in funding occur in future FYs, the amount of the Agreement will be adjusted appropriately.
Background
The original Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Plan developed for the County of El Dorado identified specific areas of need within our communities. The initial assessments identified underserved populations within the Latino and Native American populations. From this, the PEI Health Disparities program was developed. In more recent years, including during the community planning process for the FY 2013-14 MHSA Plan, additional unserved or underserved populations have drawn the focus of the community, including transitional age youth and older adults.
On December 10, 2013, the Board adopted and authorized implementation of the FY 2013-14 MHSA Plan (File ID 13-1512). Included in the approved FY 2013-14 MHSA Plan is the "Wennem Wadati: A Native Path to Healing" project under the Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) Health Disparities program, which targets all ages and includes outreach, access and linkage to medically necessary care, and stigma and discrimination reduction.
The County of El Dorado's Native American Resource Collaborative (NARC) designed this program, called "Wennem Wadati: A Native Path to Healing," which applies a combination of mental health services and traditional cultural teachings unique to the local Native American community. The Program was designed to provide culturally specific Native American services through use of Cultural Specialists, who are Native American community members, working in a professional capacity that access unique cultural contexts and characteristics through the use of traditional Native American healing approaches. The Program uses various prevention and early intervention strategies to address all age groups in the target population with the intent to maintain mental health well-being, improve wellness, and decrease health disparities experienced by the Native American community.
Reason for Recommendation
Once a MHSA Plan is adopted by the Board of Supervisors, the County implements the PEI projects identified in the MHSA Plan. Due to the specialized nature of the services required under the Project, the provisions of these services are more economically and feasibly performed by the Foothill Indian Education Alliance, Inc. than through the County Mental Health Division.
The Wennem Wadati program is a highly effective and culturally specific intervention strategy program designed to address gaps in service, health disparities, and the effects of traumatic stress in the local Native American community. The program reduces barriers to mental health care access while decreasing the health disparities experienced by the Native American population on the Western Slope. Failure to approve this Agreement for Services 040-S1511 would result in a decrease in services to current and future Clients.
Clerk of the Board Follow Up Actions
1) Chair to sign two (2) originals of Agreement for Services 040-S1511.
2) Clerk of the Board Office to return one (1) original Agreement to HHSA Contracts Unit at Briw Road.
Contact
Don Ashton, M.P.A., Director
Concurrences
County Counsel, Risk Management, and Human Resources