REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 20, 2024
FROM
JAMES LOCURTO, Director, Transitional Assistance Department
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Contract with Aspiranet for Cal-Learn Case Management Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 2 to Contract No. 19-347 with Aspiranet to provide Cal-Learn case management services to pregnant and parenting teens, extending the contract for six additional months, for a total period of July 1, 2019 through March 31, 2025, with no change to the total contract amount of $4,550,000.
(Presenter: James LoCurto, Director, 388-0245)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). Costs are on a fee-for-service basis and will not exceed $4,550,000 for the total contract period and are funded through the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids single allocation, which is federally funded. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Human Services Administrative Claim 2024-25 budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Cal-Learn Program is a State administered program that requires counties to arrange for the provision of case management services and counseling to pregnant and custodial teenage parents under 19 years of age to assist them in obtaining a high school diploma or its equivalent.
The Cal-Learn Program rules require that there is no cap on the number of Cal-Learn customers to be served. The Transitional Assistance Department (TAD) refers an average of 78 customers per month to the Cal-Learn Program. Case management services assure that customers receive needed services within a complex multi- and trans-disciplinary network in an efficient, supportive, and cost-effective manner. Case management is client centered, culturally appropriate, and goal oriented. It is interactive, involving the customer and the customer’s family, significant others, and support persons as equal partners with the case manager in identifying needs and defining ways to meet those needs.
Case management services include educational support to obtain a high school diploma or equivalent; assessing the teenage parent’s parenting skills and living situation; and acting as a trusted advisor and role model to provide guidance and facilitate effective relationships between the parenting teen and noncustodial parent when it is in the best interest of the child. Monthly contacts that include home visits are conducted to help support the teen’s education and career goals and strengthen self-sufficiency. School report card progress is monitored, per Cal-Learn regulations, and referrals to appropriate community services are provided, including medical care, family planning, health education, domestic/relationship violence support, legal assistance, nutrition counseling, and substance/mental health intervention. Additionally, TAD will provide necessary supportive services such as childcare, transportation and general education expenses to support the customer’s return to school and assist in maximizing the ability of each customer to graduate from high school or its equivalent.
On May 21, 2019 (Item No. 118), as a result of a competitive procurement, the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved Contract No. 19-347 with Aspiranet to provide Cal-Learn case management services, in the amount of $4,550,000, for the period of July 1, 2019 through September 30, 2022. The contract included the option to extend for up to a maximum term of five years by mutual agreement of the parties.
On September 27, 2022 (Item No. 69), the Board approved Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 19-347 with Aspiranet, extending the contract term for two additional years, for a total period of July 1, 2019 through September 30, 2024, with no change to the total contract amount of $4,550,000.
The recommended amendment will extend the contract with Aspiranet to provide Cal-Learn case management services for an additional six months. As a result of workload and the required operational, fiscal, and legal reviews, additional time will be needed to ensure there is no lapse in services while the new procurement, presently in progress, is completed. TAD anticipates a contract award date of April 1, 2025.
Aspiranet’s performance will be monitored by review of invoices and annual site visits to ensure compliance with the administrative, program, and fiscal terms and conditions of the contract.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services Contracts (Patty Steven, Contracts Manager, 388-0241) on June 17, 2024; County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on June 26, 2024; Finance (John Hallen, Administrative Analyst, 388-0208) on August 5, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0238) on August 5, 2024.