Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Ken Cole, Director, Human Services Agency
Subject: Agreement with StarVista for Differential Response Services
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with StarVista to provide differential response services for the term of December 6, 2020 through December 5, 2023 in the amount of $3,824,732.
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BACKGROUND:
Differential Response (DR) is a 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 within identified response paths based on an assessment of safety and risk to determine the strengths and needs of the child and the child’s family. Family participation in DR services is voluntary.
On October 1, 2020, the Human Services Agency (HSA) released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for these services. StarVista was selected as the agency that would best meet the needs of HSA.
DISCUSSION:
In coordination with County and community-based providers, StarVista will serve children (ages zero to 18) and their families/caregivers with risk factors that put the child at risk of court intervention.
StarVista will offer access to voluntary child-focused services that are intended to be short term and intensive for up to six months per family. The service provider will also offer 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 515 unduplicated families will be engaged in services as part of this Agreement.
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 agreement has been reviewed and approved by County Counsel as to form.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2020-21 Actual |
FY 2021-22 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. * |
84% |
86% |
*This measure includes both those families who are engaged in services and those who received only information/referral.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total obligation of this Agreement is $3,824,732, of which 80% or $3,059,786 is funded through Child Welfare System Outcome Improvement Projects (CWSOIP), via State Realignment and 20% or $ 764,946 is Net County Cost. Funds and appropriations have been included in FY20-21 Adopted Budget. Similar arrangements will be made for future budget years.