Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Ken Cole, Human Services Agency Director
Subject: Amendment to the Agreement with StarVista for Differential Response Services
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Adopt a resolution authorizing an amendment to the agreement with StarVista to provide differential response services, increasing the amount by $1,253,407 for a revised amount not to exceed $3,253,721.
body
BACKGROUND:
Differential Response (DR) is an evidence-based prevention and early-intervention strategy designed to reduce child abuse and neglect. It provides support services to families that need to be strengthened but do not meet the legal criteria for entering the child welfare system. 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.
On December 5, 2017, this Board authorized an agreement with StarVista by resolution no. 075605, in the amount of $846,907 for the term of December 6, 2017 through December 5, 2018, to provide DR services for the North, Central, and Coastside regions of San Mateo County.
On December 4, 2018, this Board authorized an amendment to the agreement with StarVista by resolution no. 076307, to increase funding by $1,153,407 and extend the term through December 5, 2019. This amendment also expanded the service area to include the Southern region of San Mateo County. This agreement was subsequently amended on December 4, 2019, by the Agency Director, to extend the term through December 4, 2020.
DISCUSSION:
StarVista currently provides DR and aftercare services for reunified families in all regions of San Mateo County. They provide at-risk families with access to voluntary child-focused case management services that are intended to be short-term and intensive for up to six months per family and time-limited aftercare support to families who have successfully reunified after court involvement.
These services are critical to meeting San Mateo County’s five-year System Improvement Plan, which includes preventing child abuse as its highest priority. The SIP is mandated under Assembly Bill 636 and overseen by the California Department of Social Services.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provision allowing the HSA Director to amend the County’s fiscal obligation by a maximum of $25,000 (in aggregate).
The amended agreement and resolution have been reviewed and approved by County Counsel as to form.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2019-20 Actual |
FY 2020-2021 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. |
96% |
97% |
|
Of the families referred out by CFS for differential response services, the percent who will receive DR Services.* |
82% |
85% |
*This measure includes both those families who are engaged in services and those who received only information/referral.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This amendment increases the funding by $1,253,407 for a new total obligation amount not to exceed $3,253,721. Of the amended amount, 80%, or $1,002,726, is funded by Child Welfare Services Outcome Improvement Project (CWSOIP) allocation via State Realignment funds and 30%, or $250,681, is Net County Cost. Budget appropriations have been included in the FY 2019-20 Adopted Budget and will be included in the FY 2020-21 Recommended Budget.