Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Iliana Rodriguez, Director, Human Services Agency
Subject: Agreement with Unity Care Group, Inc. for Differential Response Services
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with Unity Care for Differential Response services for the term of November 1, 2017 through October 31, 2018 in an amount not to exceed $459,750.
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BACKGROUND:
Differential Response (DR) is an evidence-based prevention and early-intervention strategy provided to family units to reduce child abuse and neglect. It provides for a holistic, flexible, and customized approach to reports of child abuse or neglect. This response uses identified paths based on an assessment of safety and risk to determine the strengths and needs of the child and the needs of the child’s family: Family participation in DR services is voluntary.
San Mateo County Human Services Agency (HSA) issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) in April 2017 seeking early intervention services through a DR model and aftercare services for reunified families. Unity Care Group, Inc. (UCG) was selected to provide DR services in the Southern region of San Mateo County. StarVista was also awarded funding to provide DR services to the Northern, Central and Coastal regions. See attached RFP matrix.
DISCUSSION:
This Agreement with UCG will provide DR services, in coordination with County and community based providers, to children (ages zero to 18) and their families/caregivers who have risk factors that put the child at risk of court intervention. UCG will provide access to voluntary child-focused services that are intended to be short term and intensive for up to six months per family. UCG will also provide time-limited aftercare support to families who have successfully reunified after Children and Family Services (CFS) and court involvement. It is expected that a minimum of 150 unduplicated families will be engaged in services through the term of this Agreement.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provisions allowing amendments of the County’s fiscal obligations by a maximum of $25,000.
The Agreement and Resolution have been reviewed and approved by County Counsel as to form.
This Agreement contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of a Prosperous Community by providing safe and supportive homes and neighborhoods for children in San Mateo County through the DR early intervention strategy. It is expected that approximately 225 families will receive DR services as part of this Agreement and approximately 150 families will be engaged in services, including having completed assessments and attending case management appointments. Furthermore, it is anticipated that 95% of the families who receive DR services will remain intact as a result of this Agreement.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2017-18 Target |
FY 2018-19 Target |
|
Based on Child Welfare Services/Case Management System (CWS/CMS) disposition data, the percent of families receiving differential response services who will remain intact. |
95% |
96% |
|
Of the families referred out by CFS for differential response services, the percent who will receive DR services.* |
80% |
85% |
*This measure includes both those families who are engaged in services and those who received only information/referral.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of this Agreement is November 1, 2017 through October 31, 2018. The total amount of the Agreement is $459,750, 80% ($367,800) is funded by Child Welfare Services Outcome Improvement Project (CWSOIP) allocation via State Realignment funds and 20% ($91,950) is Net County Cost. The amount of $306,500 has been included in the FY 2017-18 Adopted Budget and $153,250 has been included in the FY 2018-19 Recommended Budget.