DATE: November 28, 2023
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Susan L. Holt, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT: Participation Agreement with California Mental Health Services Authority for Participatory Action Research with Justice-Involved Youth Using an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs) Framework
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Participation Agreement with the California Mental Health Services Authority for Participatory Action Research with Justice-Involved Youth Using an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs) Framework, effective upon execution through June 30, 2028, total not to exceed $2,585,000; and
2. Approve and authorize the Department of Behavioral Health Director, or designee, to be the signatory and act as the Fresno County representative on behalf of the Board of Supervisors on associated California Mental Health Services Authority Innovation program related reports and forms, with no change to the compensation maximum.
REPORT
Approval of the first recommended action will assign funding to the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) upon execution to act as a fiscal intermediary and administrative agent for the Participatory Action Research with Justice-Involved Youth Using an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs) Framework Innovation (INN) plan. Approval of the second recommended action will allow the Department of Behavioral Health Director to sign related reports and forms, without modifying the maximum compensation, and act as a representative of the County. The services are funded with Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) INN funds, with no increase in Net County Cost. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board not approve the first recommended action, the Department would be unable to move forward with the State approved INN plan and funds could be subject to reversion. If the second recommended action is not approved, the Department will return to the Board for all necessary reports and forms.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The cost for all services will be funded with MHSA INN funds. The cost for the recommended agreement with CalMHSA will not exceed $2,585,000. The cost is inclusive of the 13% administrative fee of total program funding due to CalMHSA. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department of Behavioral Health’s Org 5630 FY 2023-24 Adopted Budget and will be included in future budget requests.
DISCUSSION:
On September 14, 2010, the Board executed Agreement No. 10-489 with CalMHSA, authorizing the Department to join the CalMHSA Joint Powers Authority (JPA), to develop, implement, administer and provide fiscal oversight of MHSA projects.
On June 18, 2013, the Board approved Amendment No. 10-489-1 with CalMHSA, broadening the stated purpose for the JPA to allow CalMHSA to perform additional services for Behavioral Health Departments acting alone or in collaboration with other Departments, which includes but is not limited to data management, research, and development.
The recommended Participation Agreement that will begin upon execution and go through June 30, 2028, will be a research project on how the Department can use interagency and community collaboration to determine best practices for the prevention of justice involvement among youth from the youth for the youth. In this INN project, the Department seeks to learn strategies for engaging justice-involved youth in general and in research, as well as learn strategies to reduce future involvement in the justice system.
The Agreement varies from the standard County template as it was drafted by CalMHSA. The template is utilized by CalMHSA to execute Participation Agreements with different counties and is consistent statewide. Risk Management recommended the inclusion of standard County insurance requirements and indemnity language. These were not incorporated as CalMHSA will include these provisions in the agreements with the chosen researcher. The Department believes that the benefits of the recommended agreement outweigh any potential risks and recommends approval of the agreement.
The recommended Participation Agreement is a five-year contract with the option for early termination in which either party may withdraw from the program upon a three (3) month written notice. Upon cancellation, termination or other conclusions of this contract, any County funds remaining undisbursed after CalMHSA satisfies all obligations arising from the administration of the program shall be returned to the County.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #57, June 13, 2013
BAI #39, September 14, 2010
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with CalMHSA
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander