DATE: June 10, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Susan Holt, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT: Agreement with the California Department of Rehabilitation
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Cash Transfer Agreement with California Department of Rehabilitation for a grant match that provides funding for vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with a serious mental illness through Dreamcatchers Empowerment Network, effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028, total not to exceed $581,169.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will enable the Department of Behavioral Health and the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) to draw down Federal grant funds to provide State funding for vocational and education services within the County. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended action is not approved, the DOR will be unable to leverage sufficient Federal grant funds, and the vocational and education services program operated through Dreamcatchers Empowerment Network for eligible individuals may lack sufficient funding to maintain and operate the program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The total cost for the annual local match obligation under the recommended agreement ($581,169) will be financed with Mental Health Services Act - Community and Supports funds. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Org 5630 FY 2025-26 Recommended Budget and will be included in future budget requests.
DISCUSSION:
Since August 2011, the Department has collaborated with DOR to combine resources and provide vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with serious mental illness.
On June 23, 2020, the Board approved Agreement No. 20-237, a cooperative agreement with DOR to leverage Department funds to draw down Federal grants to provide vocational and education services for eligible individuals with a serious mental illness within the County.
On May 3, 2022, the Board approved Agreement No. 22-173, which replaced the previous cooperative agreement with DOR with a Cash Transfer Agreement for a grant match to provide funding for vocational and education services within the County. Agreement No. 22-173 is set to expire June 30, 2025.
The recommended agreement continues the collaboration between the Department and DOR to provide vocational and education services by leveraging funds provided by the Department to DOR as a Non-Federal cash match allowing DOR to draw down Federal funds to operate a vocational and education program for individuals with a serious mental illness that are eligible for services from both the Department and DOR. In FY 2023-24, 89 unduplicated persons were served through services funded by this agreement. For FY 2024-25 year to date, 64 unduplicated persons were served through services funded by this agreement.
DOR selects a vendor to provide these services and establishes a direct agreement with that vendor using the funds in this recommended agreement. The vendor selected for these services is Dreamcatchers Empowerment Network.
The recommended Agreement does not include indemnification or insurance requirements. Additionally, the recommended Agreement requires the County to follow a dispute resolution process if a dispute arises between the parties rather than seek relief in a court of law.
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
The Behavioral Health Board was notified of this agreement at the May 2025 meeting.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #30, May 3, 2022
BAI #34, June 23, 2020
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with DOR
CAO ANALYST:
Ron Alexander