Title
Human Services Department recommending the Board authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute Agreements for Services with three (3) group home/foster family agencies (AASK America, Inc. dba Adopt A Special Kid 677-S0911, Olive Crest Treatment Centers 148-S0911 and St. Patrick's Home for Children 155-S0911) for the provision of emergency shelter care and/or foster care placement services on an "as requested" basis, noting all three (3) agreements shall continue until terminated and specify a maximum annual compensation of $100,000.
FUNDING: Federal and State Social Services Allocation with required County Share of Cost met primarily with realignment resources.
Body
Maximum Annual Cost $300,000.00
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Funding |
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Budgeted up to |
$300,000.00 |
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Per Vendor Maximum |
$100,000.00 |
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Total Funding Available |
$300,000.00 |
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Change To Net County Cost |
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$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. A total of $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 not-to-exceed annual compensation of $100,000 allows for anticipated maximum potential usage.
Background: The Department of Human Services (DHS) 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 with no stated term 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 who requires placement.
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.
Reason for Recommendation: The three Agreements for emergency shelter care and/or foster care placement services are with new vendors. All three are located in California. The maximum annual compensation specified in these Agreements represents the not-to-exceed amount that may be received by each 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 $100,000. Maximum annual compensation for similar agreements has previously been set at $250,000. This amount has been adjusted downward pursuant to a request from the Chief Administrative Office (CAO) in order to address current budgetary concerns. The $100,000 amount for each vendor may not be reached in any given fiscal year; however, this amount provides flexibility to DHS for any sudden increase in the need for multiple placements with a particular vendor.
Working in conjunction with the CAO, the Department has established a tracking system that regularly monitors the level of expenditures for combined placement services as well as for each individual vendor. This tracking system allows DHS and the CAO to ensure that overall expenditures remain within budget while also allowing ample time to amend any individual agreement for which actual placement costs will exceed its annual not-to-exceed maximum compensation amount.
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 subsequent approval of the Department's intent to contract with each individual vendor.
Purchasing Agent Recommendations: The Purchasing Agent reviewed the Department's request to enter into these Agreements and concurs that it is appropriate to dispense with a competitive selection process as the Department of Human Services (DHS) maintains purchase of services Agreements with multiple local, state and national vendors for the provision of emergency shelter care services for its clients to ensure that clients can be referred by their caseworker on an "as requested" basis to receive necessary services from the most appropriate and conveniently located vendor. Choice of vendor is based on the specific needs of each individual DHS client. The Purchasing Agent with CAO concurrence has determined that it is not necessary to coordinate outside review of the vendors' qualifications.
Action to be taken following Board approval:
1. Purchasing Agent to execute two (2) copies each of the three (3) approved Agreements and return one (1) original of each Agreement to Human Services at 3057 Briw Road
2. Human Services to distribute the documents as appropriate.
Contact: Jan Walker-Conroy x7272, Jasara Bento, x7312
Concurrences: County Counsel, Risk Management, and Human Resources have approved the three (3) attached Agreements.