DATE: September 22, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Delfino E. Neira, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Agreement with Centro La Familia Advocacy, Inc. for Bringing Families Home Program Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Make a finding that it is in the best interest of the County to suspend the competitive bidding process consistent with Administrative Policy No. 34 for unusual or extraordinary circumstances as Centro La Familia Advocacy Services, Inc. is the only service provider that can meet the specified requirements for the Bringing Families Home Program services for the Department of Social Services; and
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with Centro La Familia Advocacy Services, Inc. for Bringing Families Home Program services, effective upon execution through June 30, 2022, total not to exceed $408,275.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended actions will suspend the competitive bid process for rapid rehousing services for the Department of Social Services Bringing Families Home program (BFH). BFH is intended to reduce the number of families in the Child Welfare System experiencing or at risk of homelessness, support family reunification, and prevent foster care placement for families experiencing housing instability. The recommended agreement is funded with a California Department of Social Services (CDSS) BFH allocation. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S)
There are no viable alternative actions. Should your Board choose not to approve the recommended actions, the Department would be required to restructure the program design and reduce the number of families served, as well as delay implementation, which could jeopardize the Department’s BFH allocation from CDSS.
SUSPENSION OF COMPETITION/SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT:
The Department’s request to suspend the competitive bidding process is consistent with Administrative Policy No. 34. The Department was awarded a significantly smaller allocation of BFH funds than requested, and therefore requires BFH be contracted with an existing vendor in order to maximize the direct financial assistance, as required by CDSS, and assist a larger number of families. Additionally, other counties who have implemented BFH have found success in pairing the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) Housing Support Program (HSP) with BFH as both are rapid rehousing programs for families receiving assistance through the Department. Centro La Familia Advocacy Services, Inc. (CLFA) currently administers CalWORKs HSP on behalf of the Department. They are experienced in providing the required services for families, including case management, housing search and placement, and direct financial assistance. CLFA can expedite implementation and minimize administrative costs by utilizing processes already in place for HSP. The Internal Services Department - Purchasing Division concurs with the Department’s request to suspend the competitive bidding process for BFH services.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The maximum cost of the recommended agreement is $408,275 and will be entirely offset with CDSS BFH funds, which require a dollar-for-dollar match. Match requirements will be met with in-kind funding for the Department’s El Puente emergency housing facility, which will be used as temporary housing for clients in BFH. Additional match funding will be provided by Department Social Worker and administrative staff time spent in direct support of the program, as well as Senate Bill 163 (Chapter 795, Statutes of 1997) funds. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues for the agreement are included in the Department of Social Services FY 2020-21 Adopted Budget for Org 5610 FY 2020-21 and will be included in subsequent budget requests.
DISCUSSION:
BFH is a new homeless program established by Assembly Bill 1603 (Chapter 25, Statutes of 2016) and updated by Senate Bill (SB) 80 (Chapter 27, Statutes of 2019) to reduce the number of families in the child welfare system experiencing or at risk of homelessness, to increase family reunification, and to prevent foster care placement.
The Department applied for BFH funding in late 2019, and in January 2020, was notified of approval for a State allocation of $425,000 instead of the $1,105,575 originally requested. Due to the limited amount of funds available through June 30,2022, it was determined to be in the County’s best interest to implement the program with a vendor already providing services in a closely related program. The Department is seeking to provide housing navigation and case management services for the program through the recommended agreement with CLFA.
The Department’s BFH program is designed as a Rapid Rehousing program, with emergency shelter services through the Department’s El Puente facility. The recommended agreement will include housing search and placement (housing navigation services), direct financial assistance, and case management to quickly move families into permanent housing, address ongoing barriers to housing retention, and enable Child Welfare families to become stable and successful in maintaining housing long-term. CLFA will coordinate with Department staff for families’ Child Welfare case progress and support family reunification and family maintenance efforts while working on housing stability.
CLFA has demonstrated that they have the capacity and resources in place to best offer the services, as they currently partner with the County for similar services in CalWORKs HSP and several Neighborhood Resource Center Sites. They provide an expansive line of services promoting the wellbeing of families and improving the quality of life in the local community.
If approved, the recommended actions will allow the Department to offer a vital intervention for families experiencing homelessness and housing instability in the Child Welfare system. The agreement may be terminated without cause by the County Department of Social Services Director or CLFA, upon providing 30-day advance written notice.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Suspension of Competition Acquisition Request
On file with Clerk - Agreement with Centro La Familia Advocacy, Inc.
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa