DATE: June 18, 2024
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Sanja Bugay, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Amendment to Agreement with Vocational Management Services, Inc.
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute Amendment No. 1 to Agreement with Vocational Management Services, Inc. to extend the term of the existing Agreement for Job Ready Services for California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids Welfare-to-Work participants with disabilities by one year from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, and increasing the maximum by $600,000 to a total of $2,981,918.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended action, which will extend the term of the agreement with Vocational Management Services, Inc. (VMS) by 12 months to allow the Department of Social Services (DSS) to continue to provide California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) Welfare to Work (WTW) participants with a specialized training program for those who have been assessed with, or disclosed having, a learning disability, intellectual disability, or physical disability, and assist them in obtaining their employment, vocational, or educational goals. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action. If your Board does not approve the recommended action, the Department will be out of compliance with the Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC), section 11320 et seq., which mandates employment services for WTW participants.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The maximum cost of the recommended agreement ($2,981,918) will be offset using the CalWORKs Single Allocation. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Org 5610 FY 2024-25 Recommended Budget.
The County has a required Maintenance of Effort (MOE) of $4,022,882 for FY 2024-25 for the CalWORKs program. Once the MOE has been met, all expenses over that amount will be 100% funded with State and Federal dollars up to the amount of the annual CalWORKs Single Allocation. Social Services Realignment funds will be used to meet the CalWORKs MOE.
DISCUSSION:
Job Ready Services are State-mandated employment services that the Department provides to recipients of CALWORKs WTW assistance. Services must be in accordance with the WIC Division 9, Part 3, Chapter 2, Section 11320 et seq., which requires the County to deliver a structural sequence of employment related activities to WTW recipients. The Department offers a primary Job Ready program and in addition offers a Job Ready program tailored to the needs of WTW participants with disabilities.
On June 22, 2021, your Board approved Agreement number 21-229 with VMS to administer CalWORKs Job Ready Services in Fresno County.
This recommended amendment to the agreement seeks to increase the term by an additional 12 months and increase the maximum contract value by $600,000 to a total of $2,981,918. Approval of the recommended action will allow services for CalWORKs clients to continue unimpeded. DSS will have the opportunity to assess the program as it is currently administered and to evaluate how the future funding will be leveraged to continue providing the necessary services to CalWORKs clients.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #68, June 22, 2021
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Amendment 1 to Agreement with VMS
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander