DATE: May 26, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Dawan Utecht, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT: Participation Agreement with California Mental Health Services Authority for the Evaluation of Prevention and Early Intervention Initiatives
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Participation Agreement with the California Mental Health Services Authority for the Evaluation of Prevention and Early Intervention Initiatives, effective July 1, 2020 through December 31, 2021, total not to exceed $533,010; and
2. Approve and authorize the Department of Behavioral Health Director, or designee, to be the signatory and act as the Fresno County representative on behalf of the Board of Supervisors on associated California Mental Health Services Authority Evaluation of Prevention and Early Intervention Initiatives related reports and forms, without modifying the maximum compensation.
REPORT
Approval of the first recommended action will assign funding to the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) to act as a fiscal intermediary and provide program management and oversight for the Evaluation of Prevention and Early Intervention Initiatives. Approval of the second recommended action will allow the Department of Behavioral Health Director to sign related reports and forms, without modifying the maximum compensation, and act as a representative of the County. This service will be funded with Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) funds, with no increase in Net County Cost.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board not approve the first recommended action, the Department would be unable to evaluate program effectiveness for the Departments PEI programs as recommended in our approved MHSA FY 2018-19 Annual Update. If the second recommended action is not approved, the Department will return to the Board for all necessary action regarding reports and forms. This may cause a delay in providing and delivering services.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Services are fully funded with MHSA PEI funds. The total cost to operate the Evaluation of Prevention and Early Intervention Initiative is approximately $533,010. The cost is inclusive of the 9% administrative fee of total program funding due to CalMHSA. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues will be included in the Department’s Org 5630 FY 2020-21 Recommended Budget and will be requested in subsequent fiscal year budgets for the duration of the contract term.
DISCUSSION:
On September 14, 2010, your Board approved Agreement No. 10-489 with the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA), authorizing the Department to join the CalMHSA Joint Powers Authority (JPA), to develop, implement, administer and provide fiscal oversight of Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) projects.
On June 18, 2013, your Board approved Amendment No. 10-489-1 with the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA), broadening the stated purpose for the JPA to allow CalMHSA to perform additional services for Behavioral Health Departments acting alone or in collaboration with other Departments, which includes but is not limited to data management, research and development.
On June 18, 2019, your Board approved Fresno County’s MHSA FY 2018-19 Annual Update, which included independent evaluators to provide evaluation of the Departments PEI programs. The evaluators would develop an effective evaluation design and evaluation of the PEI programs to objectively measure the program’s effectiveness. The agreement will also establish process for the Department to continue future/on-going evaluation of PEI programs.
The recommended Participation Agreement will grant CalMHSA authority to contract with RAND Corporation for services on behalf of the County. RAND will assist the DBH with evaluation of its Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) programs. The evaluation will ensure programs are addressing specific needs, goals and outcomes, thus allowing for more effective monitoring, reporting and evaluation of the services. Programs evaluated include but are not limited to: Community Gardens, Youth Empowerment Centers, programs that are not suicide prevention related, and early intervention programs. The evaluation of services is broken down into five (5) tasks and evaluation services will be completed by December 31, 2021.
The Agreement varies from standard County template as it was drafted by CalMHSA. The template is utilized by CalMHSA to execute Participation Agreements with different Counties and is consistent statewide. Risk Management recommended the inclusion of standard County insurance requirements and indemnity language. These were not incorporated as CalMHSA will includes these provisions in the Agreement with RAND. The Department believes that the benefits of the recommended Agreement outweigh any potential risks and recommends approval of the agreement. County Counsel reviewed and approved of the agreement.
Upon approval by your Board, the recommended Participation Agreement will effective July 1, 2020 through December 31, 2021 with the option for early termination in which either party may withdraw from the program upon a six-month written notice, or extend as deemed appropriate with prior written notice and the availability of funds. Upon cancellation, termination or other conclusions of this contract, any County funds remaining undisbursed after CalMHSA satisfies all obligations arising from the administration of the program shall be returned to the County.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #36, June 18, 2019
BAI #57, June 13, 2013
BAI #39, September 14, 2010
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with CalMHSA
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald W. Alexander