DATE: November 16, 2021
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Kirk Haynes, Chief Probation Officer
SUBJECT: Agreement with Focus Forward
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing FY 2021-22 appropriations for Probation’s Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act Fund 0271, Subclass 13020, Org 34370100 in the amount of $299,873 (4/5 vote);
2. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing FY 2021-22 appropriations and estimated revenues for Probation Org 3430 in the amount of $299,873 (4/5 vote); and
3. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with Focus Forward for the provision of planned reentry programming, community and family support services for Probation-involved youth and their families, effective December 1, 2021 through November 30, 2026, not to exceed five consecutive years, which includes a three-year base contract and two optional one-year extensions, total not to exceed $2,611,560.
REPORT
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions, as costs for the agreement will be funded with Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act (JJCPA) funds. Approval of the recommended actions will allow Focus Forward to provide planned reentry programming, community and family support services for Probation-involved youth and their families. The agreement maximum for each year is $522,312. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended actions No.’s 1 and 2 are not approved, the County would not have sufficient funds for the agreement. If the recommended action No. 3 is not approved, the County may have to complete another request for proposal, which could result in a delay in the provision of the aforementioned services to Probation-involved youth and their families, until such time that a new vendor is selected.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions, which will be funded by JJCPA and Local Innovation Subaccount funds, $299,873 and $222,439 for FY 2021-22 respectively. The $222,439 in Local Innovation Subaccount funds is included in the FY 2021-22 Adopted Budget for Org 3430. The maximum compensation for the recommended agreement is $522,312 annually and $2,611,560 for the total possible five-year term. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenue will be included in future budget requests.
DISCUSSION:
On May 10, 2016, the Board approved Agreement No. 16-187 with Focus Forward to provide re-entry services to youth committed to and released from the Juvenile Justice Campus (JJC) and their families, effective June 1, 2016 through May 31, 2021, not to exceed five consecutive years, which included a three-year base contract and two optional one-year extensions.
On April 4, 2017, the Board approved the First Amendment to Agreement No. 16-187 with Focus Forward, to expand the re-entry services to youth committed to and released from the Juvenile Justice Campus to foster care or a group home by adding a third full time social worker position.
On April 9, 2019, the Board approved the Second Amendment to Agreement No. 16-187 with Focus Forward, to expand in-custody and post-release re-entry services to foster care youth by adding a fourth full time social worker position, increasing the agreement maximum compensation amount by $174,166, to a total of $1,894,774.
On May 11, 2021, the Board approved the Third Amendment to Agreement No. 16-187 with Focus Forward, to extend the agreement term by six months, from May 31, 2021 to November 30, 2021, and increase the agreement maximum compensation by $222,439, to a new total of $2,117,213. This amendment allowed the Probation Department additional time to adequately develop a plan for services that meets the specifications of the Juvenile Justice Realignment Block Grant program.
On July 28, 2021, the Purchasing Division issued Request for Proposal (RFP) Number 22-002, soliciting proposals from qualified agencies to provide services that address all components of reentry programming, community and family support services for Probation-involved youth. The RFP included one addendum, issued August 11, 2021 and had a closing date of August 24, 2021. The RFP indicated that services would be provided to youth in the community, youth in-custody, and youth being released from the JJC facility, as well as their families, and would include the provision of a validated evidence-based parenting program. The RFP defined families as parents, guardians, siblings, foster parents, and any other designated caregivers, either in the home or in an out-of-home placement. The RFP indicated that the Probation Department intended to select a single agency to provide these services and that programming services would use evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapies to support successful reentry, family reunification, and decrease formal Probation involvement and recidivism rates.
The RFP was posted to Public Purchase, and two responses were received. A five-member review committee was assembled, including members from the Probation Department, the Department of Behavioral Health, and the Department of Social Services. The review committee evaluated and ranked the proposals in accordance with the award criteria outlined in the RFP. The Review Committee found Focus Forward’s proposal to be a clear, thorough, and comprehensive response to the RFP. Focus Forward’s proposal also exhibited their use and understanding of evidence-based programming and was supported by the use of documentation and statistics. The proposal also displayed in-depth knowledge of the needs of the juvenile population for reentry and rehabilitative services in Fresno County, with Focus Forward demonstrating 15 years of experience providing the requested services within the County of Fresno. The Review Committee expressed that one area of the proposal was very robust and exceeded RFP requirements, as Focus Forward provided impressive attachments, forms, assessments and flowcharts. The reviewers also found the cost proposal to be reasonable for the requested services. Therefore, the review committee unanimously ranked Focus Forward the most responsive bidder and recommended awarding the agreement to Focus Forward.
Approval of the recommended actions will allow Focus Forward to continue to provide planned reentry programming, community and family support services for Probation-involved youth and their families and would allow sufficient funding to compensate Focus Forward for the professional and specialized services to be provided related to the recommended agreement. The recommended agreement provides that the Department will provide approximately 681 square feet of office space at the JJC, as well as supplies and equipment, without charge, for use by Focus Forward while providing services at the JJC. Focus Forward will also provide services offsite, including at including Focus Forward’s facility, community locations, and at the homes of youth and their families.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI # 35, May 11, 2021
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Budget Resolution Org 34370100
On file with Clerk - Budget Resolution Org 3430
On file with Clerk - Agreement with Focus Forward
CAO ANALYST:
Greg Reinke