DATE: November 5, 2024
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Sanja Bugay, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Amendment No.1 to Agreement with Cultural Brokers Services, Inc. for Child Welfare Services Parent Partner Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute the First Amendment to Agreement with Cultural Brokers Services, Inc. for the provision of Child Welfare Services parent partner services, extending the term by six months from January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025 and increasing the maximum compensation by $241,086 to a total of $1,903,476.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will extend the term of the agreement with Cultural Brokers Services, Inc. (CBI) by six months to allow the Department of Social Services (DSS) to continue provisions for parent partner services while they issue a new request for proposal for a newly revamped parent partner program. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There are no viable alternative actions. If the recommended action is not approved, there will be a lapse in parent partner services and support. Such an action will adversely impact the engagement of Child Welfare Services (CWS) families working towards reunification.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The increased maximum compensation amount of ($1,903,476) will be fully offset with California Senate Bill 163 Trust Funds. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Org 5610 FY 2024-2025 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
To continue the ongoing efforts of ensuring safety, permanency, and well-being of children in Child Welfare, DSS has contracted with a local community-based organization for the provision of parent partner services. Parent partners ensure parents are equal partners, if not leaders, in the development and implementation of their behaviorally based service plans, case plans and treatment plans. Parent partners further advocate and represent the needs and perspectives of parents to CWS staff and decision makers in the reunification process. Additionally, parent partners ensure that parents have access to a comprehensive array of prevention and support services that meet their individual needs and increase family engagement.
On November 19, 2019, your Board approved an agreement with CBI to provide parent partners services. Services included 800 Team Decision Meetings (TDMs)/ Child and Family Team meetings (CFTs), 1000 one-on-one mentoring sessions, 60 support group sessions, 24 CWS parent orientations and 260 caregiver home visits per year.
In the Department’s continued efforts to enhance service quality and support family preservation and reunification, it was determined that the parent partner program be updated and expanded to be more fully integrated in both intake and ongoing CWS services. In addition to utilizing parent partner services in the Family Reunification service area, the Department is expanding services to include the Voluntary Family Maintenance service area and the Permanency Planning service area. The recommended Amendment seeks to add funds and extend the agreement to allow enough time for the Department to complete the bidding process on the renovated program and to transition these families, if necessary, to a new provider.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #53, November 19, 2019
BAI #49, March 12, 2019
BAI #70, October 17, 2017
BAI #19, January 06, 2015
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Amendment No.1 to Agreement with CBI
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander