DATE: August 6, 2019
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Dawan Utecht, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT: Master Agreement for Youth Empowerment Center Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Master Agreement with providers of Youth Empowerment Center Services, effective upon execution through June 30, 2021, total not to exceed $1,736,500.
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with Kings View Behavioral Health for Peer and Family Support Wellness and Recovery Services, which will supersede Agreement 15-634, effective upon execution through June 30, 2021, total not to exceed $2,461,423.
3. Authorize the Director of the Department of Behavioral Health, or designee, to add and delete provider(s) to the Master Agreement, as necessary, with oversight and approval from Internal Services Department - Purchasing Division.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended actions will allow for the extension of Youth Empowerment Center Services currently provided to adolescent and transition age youth (TAY), to include additional cultural and geographical populations, and persons not currently being served. The second recommended action will allow the recommended Agreement to supersede the existing contract in place. The third recommended action will allow for future additions and/or deletions of providers for other unserved and underserved populations. Funding reallocations within the Master Agreement with existing and/or new providers will allow them to meet service needs, without exceeding the annual contract maximum.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action. If the first recommended action is not approved, youth empowerment center services will not be provided to unserved and underserved youth populations, including but not limited to youth within the Addam’s neighborhood, which extends from McKinley to Belmont (north to south) and Golden State to N. Marks Ave.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Costs for services provided under the recommended Master Agreement will be financed with Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) funds ($1,736,500). Costs for services provided under the supersede Agreement will be financed with MHSA PEI funds ($2,461,423). Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Org 5630 FY 2019-20 Recommended Budget and will be requested in future budgets to cover the total of the anticipated cost of the contract term.
DISCUSSION:
On September 18, 2015, the Department issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) through Public Purchasing for Peer and Family Support services to be provided at the Blue Sky Wellness Center and Youth Empowerment Centers. Kings View Behavioral Health was the sole respondent. An RFP evaluation panel reviewed Kings View Behavioral Health response on October 30, 2015 and recommended award of the agreement to Kings View Behavioral Health. The Department has worked closely with the County Purchasing Division, who concurs with the recommended action. Recommendation of award was based on the following: King View Behavioral Health’s experience providing services to the community, detailed information regarding Transitional Age Youth and Youth services, diverse staffing structure of the organization, a strong community connection and collaboration, and a strong proposal in response to the RFP.
Kings View operates its Youth Empowerment Centers as “mini-centers” which provide services to individuals 10-18 years of age who are unable to access the Blue Sky Wellness Center due to age restrictions. These centers provide:
• Age appropriation support groups;
• Offer socialization;
• Life-skills training; and,
• Other peer-support activities through support groups.
The Kings View Youth Empowerment Centers are located in various areas of Fresno County including, but not limited to Fresno, Firebaugh, Orange Cove, Tollhouse, and Raisin City.
In 2018, Live Again Fresno expressed a desire to provide Youth Empowerment Center services to youth living in the Addam’s neighborhood, an underserved population in southwest Fresno. Live Again currently maintains a presence within this neighborhood and has already established relationships and a positive reputation within this community. It was determined that Live Again is in a unique situation to best provide services to the Addam’s neighborhood by expanding the existing Youth Empowerment Center Services Agreement into a Master Agreement to include Live Again.
Live Again Youth Empowerment Center Services will provide:
• Mobile Food Program to coordinate and provide food for youth during winter and summer seasons;
• After School Program to coordinate long-term mentors and positive youth development activities; and,
• Resource Referral Program to facilitate strategic outings with parents in order to support families in accessing community resources for their children’s living, education, and health conditions.
The recommended supersede Agreement removes the Youth Empowerment Center Services component, which allows YEC Services to be expanded through a separate new Master Agreement. Additionally, splitting Youth Empowerment Center Services out into its own Master Agreement will allow for more accurate tracking of MHSA funds instead of being bundled with Peer and Family Support Wellness and Recovery Services. County’s Purchasing Department has collaborated with DBH on this process and determined that a Suspension of Competition is not necessary for these recommended actions.
The recommended Agreements contain language which includes the provision to allow the DBH Director, or designee, to terminate without cause with 60 days advance written notice, and authorizes budget changes that do not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total contract amount. The Agreements also contain language which allows the DBH Director, or designee, to modify the contract to accommodate changes in the law, such as state regulations. The third recommended action would allow the DBH Director, or designee, and County Purchasing to be able to add and/or delete providers based on community and service need, and to ensure the necessary flexibility within budgets for providers without a gap or delay in services.
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
The Behavioral Health Board was notified of the recommended Agreements and actions during the May 2019 meeting.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #25, December 15, 2015 - Agreement No. 15-634
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Master Agreement for Youth Empowerment Center Services
On file with Clerk - Supersede Agreement with Kings View for Blue Sky Wellness Center
CAO ANALYST:
Ron Alexander