To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Social Services
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Agreement with Redwood Community Services, Inc. for Startup Costs
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the agreement with Redwood Community Services, Inc. for the period of agreement execution through June 30, 2020 in an amount not to exceed $55,927; and
2. Direct the Clerk of the Board to route the fully executed agreement to DHHS-Contract Unit for further processing.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Social Services Fund
DISCUSSION:
This agreement between Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services - Child Welfare Services (DHHS-CWS) and Redwood Community Services, Inc. provides the structure for the start-up of Intensive Services Foster Care (ISFC) and Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) programs in Humboldt County to serve county foster children/youth.
Redwood Community Services, Inc. will provide these services to the foster children/youth by recruiting, training and supporting Resource Families willing to be placement for children/youth with higher needs.
ISFC is a program model established by Assembly Bill 404 in 2017 of home-based family care for eligible foster children/youth whose needs for safety, permanency and well-being require specially trained resource parents, and intensive professional and paraprofessional services.
TFC is available as an Early and Periodic Screening Diagnostic and Treatment, Specialty Mental Health Service to children/youth who are under the age of 21, who are Medi-Cal eligible and meet medical necessity criteria. This program is intended for children/ youth who require intensive and frequent mental health support in a family environment. TFC is provided by TFC parents under the direction of a TFC Agency, which ensures the TFC parents meet Resource Family Approval program standards and the additional required qualifications as a TFC parent. The TFC Agency also employs mental health professionals who direct and support the TFC parent regarding interventions and Medi-Cal progress note documentation.
The goal of both the ISFC and TFC programs is to ensure that youth in foster care receive the services they need in a home-based family care setting, or to avoid or exit a short-term residential therapeutic program, group home or out-of-state care. This agreement will assist in ensuring the safety and stability of children/youth in the community and in foster care by providing a higher level of services within the county. Local provision of TSFC and TFC also allows these children/youth to receive care within the county of Humboldt, rather than being placed in homes outside the county, away from their extended family and support network.
Therefore, DHHS-CWS recommends that the Board approve the agreement between County of Humboldt and Redwood Community Services, Inc. for the start-up of the ISFC and TFC programs within Humboldt County for the period between execution and June 30, 2020.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The total costs associated with the agreement with Redwood Community Services Inc. for the period between agreement execution and June 30, 2020 is $55,927. The costs associated with the agreement will reside in fund 1160, budget unit 508 for fiscal year 2018-19 in the amount of $20,000. During the fiscal year 2019-20 budget process this agreement will be moved to fund 1160, budget unit 508 - Child Welfare Services for the remaining $35,927. There is no impact to the County General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by protecting vulnerable populations by providing community-appropriate levels of service.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Humboldt County DHHS - Children’s Mental Health
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board can choose not to approve the agreement with Redwood Community Services, Inc. but it is not recommended as this would lead to larger impacts on DHHS staff, resources, and county-dependent children and youth.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Agreement with Redwood Community Services, Inc. for Startup Costs
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: 17-2248
Meeting of: 8/22/2017
File No.: 19-602