DATE: September 10, 2024
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Luchini, RN, PHN, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: Retroactive Application and Affiliation and License Agreement to Implement the Healthy Families America Model
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Retroactively authorize the Department of Public Health’s previous submittal of an affiliation application to the evidence-based model developer Prevent Child Abuse America for the Healthy Families America® Program;
2. Under Administrative Policy No. 34 for competitive bids or requests for proposals (AP 34), determine that an exception to the competitive bidding requirement under AP 34 is satisfied and a sole source is warranted due to unusual or extraordinary circumstances, and that the best interests of the County would be served by entering into an agreement with Prevent Child Abuse America, as it is the only vendor able to provide affiliation and licensing for its proprietary evidence-based home visiting model, Healthy Families America®; and
3. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Affiliation and License Agreement with Prevent Child Abuse America, for the Healthy Families America® program, effective upon execution, through June 30, 2029, not to exceed five consecutive years, which includes a three-year base contract and two optional one-year extensions, total not to exceed ($28,750).
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with approval of the recommended actions, which will waive the competitive bidding process and allow the Department of Public Health (Department) to provide a new evidence-based home visiting service to families. The Healthy Families America® (HFA) program is funded by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) California Home Visiting Program (CHVP) State General Funds (SGF) Expansion. The program will provide strengths-based, intensive, in-home services that focus on enhancing child welfare, health, and development, both prenatally and after birth. It should be noted that the affiliation application was submitted to Prevent Child Abuse America (PCA America) on May 10, 2024, contingent upon the Board’s approval, to meet the implementation goal set with CDPH. The affiliation application was approved by PCA America on May 22, 2024. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended actions are not approved, the affiliation application will be rescinded, and the Department will forego the opportunity to offer this valuable new service and would be unable to utilize the funding currently allocated to this program.
SUSPENSION OF COMPETITION/SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT:
It is requested that the County find under AP 34, that an exception to the competitive bidding requirement is satisfied, and a sole source is warranted due to unusual or extraordinary circumstances, as PCA America is the only vendor authorized to provide affiliation and licensing for its proprietary evidence-based home visiting model. The Internal Services Department - Purchasing, concurs with the Department’s assessment that this satisfies the exception to the competitive bidding process required by AP 34.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The maximum compensation for FY2024-25 is $7,500 with a total compensation not to exceed $28,750 for the term of the agreement. If approved, the maximum cost of the recommended agreement will be 100% funded by Health Realignment. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Org 5620 FY 2024-25 Recommended Budget and will be included in subsequent budget requests.
DISCUSSION:
The CHVP is a preventative intervention focused on promoting positive parenting and child development, strengthening family functioning, and cultivating strong communities. CDPH funding has supported the CHVP in the County since 2012. On June 9, 2020, your Board accepted SGF from CDPH to expand the CHVP. On November 16, 2021, your Board approved and accepted award funding for CHVP SGF Expansion for FY 2020-23. On April 25, 2023, your Board accepted additional CHVP SGF Expansion for FY 2022-23. On October 10, 2023, your Board approved and accepted award funding for the Department’s CHVP SGF Evidence-Based Home Visitation (EBHV) through June 30, 2028. Approval of the recommended actions would allow the Department to utilize SGF to cover the cost of this Affiliation and Licensing Agreement, allowing the County to provide HFA services through the Department’s CHVP.
CHVP funds local health jurisdictions to serve clients using Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP), Parents as Teachers (PAT), and Healthy Families America (HFA) home visitation models, based on the specific needs of the region. The CHVP SGF EBHV program provides additional funding with the long-term goal of increasing the number of families participating in the three models supported by CHVP. The Department has provided NFP home visitation services since 1997. The Department conducted a needs assessment and determined there was a gap in services for families who did not meet eligibility requirements for NFP and therefore determined the CHVP SGF EBHV would be best utilized by funding an alternative program. The Department completed comprehensive research on both the PAT and HFA models and determined HFA was the best fit for the Department’s CHVP SGF EBHV program. By adding a second model, the Department will be able to grow the network of local home visiting programs and expand participant eligibility.
PCA America is the developer of HFA, which is an internationally recognized, voluntary, evidence-based home visiting model with goals of increasing parent knowledge of early childhood development, providing early detection of developmental delays and health issues, preventing child abuse and neglect, and increasing children’s school readiness and success. HFA is highly rated by the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse and works to address health equity and the social determinants of health that impact child and family well-being. As a proprietary model, the Department was required to submit an affiliation application to PCA America prior to being granted permission to utilize the model. The application was submitted contingent on your Board’s approval. Through the affiliation and licensing agreement, PCA America will provide the County access to their proprietary property, and guidance in best practices for the use of the HFA model.
The recommended agreement was drafted by PCA America and deviates from the County’s standard agreement language; however, it contains standard language approved by the Human Resources Risk Management Department as well as County Counsel. The agreement will be effective upon execution and will remain in effect for a term not to exceed five years.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #56, October 10, 2023
BAI #71, June 20, 2023
BAI #38, April 25, 2023
BAI #45, November 16, 2021
BAI #29, June 9, 2020
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Sole Source Acquisition Request
On file with Clerk - Healthy Families America Affiliation and Licensing Agreement
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander