DATE: June 20, 2023
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Sanja Bugay, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Agreement with United Health Centers of the San Joaquin Valley for Mental Health Employability Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute Agreement with United Health Centers of the San Joaquin Valley for mental health employability services, effective July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026, which includes one optional 12-month extension, total not to exceed $5,665,036.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will allow United Health Centers of the San Joaquin Valley (UHC) to provide California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) Welfare to Work (WTW) and Cal-Learn participants the provision of services to address and remove mental health barriers to employment, with no increase in Net County Cost. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action. Should your board not approve the recommended action, the Department of Social Services (DSS) will be out of compliance with the Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) 11325.7, which mandates the provision of mental health services related to employability for WTW participants.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The maximum cost of the agreement $5,665,036 will be offset using the CalWORKs Mental Health and Substance Abuse allocation. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues will be included in the Department’s Org 5610 FY 2023-24 Recommended Budget and will be included in subsequent budget requests.
The County has a required Maintenance of Effort (MOE) of $4,022,882 for FY 2022-23 for the CalWORKs program. Once the MOE has been met, all expenses over that amount will be 100% funded with State and Federal dollars up to the amount of the annual CalWORKs Mental Health and Substance Abuse Allocation. Social Services Realignment funds will be used to meet the CalWORKs MOE.
DISCUSSION:
The CalWORKs WTW program requires clients to participate in work activities in order to receive cash aid, but for some participants, mental health issues can result in their inability to engage in or retain employment. Mental Health Employability Services (MHES) will allow CalWORKs and Cal-Learn participants to overcome mental health barriers to employment and as a result, transition from welfare to work, leading to self-sufficiency. The requested services comply with the California Manual of Policies and Procedures section 42-716.2 and WIC Division 9, Part 3, Chapter 2, Article 3.2, Section 11325.7, which provides the County with funding to aid CalWORKs clients with necessary services to overcome mental health issues that impede their employment opportunities.
Request for Proposal (RFP) 23-022 was issued on January 25, 2023 for Mental Health Employability Services. Approximately twenty-two (22) potential bidders were notified through Public Purchasing, and three proposals to the RFP were received. A five-member review committee comprised of representatives from the DSS, the Department of Behavioral Health, and a community-based agency reviewed the responses and UHC was selected as the successful bidder. Their proposal was deemed the most responsive to the RFP in the delivery of mental health employability services, organizational capability, experience, quality control processes, and cost-effectiveness.
On April 20, 2023, The Fresno Center (TFC) appealed the DSS’s funding recommendation to the Purchasing Manager. On May 1, 2023, the Purchasing Manager responded, denying the appeal. TFC did not continue the appeal process following the denial letter from the Purchasing Manager.
Approval of the recommended action will allow the County to continue providing mental health employability services to WTW and Cal-Learn clients, and will take effect July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025, with one (1) optional 12-month extension. The agreement may be terminated without cause by either party upon providing thirty (30) days advance written notice.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with United Health Centers of the San Joaquin Valley
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander