COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Human Services Agency

 

DATE:

June 16, 2003

BOARD MEETING DATE:

July 15, 2003

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Maureen D. Borland, Director, Human Services Agency
Mark Lane, Director, Southern Region

   

SUBJECT:

Agreement with Youth and Family Enrichment Services

 

Recommendation

    Adopt a Resolution authorizing:

    1. A Waiver for Request for Proposal process; and

    2. Execution of an Agreement with Youth and Family Enrichment Services (YFES) in the amount of FIVE HUNDRED SEVEENTEEN THOUSAND FORTY FIVE DOLLARS ($517,045) for the period of July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004.

 

Background

Youth and Family Assistance (YFA) provides community-based prevention services for clients in San Mateo County. These services included programs such as:

Your House South Residential Services
a temporary residential program for run away youth and other young people who are separated from their parents at the time of placement. Program staff work to return youth to their parents or to stabilize them in other suitable living arrangements, providing family counseling and family reunification services. The numbers for the crisis intervention portion of the program is 75 residents per year to enable Your House to provide stable, long-term in-County placement for two to three residents in compliance with the goals of the Family to Family Program.

Your House North Bilingual Counseling and Youth Outreach Services
a program for bilingual youth and their families, which provides counseling in Daly City and outreach services to at risk youth in North County linking them with community services.

Family Law Services
which provides a wide array of family law services to the community. Workshops, weekly Ask-a-Lawyer clinics and telephone assistance is offered Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and other resources are provided to the community, including indexed divorce legal packets, spousal support estimates, restraining order assistance and a Family Law Handbook.

Crisis Intervention Suicide Prevention Services
provides crisis telephone, electronic online counseling and referral services for potential suicide victims throughout San Mateo County, on a twenty four hour, seven days a week basis. A minimum of 34 volunteers are recruited to staff the crisis line. Each volunteer receives seventy hours of targeted training to respond to calls from youth and their families in crisis. Volunteers are recruited to meet the language needs of our community and all are trained in sensitivity and awareness regarding multi-cultural issues in San Mateo County.

Daybreak Program for Homeless Youth
provides programs to serve adolescents ages sixteen through twenty one. Each youth admitted to the program receives a case plan, service contract, residential care, structured independent living skills training, individual counseling and case management consultation. Anyone not admitted is provided with community resources.

The Transitional Housing Placement Program (THPP
) provides independent housing, individual case management, supportive services and educational services to youth emancipating from foster care.

Emancipated Foster Youth Outreach and Aftercare Services (EFYOA)
provides outreach to former foster care clients ages sixteen to twenty one. This population is currently underserved and new legislation has mandated that former foster care youth receive additional services. This is often a hidden population that is known to be at greater risk of homelessness and drug and alcohol addiction. YFES will provide outreach to identify this population, provide case management services and assist with family conferences.

 

Discussion

Effective July 1, 2003, YFA will change their name to Youth and Family Enrichment Services (YFES) as a result of a merger with FACES a nonprofit organization.

YFES plays an increased role in the service components listed in the background to youth in the San Mateo County community. These service components have been developed to meet the requirements of recent State legislation to address the needs of emancipated foster care youth and continue to provide essential services to adolescents.

YFES has submitted financial information indicating they are financially solvent and diversified. The County has valued the services provided by this agency and has found their management and staff to be responsive to the County regarding all performance measures. Performances Measures have been included as Exhibit E in the Agreement. The County will continue to support and assist YFES in developing a diversified funding stream, both through the work of the Adolescent Collaborative Action Team and through letters of support for grant funding.

It is in the best interest of the County to waive the Request for Proposal since YFES is currently the only organization that provides these services.

This Agreement has been reviewed and approved as to form by the County Counsel's Office.

Risk Management has reviewed and approved the contractor's insurance coverage.

 

Vision Alignment

The Agreement with YFES keeps the commitment of: Ensuring basic health and safety for all and goal number 8: Help vulnerable people-the aged, disabled, mentally ill, at-risk youths and others- achieve a better quality of life. The Agreement contributes to this commitment and goal since YEFS will be providing safe and stable housing, counseling, resource information, provide outreach to at-risk youth and in addition provide legal assistance.

 

Fiscal Impact

The term of this Agreement is July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004. The total amount of the obligation is $517,045, of which $277,932 is funded through Child Welfare Services Funds, $120,000 is funded through the Independent Living Program funds, and $119,113 is Net County Cost. Funds have been budgeted in the FY 2003-04 Children and Family Services Budget. There is no additional Net County Cost as a result of this Agreement.