To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Social Services
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Professional Services Agreement with Redwood Community Services, Inc. Regarding the Provision of Mobile Response, Stabilization and Supportive Services to Current and Former Foster Youth as Part of the Humboldt County Family Urgent Response System
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the attached professional services agreement with Redwood Community Services, Inc. regarding the provision of mobile response, stabilization and supportive services to current and former foster youth as part of the Humboldt County Family Urgent Response System in an amount not to exceed Four Hundred Thirty-Two Thousand Seven Hundred Ninety-Two Dollars ($432,792) for the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022;
2. Authorize the Department of Health and Human Services - Child Welfare Services Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the attached professional services agreement with Redwood Community Services, Inc., after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to return one (1) fully executed original copy of the attached professional services agreement with Redwood Community Services, Inc. to the Department of Health and Human Services - Contract Unit for further processing.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Social Service Fund
DISCUSSION:
The Family Urgent Response System, is a coordinated statewide, regional and county-level system designed to provide collaborative and timely phone-based, in-home and in-person mobile response, stabilization and supportive services to foster children and youth during situations of instability, for purposes of preserving the relationship of the caregiver and the child or youth, providing developmentally appropriate relationship conflict management and resolution skills, stabilizing the living situation, mitigating the distress of the caregiver or child or youth, connecting the caregiver and child or youth to the existing array of local services and promoting a healthy and healing environment for children, youth and families.
The Family Urgent Response System builds upon the Continuum of Care Reform and the State of California’s recent System of Care development to provide current and former foster youth and their caregivers with immediate, trauma-informed support when needed. The Family Urgent Response System is intended to have multiple positive effects on the lives of children and youth and caregivers, including, without limitation: preventing placement disruptions and preserving the relationship between the child or youth and their caregiver; preventing the need for law enforcement involvement and avoiding the criminalization of traumatized youth; preventing psychiatric hospitalization and placement into congregate care; and promoting healing as a family.
Pursuant to state law, the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services - Child Welfare Services (“DHHS - Child Welfare Services”) is required to provide continuous telephone-based, in-home and in-person mobile response, stabilization and supportive services to current and former foster youth as part of the statewide Family Urgent Response System.
On March 18, 2021, DHHS - Child Welfare Services issued a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) which solicited proposals from qualified community organizations to provide mobile response, stabilization and supportive services to current and former foster youth as part of the Humboldt County Family Urgent Response System. DHHS - Child Welfare Services received one (1) proposal in response to the above-referenced RFP. After reviewing and evaluating the proposal in accordance with the applicable evaluation and selection criteria, the RFP Evaluation Committee decided to select Redwood Community Services to provide the needed mobile response, stabilization and supportive services.
The attached professional services agreement with Redwood Community Services, Inc. will allow for the provision of state mandated mobile response, stabilization and supportive services to current and former foster youth as part of the Humboldt County Family Urgent Response System for the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. It should be noted that the attached professional services agreement with Redwood Community Services, Inc. comes to the Board after the start date thereof due to inadvertent delays that occurred during the contract development process.
Accordingly, DHHS - Child Welfare Services recommends that the Board approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the attached professional services agreement with Redwood Community Services, Inc. regarding the provision of mobile response, stabilization and supportive services to current and former foster youth as part of the Humboldt County Family Urgent Response System for the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. It is also recommended that the Board authorize the DHHS - Child Welfare Services Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the attached professional services agreement with Redwood Community Services, Inc., after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office, in order to avoid any unnecessary delays in the provision of needed mobile response, stabilization and supportive services.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The attached professional services agreement with Redwood Community Services, Inc. has a maximum amount payable of Four Hundred Thirty-Two Thousand Seven Hundred Ninety-Two Dollars ($432,792) for the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. However, in the event local, state or federal funding is reduced or eliminated, the County of Humboldt may reduce the above-referenced maximum amount payable or terminate the attached professional services agreement with Redwood Community Services, Inc. in its entirety.
Expenditure appropriations related to the attached professional services agreement with Redwood Community Services, Inc. have been included in the approved fiscal year 2021-2022 budget for DHHS - Social Services budget unit 1160-508. Funding for the attached professional services agreement with Redwood Community Services, Inc. is available through Family Urgent Response System funds made available by the California Department of Social Services. As a result, approval of the attached professional services agreement with Redwood Community Services, Inc. will not impact the Humboldt County General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
The recommended actions support the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Framework by protecting vulnerable populations, improving the health and safety of local communities and providing community-appropriate levels of service.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board may choose not to approve the attached professional services agreement with Redwood Community Services, Inc. regarding the provision of mobile response, stabilization and supportive services to current and former foster youth as part of the Humboldt County Family Urgent Response System. However, this alternative is not recommended, as it would severely limit DHHS - Child Welfare Services’ ability to meet state mandated service requirements.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Professional Services Agreement with Redwood Community Services, Inc. Regarding the Provision of Mobile Response, Stabilization and supportive services to Current and Former Foster Youth as Part of the Humboldt County Family Urgent Response System
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A