DATE: April 7, 2026
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: John Zanoni, Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator
SUBJECT: Agreement with WestCare California, Inc. for CalAIM Pre-Release Care Coordinator Services at County Adult Detention Facilities
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with WestCare California, Inc. for pre-release care provider services to in-custody adult individuals at Sheriff-Coroner’s Office Adult Detention Facilities, effective upon execution, not to exceed three consecutive years, which includes a two-year base contract and one optional one-year extension, total not to exceed $3,028,888; and
2. Authorize the Sheriff, or their designee, to make changes to expense category subtotals set forth in the Agreement budget, provided such changes do not exceed ten percent (10%) of the maximum compensation payable to Contractor, and provided such changes do not increase the Agreement maximum compensation.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost with the recommended actions. Approval of the recommended actions will allow for implementation of a pre-release care coordination service agreement for in-custody adults under the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) Justice-Involved (JI) Initiative, which provides services to Medi-Cal eligible individuals up to 90 days pre-release to ensure continuity of care. WestCare California, Inc. (WestCare) was selected following a Request for Proposal (RFP) process. The recommended agreement will be funded with a combination of CalAIM Providing Access and Transforming Health (PATH) Capacity Building Program grant funds and Medi-Cal Federal Financial Participation. This item is county-wide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action. If your Board does not approve the recommended actions, the County will not be in compliance with CalAIM JI mandates at the Adult Jail and Juvenile Justice Campus. If the second recommended action is not approved, any changes to the expense categories in the budget will need to come back to the Board for approval.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The recommended agreement has provisions for a base contract and one optional one-year extension through March 31, 2029, with the effective date of April 7, 2026. The maximum compensation for the recommended agreement is $3,028,888 for services to in-custody adults. The annual maximum compensation will be as follows:
Jail
• Year 1 $985,708
• Year 2 $1,000,338
• Year 3 $1,042,842
Total $3,028,888
The maximum amount of the agreement ($3,028,888) will be fully offset with a combination of CalAIM PATH grant funds and Medi-Cal Federal Financial Participation (FFP) revenues. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in Sheriff-Coroner’s FY 2025-26 Adopted Budget Org 3111 and will be included in future budget requests for the duration of the term of the agreement.
DISCUSSION:
California is the first state to offer Medi-Cal services to youth and adults in correctional settings up to 90 days before release, expanding access beyond the traditional post-release model. Through a federal Medicaid 1115 waiver, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is establishing a coordinated reentry process to connect individuals with needed health care services upon release.
DHCS’ CalAIM PATH JI Funding was distributed in three rounds. Rounds 1 and 2 supported correctional agencies in planning with county social services to prepare for pre-release services. Round 3 funded staffing, capacity, and IT upgrades to implement those services. On November 7, 2023, the Board approved retroactive submission and acceptance of Round 3 funding for the Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator, Probation Department, and Department of Behavioral Health.
On February 14, 2025, Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 25-027 for CalAIM Pre-Release Care Coordination Services was released by Internal Services Department - Purchasing Division (ISD-Purchasing), with Addendum One released on February 26, 2025. The RFP closed on March 13, 2025, with five bids received.
• California Forensic Medical Group (CFMG dba Wellpath): Jail - $4,310,694; JJC - $1,475,911
• Kings View: Jail - $20,203,461; JJC - $4,285,216
• North Star Wellness Center: Jail and JJC - $3,113,479
• WestCare: Jail - $3,028,888; JJC - $386,858
• West Fresno Family Resource Center: $3,249,956; JJC - $2,376,789
The RFP Evaluation Panel recommended funding the proposal submitted by WestCare after determining that it was the most responsive, with a well-structured plan and with reasonable costs, adequate staffing and strong industry knowledge. WestCare has extensive experience serving the justice-involved population, with strong qualifications in both in-custody and out-of-custody services. Their expertise includes clinical consultation, substance use disorder treatment, and community-based collaboration, reinforcing their ability to meet program requirements.
Under the recommended agreement, WestCare will provide pre-release care coordination services which include, but are not limited to, reviewing Health Risk Assessments completed by the County’s contracted correctional treatment provider, developing individualized Reentry Care Plans and coordinating with the relevant Managed Care Plans to identify assigned Enhanced Care Management Lead Care Manager, and provide care coordination and warm handoffs to community-based providers prior to release. . The modification clause in the agreement and the second recommended action of this item delegate the Board’s authority to the Sheriff or their designee to make non-material changes to the agreement. These changes shall not result in any change to the maximum compensation amount.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #44, November 7, 2023
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with WestCare (Jail)
CAO ANALYST:
Fine Nai