DATE: November 5, 2019
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Delfino E. Neira, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Retroactive Amendment I for CalWORKs Home Visitation Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute retroactive Amendment I to the following CalWORKs home visitation services agreements, effective February 12, 2019, with no change in term to June 30, 2020:
1. Centro La Familia Advocacy Services, Inc., A-19-077, increasing the maximum by $514,853 to a total of $1,329,853.
2. Comprehensive Youth Services of Fresno, Inc., A-19-078, increasing the maximum by $125,000 to a total of $1,725,000.
3. Exceptional Parents Unlimited, Inc., A-19-079, increasing the maximum by $137,500 to a total of $1,487,500.
4. Westside Family Preservation Services Network, A-19-080, increasing the maximum by $15,000 to a total of $485,000.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will allow the Department to continue to contract with service providers for home visitation services in accordance with the California Department of Social Services’ (CDSS) CalWORKs Home Visiting Program (HVP). The recommended amendments will allow the Department to adjust all HVP agreement budgets to match CDSS’ allocation terms and increase funding for material goods related to the care, health, and safety of participating HVP clients. The cost of these services will be offset with CalWORKs HVP funds, with no Net County Cost. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action. If the recommended action is not approved, the Department will be unable to claim costs appropriately between FY 2018-19 and FY 2019-20, per the HVP agreements. In addition, vendors will be unable to provide material goods to families in need.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The recommended amendments are retroactive to February 12, 2019 due to CDSS changing the HVP allocation cycle. The budgets for the original agreements were structured to reflect CDSS’ original 18-month allocation cycle. However, with the release of the Fiscal Year 2019-20 budget, the State split the allocation between FY 2018-19 and FY 2019-20. In order to claim costs accurately, the amendments include separate budgets for each fiscal year. In order to make this change, the amendment is retroactive to the effective date of the agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The maximum amount of the agreements ($5,027,353) will be offset using CalWORKs HVP funds. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the FY 2019-20 Adopted Budget for Department of Social Services, Org. 5610.
DISCUSSION:
On February 12, 2019, the Board approved agreements for home visitation services to CalWORKs families as part of the CalWORKs HVP. Home visiting services are provided through eleven Neighborhood Resource Centers (NRCs) approved by your Board on March 7, 2017, October 23, 2018, and February 12, 2019. The NRCs offering the home visiting services are located in the Fresno zip code areas of 93703, 93727, 93706, 93705, and 93722. Services are also offered in the rural locations of Coalinga, Huron, Kerman, Selma, Sanger, and Reedley. All sites also serve families in surrounding zip codes. Funding for each NRC was based on the number of eligible clients residing in the zip codes to be served by each respective NRC.
The NRC located in zip code 93722 and operated by Centro La Familia Advocacy Services was approved by the Board on February 12, 2019. This NRC was not included in the original agreement with Centro La Familia for HVP in order to allow time for the NRC to become established.
The original HVP agreements were written with a 17-month term based on an 18-month allocated amount from CDSS. On July 18, 2019 the Department was given notice of the FY 2019-20 HVP allocation, which split the previous 18-month allocation into a 6-month and a 12-month allocation. The recommended amendments will include separate budgets for each fiscal year to match CDSS’ allocation terms.
The recommended amendments will also allow contracted HVP vendors to provide up to $500 per family during the course of home visiting services for the purchase of material goods related to the care, health, and safety of the child and family. Material goods include, but are not limited to: child safety kits, car seats, appliance repairs, adaptive equipment for children with disabilities, and resources related to child and family language and literacy needs.
If approved, the recommended Agreements will be effective retroactive to February 12, 2019 through June 30, 2020. The agreement may be terminated without cause by either party upon providing 30-day advance written notice.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI, #40, February 12, 2019
BAI, #41, February 12, 2019
BAI, #53, October 23, 2018
BAI, #47, March 7, 2017
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Amendment A-19-077-I
On file with Clerk - Amendment A-19-078-I
On file with Clerk - Amendment A-19-079-I
On file with Clerk - Amendment A-19-080-I
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander