DATE: June 22, 2021
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Dawan Utecht, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT: Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness Program Agreements
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Application / Agreement with the California Department of Health Care Services for the Federal Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Grant effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 ($489,351);
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with Kings View Corporation for services to adults experiencing homelessness and serious mental illness and/or co-occurring disorders, effective July 1, 2021, not to exceed five consecutive years, which include a three-year base contract and two optional one-year extensions, total not to exceed $3,227,536; and
3. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Behavioral Health, or designee, to be the signatory on behalf of the Board of Supervisors on associated grant agreement documents, expenditure forms, reports, or modifications that do not exceed 10% of the maximum compensation.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended actions will provide integrated mental health, community outreach, engagement, case management, referral, treatment, and supportive housing services through Kings View Corporation (Kings View) to adults with serious mental health illness who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. On March 3, 2021, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) released an application / agreement for the Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) grant, due April 2, 2021. The Department submitted a placeholder application signed by the Department’s Director, contingent upon your Board’s approval, due to the short turnaround period for the PATH grant application / agreement process. Approval of the recommended actions will allow the Department to resubmit the application / agreement and designate the Department’s director to sign all necessary reports and forms due to DHCS for administration of the grant. The PATH agreement includes a 33% county match funded with Mental Health Services Act - Community Services Support (MHSA - CSS) funds. The Kings View agreement is funded with Federal PATH Grant, MHSA - CSS funds, Medi-Cal Federal Financial Participation (FFP) revenues, and client rent. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There are no viable alternative actions. If the recommended actions are not approved, services to adults experiencing homelessness and serious mental illness and/or co-occurring disorders will be impacted or may result in a higher cost to the County, grant funds would be forfeited, and the Department would bring all necessary reports and forms due to DHCS to your Board.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The maximum compensation for FY 2021-22 Kings View agreement is $671,272: $3,227,536 for the term. The recommended agreement is offset with Federal PATH Grant ($1,540,000), MHSA - CSS funds ($862,665), Medi-Cal Federal Financial Participation revenues ($753,393), and client rent ($5,010).
The PATH grant allocation for FY 2021-22 is $317,162, requires a County match of 33%, or $105,721, which will be funded with MHSA-CSS and includes a one-time Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) grant funding ($66,468) to enhance the outreach component, for a total amount of $489,351. PATH funds are utilized for county costs ($12,106) and the County’s PATH program contracted and operated by Kings View ($410,777). The administrative costs are 10% ($42,287).
Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Departments Org 5630 FY 2021-22 Recommended Budget and will be included in future budget requests.
DISCUSSION:
The Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act of 1990 established the Federal PATH grants administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). DHCS functions as a pass-through entity and direct services are administered through the Department. Since 1990, the Department has applied for the grant funding annually to address the needs of individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) and/or co-occurring SMI and substance use disorder, who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
The Department received notice of the PATH grant application / agreement from DHCS on March 5, 2021 with a submittal deadline of April 2, 2021. As in previous years, due to short turnaround time, a placeholder application was been submitted, contingent upon your Board’s approval, with signatures from the Department’s Director. Your Board’s approval of the recommended actions will allow the Department to submit an updated application / agreement to replace the placeholder application. In order to meet the needs of the Department, Kings View made changes across programs, resulting in changes to the FY 2021-22 budget after the submission deadline. As such, revised Intended Use Plan and Budget enclosures of the application / agreement will be submitted to DHCS during the allowable period of March 1, 2022 to May 31, 2022; see Attachment A. Any additional amendments to this application / agreement will be brought to your Board for approval.
On February 18, 2020, the Department in coordination with the Internal Services Department - Purchasing Division issued Request for Proposal #20-044 for PATH services which closed on June 2, 2020. An evaluation panel consisting of a Utilization Review Specialist from Fresno County’s Managed Care Division, a Fiscal Analyst from the Department’s Business Office Division, and a Principal Administrative Analyst from Fresno County’s Administrative Office reached a consensus to award Kings View the contract due to Kings View’s capability and experiencing operating the PATH Program, as well as providing an adequate cost proposal.
Kings View will provide mental health treatment, outreach, case management, crisis intervention, referral/linkage, supportive housing, education for persons served and family or other caregivers as appropriate, and integrated physical and mental health services in collaboration with primary care physicians. Approval of the recommended actions will allow Kings View to operate the PATH program.
The recommended agreement with Kings View provides for termination by Contractor, County, or designee upon giving 60 days advance written notice and also includes language allowing for the termination of the Agreement due to the non-allocation of funds upon giving of 30 days advance written notice to the Contractor. In addition, the recommended actions will allow the Department’s Director to execute necessary reports and forms due to DHCS for grant administration.
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
The Behavioral Health Board was notified of this application / agreement at the April 21, 2021 meeting.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Attachment A
On file with Clerk - Agreement with DHCS
On file with Clerk - Agreement with Kings View
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa