REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
May 4, 2021
FROM
MARLENE HAGEN, Director, Children and Family Services
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Contracts for Active Supportive Interventions Services for Transition Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 2, effective July 1, 2021, to contracts with the following agencies for the Active Supportive Interventions Services for Transition Program to provide support resources to aid in the transition of youth from residential placements, updating contract language, increasing the total combined contract amount by $900,000, from $2,450,000 to $3,350,000, and extending the contract period by two years, for the total contract period of November 6, 2019 through June 30, 2023:
1. Lutheran Social Services of Southern California, Contract No. 19-727, increasing the contract amount by $112,500, from $306,250 to $418,750.
2. South Coast Children’s Society, Inc., Contract No. 19-728, increasing the contract amount by $337,500, from $918,750 to $1,256,250.
3. Uplift Family Services, Contract No. 19-729, increasing the contract amount by $225,000, from $612,500 to $837,500.
4. Victor Community Support Services, Inc., Contract No. 19-730, increasing the contract amount by $225,000, from $612,500 to $837,500.
(Presenter: Marlene Hagen, 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.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not require additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The increase for continued Active Supportive Interventions Services for Transition (ASIST) Program services in 2021-22 and 2022-23 will not exceed $900,000 ($450,000 annually) and will be 100% state funded. Adequate appropriation and revenue will be included in the Human Services Claim 2021-22 recommended budget and future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Under the recommended amendments, the agencies listed in the Recommendation will expand supports and resources provided to youth transitioning from residential placements under the ASIST Program and continue the collaboration with Children and Family Services (CFS) through 2022-23. The recommended amendments will continue to allow CFS to contract with qualified providers to coordinate individualized, intensive services for identified youth and families and provide extensive family-finding efforts, specialized permanency services, targeted ongoing transition support for youth, and youth and caretaker coaching to achieve stabilization. Contracted providers will deliver trauma-informed, permanency competent clinical strategies and interventions for the transition of youth with complex and co-occurring needs from residential placement to family-based settings.
The Continuum of Care Reform (CCR), established following the passage of California Assembly Bill 403 (Chapter 773, Statutes of 2015), seeks to reduce the reliance on residential placement as a frequently used placement option for youth. CCR adopted a new licensing category, Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP), which provides short-term, 24-hour intensive care and supervision to children, youth, and Non-Minor Dependents (NMD). Following full implementation of CCR, residential placement settings that do not convert to the STRTP license model are no longer eligible for foster care placements.
The ASIST Program was developed to provide additional support and resources to aid in the transition of identified youth who remain in residential placement settings who are not transitioning to a STRTP. The ASIST Program is a short-term, time limited resource, which the State originally funded through 2019-20, extended funding through 2020-21, and extended funding again through 2022-23. This funding will continue to provide additional resources to aid counties with transition planning, extensive family funding, engagement, specialized permanency services, and other transition support services.
Combined spending will not exceed $450,000 in 2021-22 or 2022-23. The contracts allow CFS the flexibility to select the contractor best meeting the needs of each individual youth. CFS will monitor individual referrals to ensure total payments do not exceed the annual spending authority.
Contracts may be terminated by the County without cause upon 30-day prior written notice. Contractor performance will continue to be monitored by review of invoices and monthly reports to ensure compliance with the administrative, program, and fiscal terms and conditions of the contract.
PROCUREMENT
On November 5, 2019 (Item No. 19), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved non-competitive contracts with the agencies listed in the Recommendation for the ASIST Program, in the combined contract amount of $2,000,000, for the contract period of November 6, 2019 through June 30, 2020. The combined contract amount included in the recommendation was incorrectly stated as $1,485,000; the combined amount of the four contracts was $2,000,000.
On May 19, 2020 (Item No. 34), the Board approved Amendment No. 1, effective May 20, 2020, to contracts with the above-mentioned agencies, updating contract language, increasing the total combined contract amount by $450,000 to $2,450,000, and extending the contract period by one year, for the total contract period of November 6, 2019 through June 30, 2021. As with the November 5, 2019 Item, the combined contract amount in the recommendation was incorrectly stated; the correct amount after the increase $450,000 increase was $2,450,000.
CFS recommends the ASIST Program services continue to be provided by the agencies listed in the Recommendation based on their ability to deliver services that meet the guidelines of the California Wraparound Standards, a requirement for participation in the ASIST Program. Purchasing concurs with the non-competitive justification due to the specialized credentials and supports procurement of intensive transition support services by the above-mentioned agencies.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services Contracts (Tanya Bratton, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0332) on April 1, 2021; County Counsel (Julie Surber, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on April 2, 2021; Purchasing (Stacey Chou, Buyer III, 387-3377) on April 2, 2021; Finance (John Hallen, Administrative Analyst 388-0208) on April 20, 2021; and County Finance and Administration (Tanya Bratton, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0332) on April 20, 2021.