Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Louise F. Rogers, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Scott Gilman, Director, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services
Subject: Agreement with American Institutes for Research for Evaluation and Research Services
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with American Institutes for Research, for evaluation and research services, for the term July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022, in an amount not to exceed $311,613.
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BACKGROUND:
Federal and state programs require Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) to submit evaluations and reports on program outcomes. These requirements have increased as a result of the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), which requires evaluation design, analysis, and reporting on new initiatives to improve access to underserved populations. Measure K funding has also increased reporting requirements.
In September 2015, BHRS issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to select a provider of research and evaluation services. American Institutes for Research (AIR) submitted a proposal and was selected to provide a portion of these services, along with another proposer, Prins Williams Analytics, LLC.
In October 2018, the AIR agreement was renewed for an additional two years, taking the agreement through FY 2019-20. This allowed AIR to continue state-mandated MHSA reporting initiatives, Medical Assisted Therapy evaluation and Laura’s Law evaluation and reporting.
In October 2020, your Board approved an extension and an increase in the agreement amount for AIR to support implementation and reporting requirements of the new Mental Health Student Services Act (MHSSA) grant awarded to BHRS in July 2020.
DISCUSSION:
BHRS shall continue contracting with AIR to provide research, analysis, and evaluation services. These services include contract performance data analysis, Medication Assisted Therapy Program and Assisted Outpatient Treatment Program evaluation reports, MHSA reporting and evaluation for Full-Service Partnerships and Prevention and Early Intervention Outreach Collaboratives. The data provided by AIR will be used to assist BHRS managers in maintaining oversight of contracted provider services, meet State legislative reporting requirements and ensuring quality services for BHRS clients.
The continuation of the agreement with AIR is to support the second-year implementation of the MHSSA grant and evaluation requirements of the grant. AIR will provide consultation related to implementation of evidence-based social-emotional learning practices on school campuses including hosting virtual communities of practice for school staff, and conduct qualitative evaluation via key informant interviews and focus groups, which will include collecting, analyzing, reporting and making recommendations for improvements. AIR has national expertise in school-based evidence-based programming to support social emotional learning and local expertise in supporting BHRS programs with state grant and revenue requirements.
All services will continue to be provided remotely via online meeting platforms and conference calls.
The agreement and resolution have been reviewed and approved by County Counsel as to form and is on the Continuing Resolution. The agreement is going to your Board late due to protracted negotiations with the vendor.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provisions allowing amendment of the County’s fiscal obligations by a maximum of $25,000 (in aggregate).
It is anticipated that 100% of the MHSA reporting/evaluation requirements and the evaluation of alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment success will be completed by AIR for selected populations (e.g. AB109).
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2020-21 Actual |
FY 2021-22 Projected |
|
Percentage of MHSA reporting/evaluation requirements and the evaluation of AOD treatment success completed by AIR for selected populations (e.g. AB109) |
100% (7 of 7 deliverables) |
100% (7 of 7 deliverables) |
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the agreement is July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. The amount of the agreement is not to exceed $311,613 for the one-year term. Funds in the amount of $311,613 are included in the BHRS FY 2021-22 Recommended Budget. It is anticipated that the MHSSA grant will fund $110,000, Federal Financial Participation for Medi-Cal will fund $70,720, 1991 Realignment will fund $72,663, and MHSA program funding will fund $50,000. The Net County Cost is $8,230.