DATE: August 7, 2018
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Delfino E. Neira, Director, Department of Social Services
Dawan Utecht, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT: Agreement with Golden State Family Services, Inc. for Therapeutic Foster Care Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with Golden State Family Services, Inc. for Therapeutic Foster Care Services, effective upon execution, not to exceed five consecutive years, which includes a three-year base contract and two optional one-year extensions, total not to exceed, $2,500,000.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will allow Golden State Family Services (GSFS) to provide Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) services to children involved with the Department of Social Services’ Child Welfare Services system. Services include intensive, home-based mental health care, and target youth who are challenged with complex behavioral or mental health needs, who may otherwise be placed in a group home or psychiatric hospital. Service outcomes include child stabilization, retention in home-based settings and avoidance of institutional or residential care. Costs will be offset through Medi-Cal Federal Financial Participation, and Mental Health Realignment funds, with no increase in Net County Cost. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action. If the recommended action is not approved, a service option for youth who otherwise may be placed in a group home or other residential facility will not be available.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS) will be paid through a per-diem rate negotiated with the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH). The maximum cost of the Agreement ($2,500,000) will be offset with Medi-Cal Federal Financial Participation (FFP) and Mental Health Realignment funds. Sufficient appropriations and revenues are included in the Behavioral Health Org 5630 Fiscal Year 2018-19 Recommended Budget and will be included in future budget requests for the duration of the contract term.
DISCUSSION:
DSS and DBH intend to implement a TFC program to address the needs of youth in foster care who have complex emotional and mental health needs. TFC services are part of the array of services identified in the Core Practice Model adopted by the California Department of Social Services and the California Department of Health Care Services, and meets the requirements of the Continuum of Care Reform (CCR). This program is intended to reduce the number of youth placed in group home settings and keep these youth in community/family settings.
On January 22, 2018, a Request for Proposal (RFP) #18-023 was released to 50 Foster Family Agencies, as well as, agencies registered through Public Purchase, for the provision of TFC services. In response, two (2) agencies submitted proposals: GSFS, and Generational Changes Foster Family Agency. A RFP Review Committee comprised of representatives from DSS, DBH, Fresno Unified School District, and Court Appointed Special Advocates evaluated and ranked the proposals. The proposal submitted by GSFS was ranked the highest. The Committee indicated this proposal met all requirements of the RFP and demonstrated knowledge and experience in the provision of services for the target population. The GSFS proposal was recommended for funding.
If the recommended action is approved, TFC services will be provided through GSFS resource parents who are specially trained to provide competency-based, trauma-informed therapeutic interventions. GSFS resource parents will be supervised by a licensed mental health professional to ensure that appropriate mental health services will be provided in accordance with the Department of Health Care Services Medi-Cal Manual. The recommended Agreement will allow GSFS to recruit and train resource parents to provide TFC services to a maximum number of 18 youth at any given time.
Section 10 of the agreement contains the insurance coverage and language currently approved for use in the County’s model contract. Risk Management has recently proposed that the insurance coverage and language in the County’s model contract be revised. County Counsel and Risk Management will be working on these changes over the next several months. However, the Department has a need to move forward with this contract to address service needs. Additionally, the Department believes the insurance coverage required in Section 10 of the agreement adequately protects the interests of the County in this contract and County Counsel is comfortable signing the agreement as to legal form. Therefore, it is recommended your Board approve the recommended agreement in its current form.
The recommended Agreement is effective upon execution through June 30, 2021. The Agreement may be extended for two additional consecutive twelve-month periods upon written approval of both parties no later than 60 days prior to the first day of the next twelve month extension period. The DSS and DBH Directors or designees are authorized to execute such written approval on behalf of the County based on Contractor’s satisfactory performance.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On File with Clerk - Agreement
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander