DATE: June 23, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Dawan Utecht, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
David Pomaville, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: Agreement with Reading and Beyond for Supervised Child Care Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with Reading and Beyond for Supervised Child Care Services, effective July 1, 2020, not to exceed five consecutive years, which includes a three-year base contract and two optional one-year extensions, total not to exceed $935,251.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will allow Reading and Beyond to provide direct child care services at County locations for both the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) and the Department of Public Health (DPH), “Supervised Children’s Rooms” housed at the Heritage Centre and the West Fresno Regional Center for the children of individuals receiving services at either location, with no Net County Cost.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There are no viable alternative actions. Should your Board not approve the recommended Agreement, it will result in fewer individuals seeking behavioral health services or Black Infant Health services due to lack of child care services.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The maximum cost of the recommended Agreement over the entire term is $935,251. DBH’s total maximum cost will be $829,068, which will be fully offset with Mental Health Services Act, Community Services and Supports, Therapeutic Child Care Services program, funds. DPH’s total maximum cost will be $106,183, which will be fully offset with State General Funds from the California Department of Public Health. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues will be included in the FY 2020-21 Recommended Budgets for DBH Organization 5630 and DPH Organization 5620 and in all applicable subsequent recommended budgets throughout the term of the contract.
DISCUSSION:
On April 21, 2015, your Board approved Agreement No. A-15-165 with Reading and Beyond to provide on-site supervised child care services for individuals receiving services at the Heritage Centre and West Fresno Regional Center. On November 3, 2015, Amendment I to Agreement No. 15-156 was approved by your Board to add DPH to the Agreement for the Black Infant Health clients served at the West Fresno Regional Center. On January 8, 2019, your Board approved Amendment No. 15-156-2 for increased salaries to cover unanticipated minimum wage increases required by Senate Bill 3 (Leno) (Chapter 4, Statutes of 2016), and other operating and administrative costs.
Eliminating lack of child care as a barrier to utilizing DBH and DPH services has provided clients with easier access to on-site behavioral health and Black Infant Health services without interruption and has shown a decrease in the number of missed appointments.
DBH’s Supervised Children’s Rooms:
• Provide a safe environment for children while parents and siblings are accessing on-site County services;
• Allow parents uninterrupted access and increased participation with County staff for behavioral health or Black Infant Health services; and,
• Reduce the number of appointments missed by parents who are unable to find temporary child care.
On February 13, 2020, DBH released RFP #20-041 requesting proposals from qualified vendors for Supervised Child Care Services. On March 18, 2020, RFP #20-041 closed with one bid responding: Reading and Beyond. The RFP evaluation panel convened on April 7, 2020 and reached a consensus to recommend the contract award to Reading and Beyond based on demonstrated strength and experience in the provision of family friendly services, a fiscally sound cost proposal, and commitment to providing developmental programming beyond child care to the children of DBH and DPH clients receiving services under the recommended Agreement.
The Evaluation Panel consisted of five members: a DBH Clinical Supervisor, a Staff Analyst from the Department of Social Services, a DPH Staff Analyst, a DBH Senior Staff Analyst, and a DBH Staff Analyst.
For FY 2018-19, a total of 3,336 children received child care services between the two locations. Approximately 93.8% of clients utilizing the Supervised Children’s Rooms stated that they would miss their appointment if child care was unavailable. Children under the age of five made up the majority of the children seen in the Supervised Children’s Rooms at 66%. The Supervised Children’s Rooms continue to support and meet the needs of County clients and their ability to access services.
The recommended Agreement, if approved, will become effective July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2023, with an option for two additional 12-month periods based upon successful performance by the Contractor. The Agreement may be terminated by County or Contractor upon the giving of sixty (60) days advance written notice of an intention to terminate.
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
The Behavioral Health Board was notified of this recommended Agreement at their May 20, 2020 meeting.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #36, January 8, 2019
BAI #44, November 17, 2015
BAI #33, April 21, 2015
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with Reading and Beyond
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander