Title
Human Services Department recommending the Board approve and authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute Agreements for Services with eighteen (18) foster family agency or group home vendors for the provision of emergency shelter care and/or foster care placement services on an "as requested" basis, noting each Agreement shall continue until terminated and specifies a maximum annual compensation amount of $250,000.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve.
FUNDING: Federal and State Social Services Allocation with required County Share of Cost met primarily with realignment resources.
Body
BUDGET SUMMARY: |
|
|
Total Estimated Cost |
|
$4,500,000.00 |
|
|
|
Funding |
|
|
Budgeted |
$4,500,000.00 |
|
New Funding |
$ |
|
Savings |
$ |
|
Other |
$ |
|
Total Funding Available |
$4,500,000.00 |
|
Change To Net County Cost |
|
$ 0 |
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost: No change. Emergency shelter care services, which are necessary pending Court-ordered case disposition, require a 15% to 30% County share of cost. Court-ordered foster care placement services require a 40% to 60% County share of cost. The State reimburses the County for the federal and state share of cost in a varying ratio based on an array of circumstances. $5,230,329 is budgeted for provision of emergency shelter care and foster care services during FY 2008-09. Funds for these services are budgeted annually based on projected need. The per vendor maximum annual compensation of $250,000 allows for maximum potential usage.
Reason for Recommendation: The Department of Human Services is responsible for the administration and provision of Child Welfare Services, which frequently involves the emergency removal of children from an unsafe situation or environment, followed by Court-ordered foster care placement to ensure the ongoing safety of the children. Under certain circumstances, voluntary placement of children may occur at the request of the parent(s) for a specified period of time. DHS currently maintains contracts for the purchase of emergency shelter and foster care placement services with multiple group home and foster family agency vendors, locally, statewide and nationally, to ensure the placement of children in the most appropriate location and environment to meet the widely varied needs of each individual child that is removed from his/her home by the Department's Child Protective Services.
While usage with a given vendor may be occasional or sporadic, it is necessary to maintain a contractual arrangement with as many vendors as possible in anticipation of potential child placement needs. When placement is Court-ordered with a non-contracted vendor, every effort is made to expedite execution of an Agreement retroactive to the actual placement date. DHS has determined that establishing contracts with foster care vendors that continue until terminated facilitates ongoing maintenance of these necessary Agreements and ensures the ongoing availability of appropriate placement options.
Of the eighteen (18) Agreements presented for approval, four (4) replace term-limited Agreements and the remaining fourteen (14) are with new vendors.
The maximum annual compensation for each Agreement represents the full amount that may be received by the vendor during a single fiscal year. Due to the inherent unpredictability in actual usage of any individual vendor (ranging from frequent to intermittent to rarely) the maximum annual compensation for each Agreement has been set at $250,000. The $250,000 amount for each vendor would seldom, if ever, be reached but would provide flexibility for the Department for any sudden increased need for multiple placements with a given vendor.
In accordance with Procurement Policy C-17, the Purchasing Agent has evaluated the Department's request for foster care contracts and has determined that because the Department contracts with all available local providers for emergency shelter and foster care placement services, and because the contractors must meet State licensing requirements, the vendor selection process used is appropriate and additional outside review of the contractors' professional qualifications is not necessary.
Human Resources has determined that the nature of services provided by the foster family agencies and group homes negates the need for their review and approval of the Department's intent to contract with each individual vendor. County Counsel and Risk Management have approved each of the Agreements. A list of the vendors reflecting Agreement effective dates and maximum annual compensation amounts is attached, as are copies of the Blue Routes for each vendor Agreement and one example Agreement without vendor specific information.
Action to be taken following Board approval:
1. Purchasing Agent to execute two (2) copies of the eighteen (18) approved Agreements as detailed on the attached list.
2. Procurement and Contracts to return one (1) original of each Agreement to Department
3. Human Services to distribute the documents as appropriate.
Contact: Doug Nowka, x6163
Concurrences: County Counsel and Risk Management