COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Health Department

DATE:

September 14, 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 Fred Finch Youth Center

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution:

1) Authorizing the President of the Board to execute an Agreement with Fred Finch Youth Center for mental health services for children and youth for the term July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008, for a maximum obligation of $1,081,974; and

2) 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 Crisis In-home Stabilization Services, Day Treatment Services and Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS) to youth in order to maintain them in the least restrictive setting.

Performance Measures:

Measure

FY 2006-07 Actual

FY 2007-08 Projected

Crisis Response In-Home Response Program: number of psychiatric inpatient county Medi-Cal beds for youth utilized on a daily basis.

.2

1.5

TBS: percentage of children/youth who shall be maintained at current or reduced level of placement during and for 30 days following the receipt of TBS.

89%*

95%

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

BACKGROUND:

Mental Health Services has contracted with Fred Finch Youth Center for crisis in-home stabilization services and TBS since 1999. In July of 2006 Fred Finch was selected through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process to continue to provide these services. In 2003 this contractor began to provide Day Treatment Services for one San Mateo County youth placed by the Golden Gate Regional Center. Under the B-1 Administrative Memorandum the selection of a provider of Day Treatment services is exempt from the RFP process requirement.

DISCUSSION:

Fred Finch Youth Center will provide crisis in-home stabilization services to approximately 80 severely emotionally disturbed (SED) youth (ages 5 through 18) and their families. Services will be available seven days per week, 24 hours per day to at-risk SED youth, with a goal of maintaining youth in the least restrictive and most home-like setting and avoiding costly hospitalization and residential care. The utilization of crisis in-home stabilization services has been successful at decreasing inpatient bed usage, as indicated in the first performance measure. Over the last five years there has been a trend of decreasing inpatient bed usage. The target for this measure, which has been unchanged since FY 2001-02, will be re-evaluated for FY 2008-09.

This contractor will provide TBS to approximately 75 youth who are Medi-Cal beneficiaries. TBS are short-term behavioral intervention services for SED youth experiencing stressful transitions or life crises and who are at risk of placement in an institution or intensive residential program. Medi-Cal requires that these services be provided on an immediate basis to children/youth who meet specific criteria. Day Treatment services and associated outpatient mental health services are also provided through this Agreement.

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. This Agreement is on the Continuing Resolution.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The term of this Agreement is July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008. Of the total Agreement amount of $1,081,974, Medi-Cal is expected to fund $800,228. Healthy Families will fund $32,567 and Healthy Kids will fund $4,653. Sales tax provided through realignment will fund $93,050. The Net County Cost is $151,476, which includes the 3% COLA and the required match for Medi-Cal. Funds for these services are included in the Mental Health Services tentatively Adopted FY 2007-08 Budget.