DATE: August 11, 2026
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Sanja Bugay, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Master Agreement for Parenting Education Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Master Agreement with authorized providers for the provision of Parenting Education Services, effective upon execution, through June 30, 2031, which includes a base contract and two optional one-year extensions, total not to exceed $3,716,395.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will allow the Department of Social Services to provide court-mandated parenting education services to individuals involved in the Department’s Child Welfare Services (CWS) system and/or Employment Services (ES). Parenting education services are designed to strengthen family resilience, enhance child safety, and promote family reunification. The recommended agreement will be funded with Title IV-B and CalWORKs funds, with no increase to Net County Cost. The item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board not approve the recommended action, the County of Fresno’s Department of Social Services (DSS) will be out of compliance with Welfare and Institutions Code §16507.7, and the Department’s inability to deliver court-mandated parenting education services will negatively impact the safety and well-being of parents and children involved in CWS and ES.
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 $3,716,395 and will be offset with Title IV-B, CalWORKs, and Child Welfare Realignment funds. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the FY 2026-27 Recommended Budget for the Department’s Org 5610 and will be included in future budget requests.
DISCUSSION:
The Department has been contracting out parenting education services since 2021, following a full procurement process in which Central Valley Children’s Services Network was selected and Agreement A-21-149 approved by the Board on April 27, 2021 to provide court-ordered parenting education classes only for Child Welfare families. Parent education programs are intended to support parents by helping them address parenting issues that support possible reunification efforts and reduce the risk of abuse or neglect when children remain in the home. These services focus on enhancing parenting practices, teaching age-appropriate child development skills and milestones, and promoting positive play and interaction between parents and children.
The Department’s current contract expired on June 30, 2026. However, the Department ensured there was no negative impact or lapse in services to parents currently enrolled in their parenting education classes. The Department executed a short-term Purchase Order with the incumbent vendor to cover services for the months of July, August and September. This allowed the Department to ensure parents already established in their program could graduate successfully without interruption while the new agreement proceeded through the required approval process. For parents not currently enrolled in a parenting education program, the department was able to engage parents and families in other necessary reunification services while we executed the new contract. This has allowed the Department to continue serving families without causing delays or negative impacts to reunification case plans and timelines.
When preparing for a new Request for Proposal, the Department sought to expand the current scope of the contract and offer a variety of evidence-based parenting curricula for parents of infants, children, tweens, adolescents, and teen parents throughout CWS and ES. These services will also include substance-use-informed parenting, child safety education, culturally responsive models, and court-approved curricula. A Request for Proposal (RFP #26-033) was issued on November 7, 2025, for the provision of parenting education services on a fee for service basis. In the proposal, the department indicated a need for the following categories of parenting education services:
• Infant and Young Children Curriculum (Ages 0-8)
Focuses on child development, attachment, nurturing relationships, and positive discipline strategies for infants, toddlers, and early school-age children.
• Young Children and Tween Curriculum (Ages 8-13)
Supports parents in navigating middle childhood, emphasizing communication, behavior management, school success, and peer relationship challenges.
• Teenage Curriculum (Ages 14+)
Prepares parents to engage with adolescents, focusing on autonomy, decision-making, conflict resolution, and healthy risk management.
• Adolescent Parent Curriculum
Focus on improving parent-child interactions; tools and techniques to help navigate parenting as a teen parent; and creating a more positive family environment.
• Substance Abuse Disorder Curriculum
Educates parents on the negative effects of alcohol and drug use by integrating trauma-informed practices to address intergenerational trauma, and the impact of parental substance use on children.
• Comprised Safety Parenting Curriculum
Designed for parents who may be under significant stress or have risk factors that affect their ability to parent safely, such as substance use, domestic violence, human trafficking, or a history of abuse.
• Culturally Informed Parenting Curriculum
Highlights parenting principles to align with cultural values, traditions, and community strengths while maintaining evidence-based core practices.
• Court-Approved Parenting Curriculum
Provides structured education that meets court mandates, focusing on child safety, conflict reduction, and co-parenting in high-stress family situations.
• Justice-Involved Parenting Curriculum
Tailored for parents involved with the justice system, addressing incarceration, re-entry, and maintaining healthy connections with children.
The RFP officially closed on December 12, 2025. Approximately 101 potential bidders were notified through Public Purchasing, and a total of eight bids were received and identified as responsive to the RFP. These eight responses included Able 2 Adjust, Exceptional Parents Unlimited-EPU (Brooke Frost Associates), Central Valley Children's Services Network, Cultural Brokers Inc., Focus Forward, North Star Family Center, Sow a Seed Community Foundation, and Transitions Children’s Services. All bidders submitted rate sheets with their proposal which met all RFP Requirements. All rates are established on a per-person, per-class basis, and vendors are required to adhere strictly to the rates outlined in their approved rate sheets.
An evaluation panel consisting of three-members, comprised of two Division Chiefs from the Department of Social Services and a Program Technician from the Department of Behavioral Health reviewed the responses and recommended four bidders: Central Valley Children's Services Network, Focus Forward, Cultural Brokers Inc., and Exceptional Parents Unlimited-EPU (Brooke Frost Associates) for funding. Awardees all met the requested services best suited to the County’s needs. Able 2 Adjust, North Star Family Center, Sow a Seed Community Foundation, and Transitions Children’s Services were not selected as awardees because they did not have an existing parenting education program. Each would require either time to secure a site or staff and therefore did not meet the need for an established, evidence-based curriculum. The recommended providers demonstrated strong operational infrastructure, cultural competence, and proven strategies for participant engagement and outcome measurement.
Central Valley Children’s Services Network demonstrated the strongest capacity, extensive child welfare experience, and a comprehensive evidence-based curriculum. Focus Forward showed strengths in serving families affected by substance use disorders and presented a detailed implementation plan. Cultural Brokers Inc. offers strong cultural expertise, operational readiness, and an evidence-based curriculum. EPU proposed high-quality curricula, qualified staff, and hybrid service delivery options.
Approval of the recommended Master Agreement will establish a vendor pool to deliver flexible, timely, and high-quality parenting education services annually. These services will include evidence-based curricula, culturally responsive approaches, specialized programming for families impacted by substance use disorders, and multiple service delivery models (in-person, virtual, and hybrid).
Noticing under AB339 for the release of the RFP did not occur as the formal Bid for these services was released prior to the January 1, 2026 effective date. The Department did provide MMBA notice and has/will be engaging with the union upon their request to meet and confer. To meet service mandates and avoid additional hardships to families in their reunification and or family maintenance processes, the Department is requesting to move forward with this agreement while actively participating in union discussions.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #46, April 27, 2021
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Master Agreement
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander