COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Human Services Agency

DATE:

July 30, 2002

BOARD MEETING DATE:

August 20, 2002

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Maureen D. Borland, Director, Human Services Agency

SUBJECT:

Agreement with Moss Beach Homes, Inc.

Recommendation

Adopt a Resolution authorizing the execution of an Agreement with Moss Beach Homes, Inc., (MBH), to operate a change of placement program for dependent children at the Tower House Receiving Home. The amount of this Agreement is $171,597 for the first year of the three-year term. The term of this Agreement is from August 20, 2002 through June 30, 2005.

Background

In response to events that occurred last year at the existing County Children's Receiving Home, the Human Services Agency, in consultation with the County Manager's office and the Board of Supervisors decided to create a second receiving home. The second receiving home known as the Tower House Receiving Home will provide a program for those residents who might benefit from being in a small facility with a higher degree of adult supervision.

Discussion

This Agreement with MBH covers the following:

¬

The operation of a change of place program for dependent children.

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The occupancy of the Tower House Receiving Home.

The San Mateo County Human Services Agency issued a Request for Proposals (see RFP Matrix) from providers to develop a program for adolescents who are in transition from one foster care placement to another. The adolescents may have been discharged from a foster home, group home or a hospital, and are in need of a temporary placement until a new placement is located. This program will serve as an interim facility while a County placement Social Worker locates the adolescent's next foster care placement and program.

The program developed by MBH and the County will provide a stable environment for transitioning adolescents. MBH has over 27 years of experience in providing residential placement, shelter, mental health, adoption, and foster care services for children with special needs and their families. The agency has received numerous commendations and is regularly acknowledged for its fiscal responsibility from county, state and federal auditors.

The program which will be operated by MBH shall provide residential services to all youth referred by the San Mateo County Human Services Agency, who are 12-18 years of age, and who have been discharged from previous out-of-home placements including foster homes, group homes, and hospital settings. The anticipated stay in the program will range from one to three months.

MBH will provide supervision, daily activities, mental health services, medical services and psychiatric services. MBH staff will work closely with San Mateo County's Children and Family Services staff to coordinate services, complete the Needs and Service Plans, and prepare the youth for the next placement. MBH will provide bi-lingual services in English and Spanish, and will demonstrate an ability to provide culturally sensitive services to all residents.

MBH has agreed to accept all youth referred by HSA. The Children and Family Services' staff (Social Workers) is responsible for searching for the next placement, arranging and taking the youth to all pre-placement visits and placing the youth.

The County will provide MBH with a facility to operate the program (referred to as Tower House Receiving Home). Terms for the use of the County facility have been added to this Agreement.

County Counsel has reviewed and approved this Agreement as to form.

Vision Alignment

The contract with Moss Beach Homes, Inc., honors the commitment of: Ensuring basic health and safety for all and goals number 6 and 8: Children grow up healthy in safe and supportive homes and neighborhoods and help vulnerable people - the aged, disabled, mentally ill, at-risk youth and others - achieve a better quality of life. This Agreement contributes to these commitments and goals in that children who are in need of out-of-home placement will have a safe transitional place to stay between placements and the opportunity to learn life skills to assist them in achieving placement stability.

Performance Measures

Below are the Recommended Performance Measures included in the County's Outcome Based Management Plan. This activity supports the performance target to enhance services to individuals, families and children that promote their well being and keep them safe, specifically by developing a second emergency shelter for adolescents and children. Additionally, this strategy is critically linked to Family To Family.

Performance Measure

Data Source

Actual

FY 2001-02

Projected

FY 2002-03

Projected

FY 2003-04

Projected

FY 2004-05

The number of AWOLS by children in the Receiving Home Program

Receiving Home Records

242

218

196

175

The number of children re-admitted to the Receiving Home Program

Receiving Home records

75

68

61

55

The average number of placements per child for children coming into the Receiving Home

Human Services Agency - Children and Family Services Placement records

1.25

1.13

1.01

.91

The numbers reflected are totals from the County's current receiving home. Next years numbers will reflect combined totals from the County's receiving home and the Tower House Receiving Home that will be operated by Moss Beach Homes, Inc.

Fiscal Impact

The term of the Agreement with Moss Beach Homes is from August 20, 2002 through June 30, 2005. The payment amount for FY 2002-03 is $171,597 based on an annualized cost of $198,242. This amount is not currently subject to any reimbursement from state and federal funds and will be offset by Human Services Agency Reserves in FY 2002-03. This Agreement will not generate additional Net County Cost for FY 2002-03.

Payment amounts for the second and third year of this Agreement will be negotiated and submitted as an Amendment to this Agreement. The Human Services Agency will explore state and federal funding sources to offset Net County Cost in future years.

1.

General Description of RFP

In April 2002, the San Mateo County Human Services Agency requested proposals from private agencies/organizations to participate in the development of an eight bed "no-reject/no eject, co-ed, change of placement program" for adolescents who are in transition from one out of home placement to another. The adolescents may be discharged from a foster home, group home or hospital and are in need of a temporary placement until a new placement is located. The needs of the adolescents vary due to cultural differences, age, gender, mental health or medical issues. Primary planning responsibility is generally with the San Mateo County Human Services Agency, children and Family Services staff, with input from partners in the San Mateo County Children and Youth System of Care (CYSOC): Mental Health, Probation and County Office of Education.

2.

List key evaluation criteria

A. Experience operating a level 12 or level 14 facilities is required. Direct experience operating an adolescent program is preferred and experience operating a no reject/no eject facility is optimal.

B. Demonstrate ability to license and implement services by July 1, 2002 or shortly thereafter.

C. Demonstrate an ability work closely with school district personnel for successful enrollment and school outcomes for youth.

D. Demonstrated ability to meet program outcomes.

E. Demonstrated ability to provide cost effective programs.

F. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with County Agencies and Placement staff.

G. Cost of providing services.

3.

Where advertised

San Mateo County Times

4.

In addition to any advertisement, list others to whom RFP was sent

Quality Group Homes, Fresno, CA

Fred Finch youth Center, Oakland, CA

Moss Beach Homes, Daly City, CA

5.

Total number sent to prospective proposes

three

6.

Number of proposals received

one

7.

Who evaluated the proposals

Mark Lane, Director Southern Region, HSA

Patricia Crawford, Regional Manager, HSA

Ellen Bucci, Supervisor, SMCO Receiving Home

Paul Sorbo, SMCO Mental Health

8.

In alphabetical order, names of proposers (or finalists, if applicable) and location

Moss Beach Homes, Inc., Daly City, CA