DATE: June 30, 2026
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Joe Prado, Director, Department of Public Health
Susan L. Holt, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
Sanja Bugay, Director, Department of Social Services
Kirk Haynes, Chief Probation Officer, Probation Department
SUBJECT: Agreement with Fresno Pacific University for Clinical and Field Experience for Students
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with Fresno Pacific University, for clinical and field experience for its students, effective July 1, 2026, not to exceed five consecutive years, which includes a three-year base contract and two optional one-year extensions ($0).
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action, which will allow for continued clinical and field experience for Fresno Pacific University (FPU) students through the Departments of Public Health, Social Services, Behavioral Health and Probation. The current agreement with FPU expires on June 30, 2026. This item will create a new agreement. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board not approve the recommended agreement, there would be no mechanism in place after June 30, 2026 for FPU students to obtain required clinical and field experience through the Departments of Public Health, Social Services, Behavioral Health and Probation.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. FPU provides workers’ compensation, general liability, and professional liability insurance coverage for all students who participate in the program.
DISCUSSION:
The County maintains agreements with institutions of higher education to facilitate clinical and field experience placements. FPU is a key local partner in this effort. In order to meet degree and graduation requirements established by applicable professional licensing and accrediting bodies, FPU students enrolled in various academic programs are required to complete supervised practicums, internships, and field placements within active professional environments.
Partnering with FPU provides benefits to County departments and the community. Primarily, this partnership strengthens the local workforce pipeline. These clinical placements serve as effective recruitment tools, creating a direct pipeline of qualified candidates for traditionally hard-to-fill classifications, including Public Health Nurses and Mental Health Clinicians. Furthermore, providing local placement opportunities encourages FPU graduates to remain in the region and transition into permanent County employment, thereby reducing long-term turnover and training costs. Additionally, these students bring current academic research, evidence-based practices, and innovative perspectives directly into County departments, elevating the overall quality of service delivered to the public.
The current agreement with FPU expires on June 30, 2026. The proposed agreement would be effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029, with the option to renew for two additional 12-month periods, contingent upon satisfactory performance as outlined in the agreement and mutual written agreement of both parties. The Department of Public Health Director, or designee, may issue written notice of non-renewal no later than 60 days prior to the end of the fiscal year or terminate the agreement without cause upon 30 days’ advance written notice.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #36, June 8, 2021
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with FPU
CAO ANALYST:
Ron Alexander