DATE: June 20, 2017
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Dawan Utecht, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT: Agreement with the Fresno Center for New Americans for the operation of the Holistic Cultural Education Wellness Center
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with the Fresno Center for New Americans (FCNA) to operate a Holistic Cultural Education Wellness Center, effective July 1, 2017, not to exceed five consecutive years, which includes a three-year base contract and two optional one-year extensions, total not to exceed $4,483,595.
REPORT
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Approval of the recommended action will allow for the Mental Health Services Act - Innovation funded Holistic Cultural Education Wellness Center (Holistic Center) to transition to MHSA Prevention and Early Intervention (MHSA-PEI) funding. The Holistic Center promotes wellness and recovery of participants based on holistic healing practices and educational opportunities that support the wellness of the ‘whole person’ while complementing traditional clinical treatment methods.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended action is not approved, the Department of Behavioral Health would not be able to access available MHSA - PEI funds for the Holistic Center, stakeholder approved and operational since June 2012.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The agreement will be funded with MHSA - PEI funds. The FY 2017-18 maximum compensation is $896,719; $4,483,595 for the term. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues will be included in the Department’s Org 5630 FY 2017-18 Recommended Budget and in subsequent fiscal year budget requests for the duration of the term.
DISCUSSION:
On June 19, 2012, your Board executed Agreement No. 12-316 with the Fresno Center for New Americans (FCNA) to operate the Holistic Center through June 30, 2017, funded with MHSA - Innovations funds as a pilot project. The Holistic Center resulted from an extensive community stakeholder process that occurred in the County during 2011 and 2012, in accordance with the MHSA Innovation Guidelines and Principles. A final report is expected from FCNA by no later than September 30, 2017, that will provide Holistic Center pilot project findings and recommendations related to what was learned, what strategies were successful, and how such learning can be applied to mental health practices.
Request for Proposal (RFP) No.17-072 was released on April 13, 2017, seeking an operator of Holistic Services for the Department. The RFP closed on May 11, 2017, resulting in two submitted proposals. The RFP evaluation committee consisted of a Fiscal Analyst and Staff Analyst from the Department and a staff person from WestCare. The evaluation committee met on May 17, 2017 to discuss and select the best overall proposal to meet the Department’s needs. The evaluation committee reached a consensus to recommend the contract award to FCNA based on the superior content of the proposal’s responsiveness to the RFP.
The recommended action will allow FCNA to provide Holistic services focused on MHSA principles of wellness and recovery while increasing access to culturally appropriate, holistic services for hard to serve, underserved targeted cultural groups including African American, Punjabi, Latino, Southeast Asian, American Indian, Veterans, and non-heterosexual populations. The intent is to meet the unique needs of underserved populations that historically have not been receptive to traditional mental health services. The services funded through the recommended agreement will not engage in, provide, or advance religious practices. The recommended agreement will provide:
• Culturally relevant education and activities designed to increase awareness and reduce the stigma of mental health;
• Community outreach and engagement;
• Culturally relevant services to an average of 2,500 participants engaged with services on a monthly basis including County staff and providers;
• Referral and linkage to culturally appropriate community resources and services; and,
• Multi-year research findings that demonstrate the impact of holistic services upon participants.
The FCNA will collaborate with its partners and subject matter expert trainers to provide the services under the recommended agreement. Program outcomes are to be reported annually to the Department, which include:
• Reduced cultural and linguistic barriers in receiving behavioral health services;
• Reducing stigma associated with mental illness;
• Increased awareness of mental health;
• Increased access to culturally relevant alternative/holistic services and opportunities;
• Improved linkage of participants to behavioral health programs and other local resources; and,
• Improved collaboration between various community agencies working and learning together at the Holistic Center.
The recommended agreement provides for termination due to non-allocation of funds upon giving a 30-day advanced written notice to FCNA and provides for termination without cause by FCNA, the Department Director, or designee, upon giving a 60-day advanced written notice to terminate.
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
During the May 2017 Behavioral Health Board meeting, the Board was informed of the pending RFP process to select a contractor to operate the Holistic Center.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI # 10, April 5, 2016
BAI # 40, May 5, 2015
BAI # 41, June 19, 2012
BAI # 7, November 8, 2011
BAI # 6, September 27, 2011
BAI # 35, August 30, 2011
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with Fresno Center for New Americans
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa