Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Louise F. Rogers, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Jei Africa, Director, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services
Subject: Four (4) Agreements with StarVista for Mental Health Services
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Adopt a resolution authorizing four (4) agreements with StarVista, each for the term of October 1, 2024, through June 30, 2026, for an aggregate amount not to exceed $3,047,636:
A) Crisis Telephone Hotline and Mobile Crisis Response Team services; and
B) Early Childhood Community Team and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation services; and
C) Health Ambassador Program for Youth services; and
D) Trauma-Informed Co-Occurring Prevention and Intervention services.
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BACKGROUND:
For over 20 years, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) has contracted with StarVista for mental health services, Girls’ Juvenile Court services, child abuse treatment services, the Early Childhood Community Team (ECCT), and substance use disorder treatment services. For the last six years, BHRS has also contracted with StarVista for the provision of Pride Center services. On May 7, 2024, the Board approved an amendment for a six-month extension of all services, to allow BHRS time to complete required Request for Proposals (RFP) processes for several services provided by StarVista under the current agreement.
In February 2024, BHRS released an RFP, seeking proposals from qualified providers to provide ECCT and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (ECMHC) services. StarVista submitted a proposal and has been recommended to provide these services.
In December 2023, BHRS released an RFP, seeking proposals from qualified providers to provide Health Ambassador Program-Youth services. StarVista submitted a proposal and has been recommended to provide these services.
In December 2023, BHRS released an RFP, seeking proposals from qualified providers to provide Trauma-Informed Prevention and Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) for Youth services. StarVista submitted a proposal and is one of the five providers recommended to provide these services.
DISCUSSION:
San Mateo County’s Procurement Division (Procurement) has recommended that BHRS separate the large StarVista agreement into distinct service agreements. BHRS will have eight separate agreements with StarVista, of which seven will fall under the signature authority of the Board. Under this memorandum, BHRS is presenting four agreements for the amounts listed: 1) Crisis Hotline and Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT) deployment services ($1,050,000); 2) ECCT services and ECMHC services to young children ($1,050,000); 3) Health Ambassador Program-Youth services ($667,636); and 4) Trauma-informed PEI for Youth ($280,000).
BHRS will be submitting separate StarVista agreements to the Board for substance abuse treatment services, Pride Center services, and Community Wellness and Crisis Response Team services. BHRS will also have a department level agreement for Co-Chair of the Diversity and Equity Committee services, Suicide Prevention Committee Co-Chair services, and Parent Project services.
Beginning July 1, 2024, the State Department of Health Care Services required all counties to provide all Medi-Cal beneficiaries with access to Crisis Hotline and MCRT dispatch services through a single telephone number. In order to comply with this State requirement, BHRS entered into a departmental agreement with StarVista for the new MCRT dispatch services, for the period of July 1, 2024 through September 30, 2024. A Sole Source request to waive the RFP selection process for the provision of these MCRT dispatch services after October 1, 2024, was submitted to Procurement for review. That request was reviewed and recommended for submission to the Board for approval. StarVista is the only qualified provider in San Mateo County able to dispatch 24/7 MCRT services for Medi-Cal beneficiaries of all ages in accordance with current State requirements. StarVista has provided Crisis Hotline services and has been screening for and deploying MCRT services for youth since 2021. StarVista is one of twelve crisis call centers in California accredited by the American Association of Suicidology and belonging to the national network of Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provisions allowing amendment of the County’s fiscal obligations by a maximum of $25,000 (in aggregate) for each agreement.
The agreements and resolution have been reviewed and approved by the County Attorney as to form.
It is anticipated that 99% of clients will be maintained at a current or lower level of care.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2024-25 Estimated |
FY 2025-26 Projected |
|
Percentage of clients maintained at a current or lower level of care |
99% 1,462 out of 1,480 clients |
99% 1,462 out of 1,480 clients |
EQUITY IMPACT:
The purpose of these agreements is to deliver comprehensive behavioral health services to Medi-Cal eligible or non-insured individuals in San Mateo County, with a focus on marginalized communities including Latino/x, African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Native American groups (San Mateo Mental Health Plan Final Report, Table 7, FY2023-24). These agreements’ programs are designed to meet the unique needs of underserved populations, emphasizing trauma and culturally informed and evidence-based practices to promote long-term well-being.
The agreements align with the organization's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging priorities by:
1. Supporting marginalized children and families: Improving social-emotional development and preventing long-term trauma impacts through ECCT.
2. Enhancing inclusive educational environments: Providing targeted consultation to ensure equitable early childhood education via ECMHC.
3. Addressing trauma and substance use among high-risk youth: Delivering essential services in non-traditional settings through the trauma and culturally informed PEI program.
4. Providing crisis support: Offering 24/7 crisis assessment, de-escalation, and emotional support, with in-person interventions by the MCRT.
5. Tailoring services to meet cultural needs: developing and implementing programs that hold an equity and trauma-informed lens and provide services that are culturally appropriate and accessible.
6. Building trust and relationships: collaborating with local organizations working with marginalized communities to build trust and ensure that services are delivered in a way that is respectful and accepting. Including community in decision making processes to ensure their perspective and experience informs our work.
These services are backed by data indicating higher rates in the targeted communities of trauma, behavioral health challenges, and educational disparities, demonstrating the critical need for these interventions.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of all agreements presented under this memorandum is October 1, 2024 through June 30, 2026. The total amount of the agreements is not to exceed $3,047,636 for the 21-month term. Funds in the amount of $1,373,818 are included in the BHRS FY 2024-25 Recommended Budget. The Mental Health Services Act will fund $1,323,818; and the Crisis Care Mobile Unit Grant will fund $50,000 for MCRT services. There is no Net County Cost.
Attachments:
1. RFP Matrix - ECCT & ECMHC Services
2. RFP Matrix - Health Ambassador Program-Youth
3. RFP Matrix - Trauma-Informed Prevention PEI for Youth services