To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Social Services
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Professional Services Agreement with Richard England, LCSW, ICWA Expert Witness
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve Professional Services Agreement with Richard England for professional service to provide ICWA Expert Witness Reports and testimony effective January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020;
2. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services, or designee, to exercise the first and second options to extend the agreement for additional one-year terms from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021 and January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022 for a not to exceed amount of $147,000 over the potential three-year term; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to route the fully executed agreement to the DHHS-Contract Unit for further processing.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Social Services Fund
DISCUSSION:
Since 2013, Richard England has provided required services for the county in upholding the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). The services include the review of case records, police reports, case notes, Discovery and conducting interviews as necessary to complete an evaluation.
The expert witness opinion, as given in written reports, is to determine:
* Whether continued custody by the parent(s) or Indian custodian will likely result in serious physical or emotional harm to the child
* If placement preference has been followed in accordance with ICWA.
* If active efforts were met to prevent the breakup of an Indian family as required by ICWA
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The maximum cost payable under this Agreement for calendar year 2020 is $49,000. The county has the option of extending this Agreement under the same terms and conditions for a additional two (2) one-year calendar terms. The maximum cost payable under the life of this Agreement shall not exceed $147,000. Funds have been i...
Click here for full text