REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
December 19, 2023
FROM
JEANY ZEPEDA, Director, Children and Family Services
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Contracts for Wraparound Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 1 to contracts with the following agencies to provide Wraparound Services to foster care dependents, updating the scope of work and standard contract language, with no change to the aggregate contract amount not to exceed $147,400,000 for the period of January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2026:
1. Lutheran Social Services of Southern California, Contract No. 21-988
2. South Coast Children’s Society, Inc., Contract No. 21-989
3. Pacific Clinics, Contract No. 21-990
4. Victor Community Support Services, Inc., Contract No. 21-991
(Presenter: Jeany Zepeda, Director, 387-2792)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not require additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The total aggregate amount not to exceed $147,400,000 for Wraparound Services will be funded 100% with County local share, which is a combination of local funding and Net County Cost. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Human Services Administrative 2023-24 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
San Bernardino County’s Wraparound Services, established in 2002, are authorized in California to provide foster children and probation wards with service alternatives to group home care through the development of expanded family-based services. Wraparound Services are individualized services that are “wrapped around” the child living with his or her birth parent, relative, nonrelative extended family member, adoptive parent, licensed or certified foster parent, or guardian. Emphasizing an intensive, child-focused, family-centered, and community-based approach, these services are designed to build on each eligible child’s and family’s strengths and address their unique and changing needs.
The range of Wraparound Services provided includes in-home therapeutic services, coaching and mentoring, housing and utility assistance, educational supplies, afterschool services, tutoring services, employment support, transportation vouchers, and more. All services are provided in a manner consistent with the Wraparound Services philosophy of providing intensive services to children with serious behavioral and/or emotional difficulties at the lowest placement level possible. This allows children to remain in their homes and communities instead of being placed in a group home setting. When returning home is not an option, the child may receive Wraparound Services in a foster home. DBH funds the mental health portion of these services through a combination of the Mental Health Services Act and Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Medi-Cal funding.
The recommended amendments are a response to the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) and California's implementation of its aftercare requirements. This act reforms child welfare financing to support families with children at risk of entering foster care and reduce reliance on congregate care. It mandates six months of family-based aftercare services post-discharge from facilities like Short Term Residential Treatment Programs (STRTP), supporting children in their transition to family-based settings.
Since January 2022, Wraparound Services have reached a significant number of youth, with 862 youth receiving these services. The annual average cost for providing these comprehensive services to a child is approximately $67,045, reflecting the intensive and tailored nature of the support offered. With the implementation of the FFPSA Wraparound aftercares, Children and Family Services anticipates that about 25% of the roughly 800 children in high care placements, such as STRTP and complex care, will actively engage in the aftercare program as they transition to lower levels of care.
The recommended amendments incorporate aftercare services as defined by the FFPSA into the existing Wraparound Services program. These services comprise a range of integrated supports provided for at least six months post-discharge from a STRTP to a lower level of care, including environmental interventions, portable intensive treatment interventions, and parallel community services. These are part of an individualized, child-specific transition plan that supports the child’s permanency plan. The updates expand the availability of Wraparound Services, giving more children access to beneficial services, and update the scope of work to include aftercare services and facilitate adoption assistance program self-referrals.
The recommended amendments will also update the contracts to incorporate current County contract language regarding Russian sanctions and Senate Bill 1439 Campaign Contribution Disclosures. In addition to these updates, the amendment to Contract No. 21-990 with Pacific Clinics also revises the vendor’s name due to a recent legal name change from Uplift Family Services to Pacific Clinics.
The contractors’ performance will continue to be monitored by review of monthly reports to ensure compliance with the administrative, fiscal, and program requirements of the contracts. The contracts may be terminated without cause by the County with 30 days written notice.
PROCUREMENT
On December 14, 2021 (Item No. 27), as the result of a competitive procurement, the Board of Supervisors approved the four contracts listed in the Recommendation to provide Wraparound Services, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $147,400,000, for the period of January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2026. The original four contractors have agreed to and approved this amendment.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services Contracts (Patty Steven, Contracts Manager, 388-0241) on December 7, 2023; County Counsel (Kaleigh Ragon, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on November 15, 2023; Finance (John Hallen, Administrative Analyst, 388-0208) on November 30, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0238) on December 4, 2023.