DATE: April 27, 2021
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Delfino E. Neira, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Agreement with Central Valley Children’s Services Network for Child Welfare Parenting Education Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with Central Valley Children’s Services Network for parenting education services, effective July 1, 2021, not to exceed five consecutive years, which includes a three-year base contract and two optional one-year extensions, total not to exceed $3,399,990.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will allow the Department of Social Services to provide parenting education services to individuals involved in the Department’s Child Welfare Services (CWS) system. Parenting education services are court-ordered and an essential service designed to strengthen family resilience, enhance child safety, and promote family reunification. The recommended agreement will be funded with Title IV-B and Child Welfare Realignment funds, with no increase to Net County Cost. The item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If this item is not approved, the Department’s capacity to meet court-ordered parenting education services will be reduced and will adversely impact the safety and well-being of children involved in CWS.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The maximum cost for the five-year Agreement is $3,399,990 and will be offset with Title IV-B and Child Welfare Realignment funds. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues will be included in the FY 2021-22 Recommended Budget for the Department of Social Services Org 5610 and will be included in future budget requests.
DISCUSSION:
Parent education programs are a service provided to parents involved in CWS. These services are generally court-ordered and assist parents in reunifying with their children and/or reducing the risk of abuse or neglect recurrence when children have remained in parental care. Parent education classes focus on enhancing parenting practices, teaching age-appropriate child development skills and milestones, and promoting positive play and interaction between parents and children. The Department’s current contracts for parenting program services will expire June 30, 2021.
A Request for Proposal (RFP #21-019) was issued December 2, 2020 for Child Welfare Parenting Education services. Approximately 900 potential bidders were notified through Public Purchase. Eight responses to the RFP were received and all were accepted and considered for review. A five-panel review committee comprised of representatives from the Department of Social Services, Department of Public Health, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, and Fresno County First 5, reviewed and ranked the responses. The two highest ranked proposals were submitted by Central Valley Children’s Services Network (CVCSN) and Cultural Brokers Inc. The review committee considered CVCSN’s proposal the most responsive to the RFP and recommended their proposal for funding. Strengths of CVCSN’s proposal included their experience providing similar services, an understanding of the requested services, a plan of operation that included an immediate start date, access to a variety of service locations and cost.
If the recommended agreement is approved, CVCSN will provide the Department with a minimum of 24 new class cohorts a year that will accommodate approximately 360-480 parents. CVCSN will use the evidence-based Nurturing Parenting Program model, which is designed specifically for families who have abused or neglected their children and has been shown to improve parenting practices and reduce the likelihood of abuse recurrence. Each cohort will attend a 14-week program. Program outcomes include increased awareness, knowledge, and skills in positive parenting practices. It is anticipated that 75% of parent participants will complete the parenting program.
Upon approval, the recommended agreement will be effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2024 and includes the option to renew for two additional 12-month terms based upon satisfactory performance with written notice by the Department Director, or designee, and CVCSN. Termination without cause requires a 30-day written notice from County, County’s DSS Director, or designee, or CVCSN.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with Central Valley Children’s Services Network
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa