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 Voices of Recovery San Mateo County for Consumer-Operated Self-Help and Peer-Support Services, Peer Recovery Supports and Community Integration, and Wellness and Recovery Services
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with Voices of Recovery San Mateo County for consumer-operated self-help and peer-support services, peer recovery supports and community integration, and wellness and recovery services for the term June 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027, in an amount not to exceed $836,345.
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BACKGROUND:
Peer support services are essential to supporting consumers as they progress through all phases of wellness/recovery, including periods of relapse. Peer-support services are cost-effective and have been found to engage clients who otherwise may not be able to participate in community activity programs on their own.
In January 2024, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) released a Request for Proposals to seek qualified client-run service organizations to provide peer support services for those with a history of substance use disorders (SUD). The anticipated duration of the agreement was for three years, with an option to renew for an additional two years. Voices of Recovery San Mateo County (VORSMC), which has been providing peer support services to BHRS since 2011, was the only responding bidder, and VORSMC was selected for their expertise in SUD peer-led support services.
BHRS is elevating VORSMC to provide services under this agreement due to their expertise in the recovery model for peer support services, their tenure with the County in supporting clients who are recovering from substance addictions, and their continued efforts in coaching clients and supporting them with connections to housing, employment, education, and health services.
DISCUSSION:
Through this agreement, VORSMC will provide: 1) consumer-operated self-help and peer-support services for individuals with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders; 2) peer recovery supports and community integration to prevent relapse and promote long-term recovery from SUD; and 3) Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) groups to formerly incarcerated adults through the Criminal Justice Realignment Act, and Drug Court clients and individuals as they transition to the aftercare phase of treatment. WRAP is a self-designed plan for staying well, increasing personal responsibility, and improving the quality of daily life.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provision 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 the County Attorney as to form.
Participation in peer support activities is an indicator of recovery improvement and clients’ commitment to their own wellness and recovery. An increase in attendance indicates that the contractor is serving a larger audience and is successful in reaching an underserved population. It is anticipated that an additional 48 clients will attend peer support/recovery activities from the prior year.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2024-25 Estimated |
FY 2025-26 Projected |
FY 2026-27 Projected |
|
Number of clients attending peer support/recovery activities |
478 unique clients attended and 3,767 total attendances |
526 unique clients attended and 4,144 total attendances |
579 unique clients attended and 4,558 total attendances |
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
This contract will positively impact the behavioral health of low-income residents in need of substance use peer recovery supports and community integration, as well as wellness and recovery services. VORSMC offers bilingual and bicultural wellness and recovery services and WRAP group sessions for those with a history of SUD in convenient locations across San Mateo County, with the aim of helping residents to achieve long-term wellness and recovery. VORSMC is essential to assuring equitable access to quality care for underserved and vulnerable people in San Mateo County. Most of VORSMC’s clients have co-occurring mental health needs and other complex needs, including homelessness, justice system involvement, and other physical health conditions.
To advance health equity, improve quality, and help eliminate health disparities, the County requires providers to comply with National Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Service standards. Each provider is required to submit an annual cultural competence plan that details current and future efforts to address the diverse needs of clients, families, and the workforce in San Mateo County.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the agreement is July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027. The amount of the agreement is not to exceed $836,345 for the two-year term. For FY 2025-26, the maximum amount is $392,767 and will be included in the BHRS FY 2025-26 Recommended Budget. Of that amount, Mental Health Services Act will fund $305,338, AB 109 will fund $22,632, and Net County Cost will fund $64,797. Similar arrangements will be made for the following year.
BHRS is changing the methodology used to pay contracted providers that are currently paid on a 1/12th, monthly advance. Specifically, BHRS is changing the payment methodology for most contracts to fee-for-service and payments will be made in arrears. Additionally, in previous fiscal years, BHRS was granted an exception to pay providers during the accounting “blackout period” in July and August. This exception will no longer be available.
To facilitate these changes, BHRS has agreed to one three-month pre-pay for July-September of FY 2025-26 to qualifying providers. This payment will be reconciled in November. This payment must be made in June 2025. However, to make this payment, an ATR is needed. One ATR for all the impacted contracts will be submitted on the May 22, 2025 Board agenda. There will be no pre-pays in subsequent fiscal years.
Attachment: RFP Matrix