COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Health Department

DATE:

October 31, 2005

BOARD MEETING DATE:

November 15, 2005

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Charlene A. Silva, Director of Health

Gale Bataille, Director of Mental Health Services

SUBJECT:

Agreement with AchieveKids

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution:

A) Approving a waiver of the request for proposal requirement for school-based outpatient mental health services;

B) Authorizing the President of the Board to execute an Agreement with AchieveKids for the period July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006, for a maximum obligation of $114,674; and

C) Authorizing the Director of Health to execute subsequent amendments and minor modifications not to exceed an aggregate of $25,000 and to make minor changes in the type of services and activities provided under the Agreement.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Ensure Basic Health and Safety for All

Goal 8: Help vulnerable people - the aged, disabled, mentally ill, at risk youth, and others - achieve a better quality of life.

The Agreement contributes to this commitment and goal by providing school-based mental health services for emotionally and behaviorally disturbed children and adolescents.

Performance Measures:

Measure

FY 2004-05
Actual

FY 2005-06
Projected

Minimum percentage of children served who will be maintained at their current or reduced level of placement during their course of treatment.

100%

95%

Minimum percentage of survey respondents who will agree or strongly agree that they are satisfied with services received.

100%

90%

BACKGROUND:

AchieveKids operates a non-public school for children with various emotional, behavioral, and developmental difficulties. For over 13 years AchieveKids has provided school-based intensive outpatient mental health services for children and adolescents (ages 6 to 18). Children placed at AchieveKids have been referred jointly by Mental Health Services and local school districts. Contracted services are for special education youth who cannot be maintained in public schools. The Mental Health Services Division is responsible for providing those services under Government Code, Title 1, Division 7, Chapter 26.5.

DISCUSSION:

AchieveKids will provide school-based intensive outpatient mental health services at their school. Services will include medication assessment and treatment, classroom interventions, individual therapy, group therapy, crisis intervention, and referrals to community services. The primary service focus is outpatient treatment with close coordination of each client’s educational program with his/her mental health treatment to promote adaptation to the educational setting.

Mental Health Services is requesting a one-year waiver of the RFP requirements for school-based outpatient mental health services. Mental Health Services is engaged in an extensive and unprecedented planning process for new services as required by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), which will be completed in the Fall of 2005. The results of this process are expected to impact the design of school-based outpatient mental health services. The waiver is being requested in order for Mental Health Services to select contractors who would be best able to provide services in compliance with the results of the MHSA planning. An RFP for these services will be issued for FY 2006-07.

This Agreement is currently on the continuing resolution.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The term of this Agreement is July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006. The Agreement has been reviewed and approved by Risk Management and County Counsel.

AchieveKids was granted a 3% COLA for FY 2005-06 which is reflected in the Agreement maximum of $114,674. It is expected that State and federal Medi-Cal funds will cover $37,477 of the costs. $34,553 will be funded by State allocations for AB3632 services, and sales tax through realignment will cover $12,135. The net County cost is $30,509, which is included in the approved FY 2005-06 budget.