DATE: June 21, 2022
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Susan Holt, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT: Agreement for the Holistic Wellness Program
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with The Fresno Center for the Holistic Wellness Program, effective July 1, 2022, not to exceed five consecutive years, which includes a three-year base contract and two optional one-year extensions, total not to exceed $4,483,595.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will provide a Holistic Wellness Program to individuals in the County. The intent of the program is to provide prevention activities to individuals and/or families from underserved populations to reduce risk factors for developing a potentially serious mental illness and to build on protective factors. The recommended agreement will be funded with Mental Health Services Act - Prevention and Early Intervention (MHSA - PEI) funds, with no increase in Net County Cost. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board not approve the recommended action, the Department of Behavioral Health would be unable to provide underserved and unserved target populations with prevention services promoting the wellness and recovery of individuals served based on complementary, culturally based holistic practices and education.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The cost for FY 2022-23 is $896,719; $4,483,595 over the term. Services are funded with MHSA - PEI funds. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Org 5630 FY 2022-23 Recommended Budget and will be included in future budget requests for the term.
DISCUSSION:
Through the MHSA planning process-which included focus groups, stakeholders’ meetings, consumer data, and surveys-the County identified key community mental health needs for underserved/unserved cultural-based populations. The Holistic Wellness Program is a non-treatment program designed to promote the wellness and recovery of persons served based on complementary, non-traditional holistic practices. The program incorporates spiritual and cultural approaches to wellness and recovery in a natural and welcoming community setting. The Holistic Wellness Program is designed to promote opportunities that support the wellness of the ‘whole person’ while complementing traditional outreach, linkage, and referral to community-based services, educational opportunities, and stigma reduction activities. The Holistic Wellness Program was first implemented as an Innovation program in July of 2012. The program was renewed as a PEI program on June 20, 2017, and the current contract will end June 30, 2022.
The Holistic Wellness Program utilizes Cultural Brokers to create a place that serves as a bridge between clinically-based Western practices and culturally-based holistic approaches by facilitating wellness and prevention services for persons served. The focus of the Holistic Wellness Program is to provide prevention activities to reduce risk factors for developing a potentially serious mental illness and to build on protective factors. The program also provides an approach that addresses behavioral health issues for individuals or cultural groups who may not seek mainstream behavioral health services.
Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 22-040: Holistic Wellness Program was released by the Department and the Internal Services Department - Purchasing Division (ISD - Purchasing) on February 11, 2022, and over 200 agencies were notified through Public Purchase. The RFP closed on March 10, 2022, with one proposal received. The accepted proposal was reviewed on March 22, 2022, by an evaluation committee comprised of members from the Department of Behavioral Health, Department of Public Health, NAMI Fresno, and United Way. The committee recommended the proposal submitted by The Fresno Center for funding.
Approval of the recommended agreement will allow The Fresno Center to deliver services to an estimated 5,000 individuals with a 7-10% increase in individuals served every year. The populations served include all age groups of underserved cultural populations including, but not limited to, Hispanic/Latino, Southeast Asian, African American, Immigrant/Refugee, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Veterans, individuals experiencing homelessness and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LBGTQ) community members.
Upon approval by your Board, the recommended agreement will be effective July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2025, with an option for two additional one-year terms dependent upon satisfactory performance outcomes and available funding. The recommended agreement can be terminated without cause by County, The Fresno Center or Department Director, or designee, upon 30 days advance written notice of an intention to terminate the agreement.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with The Fresno Center
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa