DATE: April 17, 2018
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Delfino Neira, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Amendment I to Master Agreement for Psychosocial Assessments for the Resource Family Approval Program
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute Amendment I to Master Agreement A-17-073 with various vendors for Psychosocial Assessments for the Resource Family Approval Program, extending the term by one year from July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019 and adding two optional one-year extensions, increasing the maximum by $4,173,750 to a total not to exceed amount of $6,161,250.
REPORT
The recommended action will allow the Department to meet mandated services, pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code (W&IC) section 16519.5, and Assembly Bill (AB) 403 (Chapter 773, Statutes of 2015) Continuum of Care Reform, which require Psychosocial Assessments be completed for the Resource Family Approval (RFA) Program.
Approval of the recommended action will allow the Department to continue to use community providers to complete the required Psychosocial Assessments for families that may be a placement resource for children in foster care. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action as these are mandated services.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The maximum cost of the Master Agreement ($6,161,250) will be fully offset with 2011 Realignment Protective Services Funds. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues will be included in FY 2018-19 Department of Social Services Org 5610 Recommended Budget.
DISCUSSION:
Effective January 1, 2017, applicants interested in becoming a Resource Family (foster family, relative caregiver, Non-Related Extended Family Member adoptive family and/or legal guardian) for a child in foster care are mandated to complete a Psychosocial Assessment as part of the new RFA program. Completion and approval of a Psychosocial Assessment is a prerequisite for a family to become a placement resource for a child. Additionally, Resource Families who were approved prior to January 1, 2017 will be converted to the RFA process at the time of their renewal. These families must be converted by December 2019.
On March 7, 2017, your Board approved the Resource Family Approval Master Agreement to allow the Department to utilize qualified community based organizations (CBOs) to process Psychosocial Assessments. This allowed Department staff to focus on converting previously approved Resource Families. Amendment I will allow staff up to the December 2019 mandate to convert Resource Families while retaining CBOs to assist with Psychosocial Assessments beyond December 2019. Between March 2017 and November 2017, CBOs completed a total of 92 Psychosocial Assessments.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI # 48, March 7, 2017
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Amendment I
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander