DATE: June 30, 2026
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Sanja Bugay, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Agreement with Generational Changes, Inc.
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with Generational Changes, Inc. for mental health assessments for employability, effective July 1, 2026, not to exceed five consecutive years, which includes a two-year base contract and three optional one-year extensions, total not to exceed $450,000.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended action, which will allow Generational Changes, Inc. (GCI) to provide an assessment and documentation of the presence or absence of a mental health condition that may limit a General Relief (GR) client’s ability to engage in work or job-related training. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action. Not approving the recommended action will result in the Department being in noncompliance with the state mandated GR program to provide required timely access to mental health services for GR recipients and applicants.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The maximum amount to be paid under this agreement shall not exceed $450,000 for the total possible five-year term of the recommended agreement and will be funded with countywide revenues. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the FY 2026-27 Recommended Budget for GR Org 6645. Actual costs will be determined by the quantity and duration of the assessments provided, as compensation will be provided on a fee-for-service basis. Ongoing costs for the remaining terms of the recommended agreement will be included in future budget requests.
DISCUSSION:
GR is a County-funded safety net program that provides cash or in-kind services to individuals and households without children who are not eligible for assistance under any other categorical aid program. The recommended agreement will provide payment to GCI for completed mental health assessments, enabling the Department of Social Services’ (DSS) Eligibility Workers to determine, in a timely manner, the applicant or recipient’s eligibility for GR on the basis of a mental health incapacity.
Historically, the County of Fresno’s Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) has provided the mental health assessments for GR clients, but in recent years, DBH has clarified their mission to serve only those individuals with moderate to severe mental illness. This does not align with the GR population that DSS refers for employability assessments. Beginning on July 1, 2020, DSS partnered with an interim provider, Pacific Forensic Psychology Associates, Inc. (DBA Sharper Future), to provide assessments through a purchasing agreement (P-20-249), in order to allow time for the development of a competitive solicitation for a new service provider. DSS released a Request for Proposal (RFP) 21-031 on February 10, 2021, where GCI was selected to provide Mental Health Assessments for Employability and the board approved Agreement A-21-196 on June 8, 2021. The agreement included a two-year base contract, with three optional one-year extensions concluding on June 30, 2026.
RFP 26-040 for Mental Health Assessments for Employability was released on January 20, 2026. An evaluation panel composed of representatives from the Department of Social Services familiar with the GR population evaluated each proposal based on the requirements of the RFP. Two proposals were received for this RFP, GCI and Erene Soliman Psychologist Inc. The dollar amounts of the respective bids are not applicable as this is a fee for service agreement, with selection based on bidder-provided data, capability and qualifications. The evaluation panel recommended GCI based on their complete, responsive bid that specifically addressed the County’s need for mental health assessments for employability and their unique solutions to ensure assessments will be completed for each referred client.
The term of the recommended agreement is a two-year base contract with up to three optional one-year extensions, consistent with the terms of the RFP. The agreements may be terminated without cause by either party upon providing 30-day advance written notice.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #39, June 8, 2021
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with GCI
CAO ANALYST:
Ron Alexander