REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
April 9, 2024
FROM
JEANY ZEPEDA, Director, Children and Family Services
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Contract with Aspiranet for Transitional Housing Program-Plus Service s
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 4 to Contract No. 20-287, effective June 30, 2024, with Aspiranet to provide Transitional Housing Program-Plus services to young adults formerly in foster care, updating standard contract language, increasing the contract amount by $1,100,000, from $4,400,000 to $5,500,000, and increasing the contract period by one year, for a total contract period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2025.
(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.
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). The total increase of $1,100,000 is funded with existing County local share, which may include Discretionary General Funding, 1991 Realignment, and 2011 Realignment. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Human Services Administrative Claim 2023-24 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Transitional Housing Program-Plus (THP-Plus) is a state funded transitional housing program created in 2001 to address the housing and support services needs of individuals who leave foster care on or after their 18th birthday. The program provides planning and supportive services, and safe and adequate residences to enable individuals to become self-sufficient. San Bernardino County Children and Family Services (CFS) has provided these services since 2007 through contracted vendors.
Approval of Amendment No. 4 to Contract No. 20-287 will allow CFS to continue providing THP-Plus services to young adults formerly in foster care, increasing the contract amount by $1,100,000, from $4,400,000 to $5,500,000, and extending the term of the contract by one year, for a total contract period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2025.
The California 2023-24 State Budget made additional funding available for the THP-Plus program and allows services to be provided for 36 months, up to age 25.
On May 19, 2020 (Item No. 31), as the result of a formal procurement, the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved Contract No. 20-287 with Aspiranet to provide THP-Plus services for former foster young adults, in an amount not to exceed $2,775,000, for the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2023.
On December 15, 2020 (Item No. 28), the Board approved Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 20-287 with Aspiranet, updating contract language to allow for the provision of services without regard to age or time restrictions, with no change to the contract amount or contract period.
On May 10, 2022 (Item No. 22), the Board approved Amendment No. 2 to Contract No. 20-287 with Aspiranet, increasing the contract amount by $425,000, from $2,775,000 to $3,200,000, with no change to the contract period, to allow for the provision of services to additional former foster youth who had been awaiting services.
On May 9, 2023 (Item No. 18), the Board approved Amendment No. 3 to Contract No. 20-287 with Aspiranet, increasing the contract amount by $1,200,000, from $3,200,000 to $4,400,000 extending the contract period by one year, for a total contract period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2024, to allow for the provision of services to additional former foster youth who had been awaiting services.
THP-Plus services include 24-hour crisis intervention and support, educational advocacy and support, assistance to pursue college or other post-high school training, allowance to purchase food and other necessities, apartment furnishings, system of payment for utilities, telephone, and rent, mentoring, and safe and adequate residences, defined as Scattered-site and Host Family Model housing. Scattered-site housing are apartments supervised by Aspiranet in various locations throughout the county, which allow young adult tenants to be integrated into their communities. The Host Family Model allows young adults to live in a family setting with a relative, current foster family, or other consistent caring adult.
Aspiranet’s performance is monitored by review of monthly reports and annual audits to ensure compliance with the administrative, program, and fiscal terms and conditions of the contract. Aspiranet continues to cooperate with the County in monitoring and evaluation of this contract and has complied with all reporting requirements established by the contract. Aspiranet charges are for services provided to eligible beneficiaries under this state funded program. CFS Budget and Administrative Services division reviews invoices and attachments remitted by Aspiranet prior to payment. The County reserves the right to request additional program and/or fiscal documentation to facilitate this monthly review. The contract may be terminated without cause by the County with 30 days’ written notice.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by CFS (Gloria Perez, Manager, 388-0276) on February 21, 2024; Human Services Contracts (Patty Steven, Contracts Manager, 388-0241) on February 12, 2024; County Counsel (Kaleigh Ragon, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on March 11, 2024; Finance (John Hallen, Administrative Analyst, 388-0208) on March 22, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0238) on March 22, 2024.