Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Colleen Chawla, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Jei Africa, Director, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services
Subject: Agreement with One East Palo Alto for MultiCultural Wellness Center Services, Outreach and Engagement Services, and Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Translation Support
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with One East Palo Alto for multicultural wellness center services, outreach and engagement services, and Behavioral Health and Recovery Services translation support for the term of March 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027, in an amount not to exceed $1,092,516.
body
BACKGROUND:
One East Palo Alto (OEPA) has provided multicultural center services and outreach and engagement services for consumers receiving mental health services in East Palo Alto since October 2008. The services are provided by community outreach workers who access and connect community members with appropriate behavioral health services in East Palo Alto.
In December 2023, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) released an RFP for behavioral health outreach and collaboratives. BHRS elevated OEPA to provide these services due to its long and extensive history of serving and providing services to the East Palo Alto region, its strong partnerships with the community and other providers, and its detailed implementation and cultural competence plan included in the proposal.
In November 2024, BHRS released a Request for Proposals for multicultural center services in East Palo Alto. BHRS has elevated OEPA to provide these services due to its positive collaboration with the community and other relevant stakeholders and its strong history in providing services to different communities.
DISCUSSION:
Through this agreement, OEPA will provide three services: 1) multicultural wellness center services that welcome adult behavioral health consumers; 2) outreach and collaborative services through the East Palo Alto Partnership for Mental Health Outreach; and 3) BHRS translation support. BHRS released RFPs for the first two services, as described above under the Background section. No RFP was released for the translation support services component, but this component is only $12,880 of the total requested contract amount.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provisions allowing amendment of the County’s fiscal obligations by a maximum of $25,000 (in aggregate).
The agreement and resolution have been reviewed and approved by County Attorney as to form. This agreement has been delayed due to prolonged contract negotiations.
BHRS provides a range of services to support consumers in their efforts towards wellness and recovery. The provision of multicultural center services to assist consumers with connecting to services that address their needs and support their wellness is one established form of support. It is anticipated that over 90% of unduplicated clients will be referred by the multicultural center for mental health services.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2024-25 Estimated |
FY 2025-26 Projected |
|
Percentage of unduplicated clients who will be referred by the multicultural center for mental health services |
>90% 158 of 175 clients |
>90% 158 of 175 clients |
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
This contract will positively impact the various ethnic and cultural communities in East Palo Alto, as the Barbara A. Mouton Center MultiCultural Wellness Center at OEPA has been providing recovery support, education, and activities for persons with behavioral health challenges in this community since 2009. Their staff’s demographics and languages other than English spoken mirror those of the community, including persons of Samoan and Tongan origins, persons of Hispanic descent, and a long-standing African American community. In addition, the center has welcomed persons of all ages, from families with children to youth to adults and seniors, with activities and services appropriate for each age group’s needs.
Staff have engaged these impacted groups by welcoming them not just to participate, but to share their favorite proposals for activities as well. For speakers of threshold languages other than the ones mentioned, there is also a component of language services included in the contract that can cover interpretation services if needed.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the agreement is March 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027. The amount of the agreement is not to exceed $1,092,516. Of this amount, the Mental Health Services Act will fund 100% of the agreement, with no Net County Cost. Funds for these services have been included in the BHRS FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget.
Attachment: RFP Matrices