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 Mathematica for Evaluation Services
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with Mathematica for evaluation services, for the term of April 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028, in an amount not to exceed $463,400.
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BACKGROUND:
In 2004, California voters passed Proposition 63, known as the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), which has provided dedicated state funds to expand and transform behavioral health services. Since 2006, MHSA expenditures have been approved by this Board as part of the larger County Health budget. State legislation requires that a MHSA Three-Year Program and Expenditure Plan, subsequent MHSA Annual Updates, and any proposed amendments be approved by this Board.
On January 28, 2025, this Board approved an amendment to the MHSA Annual Updates for FY 2024-25. This amendment included four MHSA Innovation (INN) Project Plans. MHSA INN funds must be used for projects that meet criteria for being innovative and may not be used for ordinary services. The amendment allowed for the use of MHSA INN funds in this current FY 2024-25 for Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) procurement activities.
In July 2024, BHRS released a Request for Proposals (RFP) to support the division with planning and evaluation services. Mathematica submitted a proposal in response to the RFP. BHRS recommends Mathematica to provide evaluation and research services based on their extensive, relevant, and demonstrated experience with government evaluation services.
DISCUSSION:
Mathematica will support the annual evaluation planning, data collection, and reporting required for three of the four MHSA INN projects. INN evaluations are intended to examine the learning objectives outlined in each INN project, fulfill required demographic INN reporting requirements, and develop annual reports and a final summative report for submission to the state Commission for Behavioral Health. The three MHSA INN projects are as follows:
1. Peer Support for Peer Workers
The project creates a team of trained peers to provide on-demand peer
support services for peers and family members in the workforce.
2. Animal Fostering and Care for Client Housing Stability and Wellness
The project will provide temporary animal foster care, veterinary, and pet
support services to adult and older adult clients living with serious mental illness (SMI) and/or substance use disorders (SUD) for whom pet care is an urgent and temporary barrier to receiving a higher level of care such as residential treatment or hospitalization or maintaining their housing stability.
3. Progressive Improvements for Valued Outpatient Treatment
The project will support community-based organizations that are interested in becoming certified providers of specialty mental health services for individuals living with SMI/SUD and/or bill MediCal for allowable early intervention and peer support services. The project has the potential to support the sustainability of critical Community-Defined Evidence Practices and peer-based services.
MHSA legislation requires comprehensive evaluation services of all approved INN pilot projects.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provision allowing amendment of the County’s fiscal obligations by a maximum of $25,000 (in aggregate).
This agreement is late due to extended negotiations with Mathematica.
The agreement and resolution have been reviewed and approved by the County Attorney as to form.
It is anticipated that 100% of the MHSA evaluation, reporting, and planning requirements will be completed along with the development of annual and summative reports for submission to the state Commission for Behavioral Health.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2024-25 Estimated |
FY 2025-26 Projected |
|
Percentage of the MHSA evaluation, reporting, and planning requirements to be completed, along with the development of annual and summative reports for submission to the state Commission for Behavioral Health |
100% 5 requirements |
100% 5 requirements |
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
Planning and evaluation services support BHRS in delivering effective and impactful services for marginalized communities living with severe mental health and SUDs by providing BHRS with performance and client-level outcomes and identifying continuous improvement needs. BHRS programs provide direct treatment and recovery supports (e.g., Full-Service Partnerships, Assisted Outpatient Treatment, Mobile Crisis Response, Pathways Program, etc.) for the most vulnerable San Mateo County clients.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the agreement is April 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028. The amount of the agreement is not to exceed $463,400 for the term of the agreement. Funds in the amount of $170,100 are included in the BHRS FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget and will be 100% funded by MHSA. Similar arrangements will be made for FY 2025-26. There is no Net County Cost associated with this agreement.
Attachment: RFP Matrix