COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Human Services Agency

 

DATE:

May 14, 2004

BOARD MEETING DATE:

June 8, 2004

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Maureen D. Borland, Director, Human Services Agency

Mark Lane, Director, Children and Family Services

SUBJECT:

Agreement with Edgewood Center for Children and Families

 

Recommendation

Adopt a Resolution authorizing:

    1. A waiver for the Request for Proposal process; and

    2. Execution of an Agreement with Edgewood Center for Children and Families in the amount of $415,000 for the administration of the Kinship Support Services (KSSP) for the period July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005.

Background

On June 1, 1998, the Human Services Agency received a grant from the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) under AB1193 to provide kinship support services to relative caregivers of children. Such services include case management, peer mentoring, counseling and support groups. Edgewood Center for Children and Families was selected to contract as a sole source to develop the KSSP services for the County of San Mateo due to their experience in developing and providing similar services to the City and County of San Francisco. There were also no competitors that provided similar kinship support programs in the Bay Area. The initial State grant for KSSP from CDSS has subsequently been changed to an annual allocation.

Over 8,000 children in San Mateo County live with relative caregivers other than their parents. If these relatives were not able and willing to care for these children, many of them would need foster homes. Over 40% of the children serviced by the Human Services Agency under the Dependency Juvenile Court are placed with relative caregivers. These relative caregivers offer an invaluable service to the Agency and the children.

The KSSP program offers services to 260 relative caregivers and 375 children and provides immediate outreach to relative caregivers of dependent children of the Juvenile Court as part of the Family to Family Initiative.

 

Discussion

The Human Services Agency wishes to continue contracting with Edgewood Center for Children and Families for the KSSP. The KSSP program will provide counseling, recreation and respite services to over 700 caregivers and children. The children will be offered tutoring and homework assistance and the caregivers will provided on-going support and respite assistance. The Non-Related Extended Family Members (NREFM) program implemented last year has proved to be successful by providing critical services to dependents of the Juvenile Court as part of the Family to Family Initiative.

Edgewood Center for Children and Families was previously authorized by the Board of Supervisors to provide KSSP services and they have met the KSSP outcomes of the CDSS therefore, it is in the best interest of the County to waive the Request for Proposal. Edgewood remains a sole source provider of 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.

 

Performance Measure

Edgewood Center for Children and Families is in compliance with the Human Services Agency Outcome Based Management (OBM) Program plans. Below is the Recommended Performance Measure included in the OBM plans. The desired outcomes of KSSP are to stabilize the placement of children and to give support and respite to the relative caregivers.

 

Performance Measure

Source of Data

Actual

FY2003-04

Projected

FY 2004-05

All children who will remain with the original caregiver and will not enter the foster care system.

Program case records

100%

100%

 

Vision Alignment

The Agreement with Edgewood for KSSP services keeps the commitment of: Ensuring basic health and safety for all and goal number 6: All children grow up healthy in safe and supportive homes and neighborhoods. The Agreement contributes to this commitment and goal by providing services to relative and NREFM caregivers and the children to strengthen and support the caregiver child relationship, stabilize the placement and support the mental health, physical health and overall well being of relative caregivers.

 

Fiscal Impact

The term of this Agreement is July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005. The total obligation is $415,000, which is funded through state and federal revenue. There is no Net County Cost associated with this Agreement. Funds have been budgeted in the Children and Family Services FY 2004-05 Recommended Budget.