COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Health Department

DATE:

September 17, 2007

BOARD MEETING DATE:

September 25, 2007

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Charlene A. Silva, Director of Health

Gale Bataille, Interim Director, Behavioral Health & Recovery Services

SUBJECT:

Agreement with Children’s Health Council

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution:

1) Waiving the Request for Proposals requirement for outpatient mental health services authorized by the Mental Health Plan; and

2) Authorizing the President of the Board to execute an Agreement with Children’s Health Council for non-public school-based mental health services for emotionally and behaviorally disturbed children and adolescents for the term July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008, for a maximum obligation of $522,300; and

3) Authorizing the Director of Health or the Director’s designee to execute contract amendments which modify the County’s maximum fiscal obligation by no more than $25,000 (in aggregate) and/or modify the contract term and/or services so long as the modified term or services is/are within the current or revised fiscal provisions.

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 non-public school-based mental health services for emotionally and behaviorally disturbed children and adolescents, and outpatient mental health services authorized by the Mental Health Plan (MHP).

Performance Measures:

Measure

FY 2006-07 Actual

FY 2007-08 Projected

Percentage of children served maintained at their current or reduced level of placement during their course of treatment.

77%*

95%

Percentage of survey respondents who agree or strongly agree that they are satisfied with services received from County.

100%**

90%

*Mental Health will work with contractor to improve outcome for FY 2007-08.

** The performance for FY 2006-07 exceeds the target of 90%, which is unchanged for FY 2007-08.

BACKGROUND:

For over eleven years, the Children’s Health Council (CHC) has provided intensive non-public school-based mental health services for San Mateo County children with complex emotional, behavioral, and developmental problems. Children are placed at CHC by local school districts throughout the County through Individual Education Plan (IEP) team processes. The IEP team consists of the youth’s parent(s) or guardian(s) and representatives from the public school district and Mental Health Services. Mental Health Services is responsible for providing mental health services for these clients under Government Code, Title 1, Division 7, Chapter 26.5, and as an adjunctive service in this process, does not have authority to select placements for these children. Under the B-1 Administrative Memorandum, these services are exempt from the County Request for Proposals (RFP) requirement.

Since 2006 CHC has also provided outpatient mental health services authorized by the MHP. In May 2007 Mental Health Services released a RFP to select agency providers of outpatient mental health services. CHC did not respond to the RFP but subsequently agreed to continue to provide these services for developmentally disabled clients. Mental Health Services is requesting a waiver of the RFP requirement for the provision of outpatient mental health services as CHC is the only known qualified provider of services for this unique population.

DISCUSSION:

Mental Health Services is renewing the Agreement with CHC for FY 2007-08 for non-public school-based mental health services and managed care outpatient mental health services authorized through the MHP. Services will include medication assessment and treatment; classroom interventions; individual, group, and family therapy; plan development; crisis intervention; and referrals to community services.

The Agreement has been reviewed and approved by County Counsel and Risk Management. The contractor has assured compliance with the County's Contractor Employee Jury Service Ordinance, as well as all other contract provisions that are required by County ordinance and administrative memoranda, including but not limited to insurance, hold harmless, non-discrimination and equal benefits. The FY 2006-07 Agreement with CHC is on the Continuing Resolution.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The term of the Agreement is July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008. CHC was granted a 3% COLA for FY 2007-08 which is reflected in the Agreement maximum of $522,300. It is expected that State and Federal Medi-Cal funds will cover $90,000 of the costs, Medicare will cover $10,000, Healthy Kids will cover $12,669, private payors will cover $42,230, and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funds and SB 90 funding from the State will cover $355,101. The Net County Cost is $12,300 for the COLA. Funds for this Agreement are included in the Mental Health Services tentatively Adopted FY 2007-08 Budget.