REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 22, 2023
FROM
JEANY ZEPEDA, Director, Children and Family Services
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Contract with Family Assistance Program for County Use Only Temporary Shelter Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 22-88 with Family Assistance Program for County Use Only Temporary Shelter Services, increasing the total contract by an amount not to exceed $2,345,808, from $2,074,440 to $4,420,248, adding six additional beds and extending the contract term for six months, for the total contract period of February 9, 2022 through August 31, 2024.
(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 contract, in an amount not to exceed $4,420,248 for temporary shelter services, will be funded by a combination of 50% Realignment and 50% Wraparound Reinvestment. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Human Services Administrative Claim 2023-24 budget and will be included in the 2024-25 recommended budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Children and Family Services (CFS) has many high-risk youth awaiting placement. These youth may have high behavioral needs such as verbal and physical aggression, history of running away, substance abuse, violent behaviors toward other children and caregivers, special health care needs, autism, destruction of property, and harm to self. There are a limited number of shelter beds for these high-risk youth.
On February 8, 2022 (Item No. 25), the Board of Supervisors approved non-competitive Contract No. 22-88 between CFS and Family Assistance Program (FAP) in the amount of $2,074,440, from February 9, 2022 through February 29, 204. The contract was to provide 12 shelter beds solely for the County’s use, with a no reject/no eject policy (where all youth must be accepted and cannot be expelled), to address the need for shelter services for high-risk youth.
Currently, there is a surplus of high-risk youth awaiting shelter, who are held in CFS regional offices and supervised by CFS staff 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is a need for more beds. The proposed Amendment will add six additional beds to the existing contract with FAP, which will increase the number of beds to 18. These beds will be in a new shelter, which must meet all Community Care Licensing (CCL) requirements, as the original 12 bed shelter does. FAP can serve all youth (regardless of gender and self-identity) in a shelter setting. Services include but are not limited to food services, phone access, personal supplies and clothing as needed, medication assistance within CCL regulations, youth activities, and visitation supervision as needed. The Amendment adds an amount not to exceed $2,345,808 to the existing contract and extends the contract for an additional six months through August 31, 2024.
FAP performance is monitored by review of monthly reports and regular site visits to ensure compliance with the administrative, program, and fiscal terms and conditions of the contract. CFS Budget and Administrative Services reviews the invoices and attachments remitted by the FAP prior to payment. The contract may be terminated without cause by the County with 30 days written notice.
PROCUREMENT
Youth that have left without permission, been ejected from a previous placement, have been released from juvenile hall, or exhibit aggressive, violent or destructive behaviors, stay in the regional CFS offices while awaiting placement, if there are no available specialized shelter beds.
The high needs of these youth make them very difficult to place even with the support of Mental Health services. CFS is requesting to amend the contract with FAP to provide shelter services for the high-risk youth awaiting placement. The Purchasing Department approves this non-competitive contract amendment due to the critical need and the specialized services provided, particularly the agreement not to reject any clients, regardless of their behavioral problems or specialized needs.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services Contracts (Patty Steven, Contracts Manager, 388-0241) on August 11, 2023; County Counsel (Kaleigh Ragon, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on July 19, 2023; Finance (John Hallen, Administrative Analyst, 388-0208) on August 3, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0238) on August 7, 2023.