REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 27, 2023
FROM
GEORGINA YOSHIOKA, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT
Title
Contracts for Resilience Promotion in African American Children Program Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve contracts with the following agencies for the provision of Resilience Promotion in African American Children Program services, in the combined amount of $5,100,000, for the period of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026, with the option to extend for two additional one-year periods:
1. Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy, in the amount of $2,914,287.
2. Greater Hope Foundation for Children, Inc. dba A Greater Hope, in the amount of $2,185,713.
(Presenter: Georgina Yoshioka, Director, 252-5142)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The amount of $5,100,000 for Resilience Promotion in African American Children (RPiAAC) Program services will be funded by Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI). Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Department of Behavioral Health’s (DBH) 2023-24 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
DBH is responsible for providing mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) services to San Bernardino County (County) residents experiencing severe mental illness and/or SUD. As a part of the DBH system of care, RPiAAC is categorized as a Prevention Program with goals of reducing prolonged suffering associated with untreated mental illness, increasing early access and linkage to medically necessary care and treatment, improving timely access to services, and reducing stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness.
Established in 2008, with the approval of the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, the RPiAAC Program is a MHSA PEI program that provides services in schools and other culturally appropriate settings. The RPiAAC Program incorporates African American philosophies and traditions as a platform from which to offer mental health educational programs, early intervention services and promote resiliency in African American children and youth ages 5-18 and their families. DBH anticipates approximately 5,666 children and youth will be served annually, at an average cost of $300.
The RPiAAC Program services include, but are not limited to, intensive school-based curriculum, followed by on-going weekly interventions, individual therapy, case management, linkage to resources, and mentorship/relationship building off site at youth centers, churches, health clinics, or other community settings. The program is designed to focus on the strengths of the African American community and assists African Americans in feeling comfortable seeking services from staff that are knowledgeable and capable of identifying needs and solutions for African American families and individuals.
PROCUREMENT
On March 13, 2023, the County Administrative Office approved and authorized the release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) No. DBHE23-ADMN-4926 through Electronic Procurement Network (ePro), to solicit interested and qualified organizations and agencies to provide RPiAAC Program services. The RFP was publicly advertised in local newspapers and through direct mailings to more than 600 community-based organizations, service providers, and other interested parties.
A bidder’s conference was held on March 24, 2023. Six proposals were received in response to the RFP by the established deadline. The six proposals met the minimum requirements and were reviewed during the evaluation process.
|
Proposing Agency |
Proposed Areas |
Proposed Budget |
|
Dvine Interventions |
San Bernardino, Adelanto, Victorville |
$651,400 |
|
Greater Hope Foundation for Children, Inc. dba A Greater Hope |
San Bernardino, Adelanto, Barstow, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Rialto, Victorville |
$1,803,096 |
|
Life Builders Incorporated |
San Bernardino, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Rialto |
$1,323,780 |
|
My Sisters’ Keeper LLC |
San Bernardino, Adelanto, Barstow, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Rialto, Victorville |
$5,242,053 |
|
Simple Solutions Family Therapy, Inc. dba Simple Solutions Psychotherapy |
San Bernardino, Adelanto, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Rialto, Victorville |
$32,633,712 |
|
Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy |
San Bernardino, Adelanto, Barstow, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Rialto, Victorville |
$5,100,021 |
The evaluation committee, comprised of five individuals with representation from New Journeys Behavioral Health, Department of Children and Family Services, and DBH, reviewed and evaluated the proposals based on the criteria referenced in the RFP, including but not limited to: demonstrated ability to serve the target population, ability to provide required services as specified in the RFP, demonstrated ability to serve the number of unduplicated participants, appropriate staffing levels and requirements and ability to provide required services in the specified geographic areas. Based on the program and fiscal evaluations and resulting contract negotiations, the following two agencies are recommended for contract award to provide RPiAAC Program services through June 30, 2026.
|
Agency |
Areas to be served |
3-Year Contract Amount |
|
Greater Hope Foundation for Children, Inc. dba A Greater Hope |
Barstow, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga |
$2,185,713 |
|
Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy |
San Bernardino, Adelanto, Rialto, Victorville |
$2,914,287 |
The agencies not recommended for contract award were notified by letter via electronic mail, including their ability to submit a formal written protest to the Purchasing Director based on the criteria in the RFP. One written protest was received, reviewed and denied.
DBH will monitor contractor performance on a regular basis to ensure compliance standards are met. Contract monitoring is inclusive of, but not limited to, site visits and assessments of policy, procedures, process implementation, and service delivery components, to ensure compliance with the contract and applicable laws and regulations. The fiscal review ensures costs claimed are reasonable, allowable, and in compliance with related financial records and procedures.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Behavioral Health Contracts (Ellayna Hoatson, Contracts Supervisor, 388-0858) on June 5, 2023; County Counsel (Dawn Martin, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on June 7, 2023; Purchasing (Michelle Churchill, Supervising Buyer, 387-2070) on June 7, 2023; Finance (Christopher Lange, Administrative Analyst, 386-8393) on June 5, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0238) on June 8, 2023.