Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Iliana Rodriguez, Interim Director, Human Services Agency
Subject: Agreement with Applied Survey Research to provide evaluation and research services for foster care programs
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with Applied Survey Research to provide evaluation and research services for a term of September 24, 2019 through June 30, 2020, in an amount not to exceed $100,210.
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BACKGROUND:
Since 1992, the Human Services Agency (“HSA”) has utilized the Family Resource Center service delivery model as a platform for providing prevention and intervention services to prevent families from entering higher levels of care. It has also funded programs to improve the employment and educational outcomes for youth in the foster care system. Since the implementation of these programs, there has not been a rigorous independent evaluation of their outcomes.
An independent review of these programs will be instrumental in assessing their efficacy and their continued alignment with the community outcomes identified in Shared Vision 2025.
In April 2017, the San Mateo County Probation Department issued a Program Evaluation Services Request for Proposals (“RFP”) to evaluate its continuum of care model to serve youth in its care. Through this RFP, Applied Survey Research was chosen.
Applied Survey Research (“ASR”) is a social research organization that for the past 37 years has been dedicated to helping organizations measure and improve the impact of their services. It specializes in working with vulnerable populations such as the population being served in our foster care system. ASR has extensive experience working with public agencies and health and human service organizations.
DISCUSSION:
HSA would like to enter into an agreement with ASR to allow HSA to conduct a process and outcome evaluation of the Foster Youth Employment, Education and Family Resource Center programs.
This proposed evaluation is necessary to help HSA answer the following questions regarding particular programs:
1. Are the programs accomplishing what was agreed upon in the contracts?
2. How can the programs be improved?
3. How and why do the programs work (or not work, if that is the case)?
4. Are the programs helping their clients and how do we know this to be true?
This agreement contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of a Prosperous Community by identifying what is working and what can be done differently to increase the success and positive impact of the services provided to youth in the foster care system.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2019/20 |
|
Work plan projects will be submitted to HSA by the delivery dates. |
100% |
FISCAL IMPACT:
This agreement is for the term of September 24, 2019 through June 30, 2020, and in an amount not to exceed $100,210. The cost of this Agreement will be distributed to the agency with funding estimated to be 75% state and federal, and 25% Net County Cost. Budgetary appropriation to cover the cost of this Agreement is included in the FY 2019-2020 Approved Recommended Budget.