DATE: June 24, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Sanja Bugay, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Agreement with Cultural Brokers Services, Inc. for Parent Partner and Resource Parent Mentor Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with Cultural Brokers Services, Inc. for the provision of Parent Partner and Resource Parent Mentor services effective July 1, 2025, not to exceed five consecutive years, which includes a three-year base contract and two optional twelve-month extensions, total not to exceed $2,333,085.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will continue community-based parent partner and resource parent mentor services to Child Welfare families in Fresno County. Both parents and resource parents will receive services to better support their quality of care when parenting children in, or at risk of being in, the care of the Child Welfare System (CWS). The cost of these services will be financed with Child Welfare funds, with no increase in Net County Cost. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There are no viable alternative actions. If your Board chooses to not approve the recommended action, parent and resource parents in Fresno County will not be able to receive advocacy and mentorship services making it very difficult to successfully navigate and collaborate with the complex CWS.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The maximum amount of the agreement ($2,333,085) will be offset with the Flex Family Supports for Home Based Foster Care State General Fund Allocation ($583,271) and SB 163 Trust Funds ($1,749,814). Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Org 5610 FY 2025-26 Recommended Budget and will be included in subsequent budget requests.
DISCUSSION:
In the Department’s continued efforts to ensure safety, permanency, and wellbeing of children in the Child Welfare, The Department has contracted with a local community-based organization for the provision of parent partner and resource parent mentor services. The resource parent mentor serves caregivers or resource parents of children involved with CWS. Services by the resource parent mentor include home visits, attendance and participation in Child and Family Team (CFT) meetings, and referrals to appropriate resources. The parent partners will provide guidance based on their lived experience and mentorship to parents currently navigating the child welfare system. Parent Partner services will include participation in CFT meetings, facilitation of peer support groups, and one-on-one mentoring sessions.
The recommended agreement will make available, through Cultural Brokers Services, Inc., parent partner and resource parent mentorship services. Both parent partners and resource parent mentors provide support to Child Welfare System (CWS) families as well as advocate and represent the needs and perspectives of parents to CWS staff and decision makers in the Department.
The Department currently maintains an agreement with the recommended vendor, Cultural Brokers Services, Inc. for family advocacy and liaison services ($3,109,664) which expires June 30, 2026, and for parent partner and home visitor services ($1,903,476) which expires June 30, 2025.
On December 26, 2024, a Request for Proposal (RFP) #25-042 for Parent Partner and Resource Parent Mentor services was released on Public Purchase. Two proposals were received by the closing January 28, 2025. One proposal was deemed non-responsive and disqualified by the Purchasing Manager. A five-member review committee was established and included representatives from the Department of Social Services, Department of Public Health, and a non-profit organization. The remaining proposal was reviewed and awarded based upon the RFP specifications, response quality, proposed services and costs.
The Department sought to award one vendor to provide the proposed services. The review committee unanimously selected Cultural Brokers Services, Inc.’s proposal for funding and the recommended Agreement illustrates the committee’s final recommendation. Cultural Brokers Services, Inc. was chosen due to their extensive experience with the target population and their ability to conceptualize the services and clearly spell out how they will deliver those services.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #65, November 5, 2024
BAI #53, November 19,2019
BAI #49, March 12,2019
BAI #70, October 17,2017
BAI #19, January 6, 2015
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with Cultural Brokers Services, Inc.
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander