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Health and Human Services Agency recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Agreement for Services 4959 with Wayfinder Family Services, for the provision of “as requested” therapeutic counseling, guardianship navigation and support services, and family assessments, for the term July 1, 2020 through July 30, 2023, with a maximum contractual obligation of $200,000;
2) Make findings in accordance with El Dorado County Ordinance Code, Chapter 3.13.030 (B) "Specialty skills and qualifications not expressly identified in County classifications are involved in the performance of the work." Therefore it is appropriate to contract with Wayfinder Family Services for services provided under this Agreement 4959; and
3) Authorize the Purchasing Agent, or designee, to execute further documents relating to Agreement for Services 4959, including amendments which do not increase the maximum dollar amount or term of the Agreement, and contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
FUNDING: Federal and State.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
Pursuant to WIC 16501-16508, HHSA’s Child Welfare Services program is required to provide services to promote family reunification for children and families. Such services are designed to promote well-being of children by ensuring safety, achieving permanency, and strengthening families to successfully care for their children.
Lilliput Children’s Services merged with Wayfinder Family Services as of July 1, 2020. HHSA has contracted with Lilliput Children’s Services since 2014, specifically for the provision of therapeutic counseling services. Therapies include individual, group, and family counseling and cover subjects such as Parent Coaching/Nurturing, Family Maintenance and Reunification Therapy, Transitioning from Foster Care to Adoption, and Healing Parent Group.
Further, Welfare and Institutions Code 18961 provides for parent education and support programs. The guardianship navigation and related support services provided by Wayfinder Family Services includes assisting informal kinship caregivers with filing for legal guardianship, conducting guardianship workshops and support groups, and providing information/assistance/referrals.
Finally, with the “Continuum of Care Reform” family assessments are to be completed with each resource family applicant. The family assessment is a series of in-depth interviews with all individuals who reside in the home of the resource family applicant. Due to the extreme time commitment to complete family assessments, this State-mandated requirement exceeds current HHSA capacity in both workload and expertise. Additionally, if Wayfinder Family Service receives reimbursement from the State’s “Private Adoption Agency Reimbursement Program,” for the family assessment, Wayfinder will reimburse HHSA for the cost of the family assessment or will credit HHSA with one (1) additional family assessment at no charge to HHSA. HHSA is not eligible to seek this reimbursement from the State.
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 this Agreement.
ALTERNATIVES:
Disapproval of Agreement for Services 4959 will result in difficulty meeting the service demands of the community, may disrupt the progress and continuity of care for clients currently receiving services. Additionally, since HHSA is not able to realize cost savings due to reimbursement from the State for psychosocial assessments, disapproval of this agreement will require HHSA to potentially pay for services that could potentially be reimbursed by the State.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
17-0585, 06/20/2017, 06/20/17 HHSA Lilliput Agmt
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
N/A.
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 2020-2021 budget, and will be included in future budgets for the term of the Agreement.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Obtain signature of Chair on two (2) original Agreements for Services 4959.
2) Clerk of the Board to return one (1) fully executed Agreement to the HHSA Contracts Unit at 3057 Briw Road.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
County Strategic Plan: Healthy Communities
CONTACT
Don Semon, Director, Health and Human Services Agency