DATE: November 8, 2022
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Sanja Bugay, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Retroactive Agreement for Safety Organized Practice Training and Coaching
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Make a finding that it is in the best interest of the County to suspend the competitive bidding process consistent with Administrative Policy No. 34 for unusual or extraordinary circumstances for the solicitation of Safety Organized Practice training and coaching services for the Department of Social Services; and,
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a retroactive Agreement with California State University, Fresno Foundation to provide Safety Organized Practice training and coaching to Child Welfare Services staff, effective October 1, 2022 through June 30, 2025, total not to exceed $682,870
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Approval of the recommended actions will authorize a retroactive agreement with the California State University, Fresno Foundation (Foundation), through the Central California Training Academy (CCTA) to provide Safety Organized Practice (SOP) training and coaching. Services will provide training to Child Welfare Services (CWS) staff, consistent with the Department of Social Services’ efforts to improve outcomes for children and families who are involved with CWS. The recommended agreement will be funded with Title IV-E Federal and 2011 Realignment funds. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board not approve the recommended actions, additional training and coaching to improve social work practice competencies for CWS staff would be delayed.
SUSPENSION OF COMPETITION/SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT:
The Department’s request to suspend the competitive bidding process is consistent with Administrative Policy No. 34 as the Foundation’s unique position to provide SOP training and coaching consistent with core social work training it provides through CCTA. CCTA is one of four academies in the state, and the only one in Central California, designated by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) to offer mandated social work courses. CCTA’s trainers maintain expertise in courses and can integrate and reinforce these practices in small group and/or one-on-one settings to CWS staff. The Internal Services Department - Purchasing Division concurs with Department’s request to suspend the competitive bid process.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The recommended agreement is retroactive to October 1, 2022, due to the need for CWS staff to begin training as soon as possible. Three training cohorts began in October. The CCTA will be paid approximately $31,000 for the three two-day overview trainings, two SOP module trainings, and one coaching session to be completed between October 11 and November 7, 2022.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The maximum compensation in FY 2022-23 is $218,590; $682,870 for the term, offset with Title IV-E Federal funds ($328,517) and 2011 Realignment ($502,803). The Foundation’s in-kind match ($148,450) offsets a portion of the County’s share of cost. The maximum ($682,870) will be reimbursed to the Foundation. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Org 5610 FY 2022-23 Adopted Budget and will be requested in subsequent budgets.
DISCUSSION:
Since 2003, the Foundation has intermittently provided training and coaching services to CWS social workers and social work supervisors. The services are a component of the CCTA, which provides core child welfare training to new social workers. Training and coaching reinforce core practice concepts and competencies and while assisting with the Department’s child/family practice model. The Foundation’s last agreement with the Department for these services expired June 30, 2017. The Department is reintegrating this training to improve outcomes for children and families who are involved with CWS.
Training and coaching are provided to CWS staff to acquire the complex skills and competencies necessary to provide safe and effective outcomes for children and families involved with CWS. Regular follow-up support and coaching enhance the classroom training concepts. The Foundation will also assist social work supervisors with further development of their role as educators and trainers to social workers. Services will be provided to CWS staff in a small group setting.
Per contract year, the recommended agreement will fund 13 two-day Core Practice Model (CPM)/SOP training cohorts of up to 45 CWS staff per cohort and 12 six-day CPM/SOP Module training cohorts of up to 32 CWS social workers and social work supervisors. The Foundation will also provide 396 hours of cohort coaching, separate from the training, and 66 hours of CPM coaching within the Department.
Upon approval, the recommended agreements will be retroactively effective October 1, 2022, and will expire June 30, 2025. The recommended agreement allows CSUF, or County, and/or County’s Director of Social Services or designee to terminate the agreement without cause, upon giving 30 day written notice. The Department currently has one agreement with California State University, Fresno for Student Clinical and Field Experience ($0) but does not have any current agreements with the Foundation, specifically.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #56, July 15, 2014
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Suspension of Competition
On file with Clerk - Agreement with Foundation
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa