Title
Health Services Department, Mental Health Division (MHD), recommending Chairman be authorized to sign retroactive Agreement 030-S1011 (144-MHD0409) with South Lake Tahoe Family Resource Center in the amount of $136,900 for the term July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010 to provide outreach and support services primarily for Latino individuals and families in South Lake Tahoe.
FUNDING: State Mental Health Services Act (MHSA).
Body
BUDGET SUMMARY: |
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Total Estimated Cost |
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$136,900 |
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Funding |
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Budgeted |
$136,900 |
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New Funding |
$ |
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Savings |
$ |
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Other |
$ |
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Total Funding Available |
$136,900 |
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Change To Net County Cost |
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$0 |
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost: The not-to-exceed amount of this Agreement is $136,900. There is no Net County Cost associated with this Agreement.
Reason for Recommendation: One of the programs identified in the County's approved MHSA Community Services and Supports (CSS) Plan (as well as the draft Prevention and Early Intervention Plan) is a Health Disparities Initiative, addressing health disparities and culturally specific services for the Latino and Native American communities. The Board approved CSS Plan specifically calls for the SLT Family Resource Center to provide bilingual/bicultural mental health services, including group work, for the the Latino population. Through the proposed Agreement, the SLT Family Resource Center will provide: outreach, engagement, service brokerage, and peer/family support using a Promotora model; an early intervention counseling program for at-risk individuals; and a community-based mental health services center providing culturally specific programs for the local Latino population, including outreach, engagement, screening, assessment, service brokerage, case management, and youth, adult, and family psycho-education, skill development, and counseling. The service center staff will work in concert with the Promotoras.
The goal of the SLT Family Resource Center program is to reduce barriers to mental health care access, thereby decreasing the health disparities experienced by the Latino population in South Lake Tahoe. This goal is accomplished by use of cultural and linguistic peer outreach to effectively engage the Latino community into critically needed services. The contractor staff funded by this program work collaboratively with County staff under the general supervision of the MHD Deputy Director.
MHD has had clients being served by SLT Family Resource Center during the previous fiscal year and prior to the expiration of the previous contract on June 30, 2009. The Department began efforts to revise and renew this Agreement in Spring, 2009; however, significant revisions were required to produce a new contract acceptable to all parties. The previous agreement was a "flat rate agreement" paying a set amount each month, which was not considered an acceptable compensation method for the County. The previous agreement also lacked sufficient clarity in regard to the scope of services, service provider qualifications, reporting requirements, etc. It has taken an extended time to draft, negotiate, and coordinate through both County and Contractor review/approval processes the agreement now submitted to the Board. Despite challenges and delays in processing this extensively revised contract, it was considered necessary to continue to serve the individuals and families relying upon this fully MHSA funded program to avoid the fiscal and human consequences associated with lapses in critical mental health services.
Action to be taken following Board approval:
1. Chairman to sign two (2) original Agreements.
2. Board Clerk's Office to return one (1) original Agreement to the Health Services Department, Mental Health Division.
3. Mental Health Division to distribute as appropriate.
Contact: Neda West, Health Services Department
Concurrences: This Agreement has been approved by County Counsel and Risk Management and a copy is on file in the Board Clerk's Office.