Fresno County CA header
 
File #: 19-0194    Name: Agreement for Family Advocacy and Liaison Services
In control: Social Services
On agenda: 3/12/2019 Final action: 3/12/2019
Enactment date: Enactment #: Agreement No. 19-128
Title: Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with Cultural Brokers, Inc. for the provision of family advocacy and liaison services effective April 1, 2019 through June 30, 2023, which includes a two-year three-month base contract and two optional one-year extensions, total not to exceed $1,454,716.
Attachments: 1. Agenda Item, 2. Agreement A-19-128 with Cultural Broker Services, Inc.

DATE:                     March 12, 2019                                          

 

TO:                     Board of Supervisors

 

SUBMITTED BY:                     Delfino E. Neira, Director, Department of Social Services

 

SUBJECT:                     Agreement for Family Advocacy and Liaison Services

 

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

TITLE

Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with Cultural Brokers, Inc. for the provision of family advocacy and liaison services effective April 1, 2019 through June 30, 2023, which includes a two-year three-month base contract and two optional one-year extensions, total not to exceed $1,454,716.

REPORT

Approval of the recommended action will provide community-based family advocacy and liaison services to children and families in Fresno County.  Services include joint response services to at-risk families referred by the Department and case management and technical assistance to families seeking guardianship of related youth.  The cost of these services will be financed with Child Welfare funds, with no increase in Net County Cost. This item is countywide.

 

ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):

 

There are no viable alternative actions.  If the recommended action is not approved, funds allocated for family advocacy and liaison services will not be allocated, resulting in an adverse impact on children and families experiencing risk factors for child abuse and neglect. 

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

 

There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions.   The maximum amount of the agreement ($1,454,716) will be fully offset with the Children Welfare Trust Funds.  Sufficient appropriations are included in the Department of Social Service’s FY 2018-19 Adopted Budget for Org 5610 and will be included in subsequent annual budgets.

 

DISCUSSION:

 

In an on-going effort to address disparity, enhance, and expand services to disparate populations in Fresno County, the Department has contracted with a local community-based organization for the provision of family advocacy and liaison services.   

 

On October 26, 2018, a Request for Proposal (RFP) #19-024 for Family Advocacy and Liaison Services was sent to 116 potential bidders.  Three proposals were received by the closing date.  A five-member review committee was established comprised of representatives from the Department of Social Services, Department of Behavioral Health and a non-profit organization.  All proposals were reviewed and selected based upon the RFP specifications, response quality, proposed services and costs.

 

The Department sought to fund one vendor in Fresno County.  The review committee unanimously selected Cultural Brokers, Inc.’s proposal for funding and the recommended agreement represents the review committee’s final recommendation.

 

The recommended agreement will provide family advocacy liaison services to 560 families.  Of these, 465 families will receive joint response services.  35 families will receive on-going case management services and 60 families will receive case management and technical assistance to complete the guardianship process of related youth. 

 

The Department maintains an agreement with the recommended vendor, Cultural Broker Services, Inc. for family advocacy and liaison services ($1,462,810) which expires March 31, 2019.  The Department has one other agreement with Cultural Brokers, Inc. for Parent Partner and Home Visitor services ($704,199).

 

REFERENCE MATERIAL:

 

BAI #49, March 25, 2014

BAI #19, January 6, 2015

 

ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:

 

On file with Clerk - Agreement with Cultural Broker Services, Inc.

 

CAO ANALYST:

 

Ronald Alexander