COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Human Services Agency

 

DATE:

June 2, 2008

BOARD MEETING DATE:

June 17, 2008

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Beverly Beasley Johnson, J.D., Director, Human Services Agency

Renee Smylie, Director, Children and Family Services

SUBJECT:

Agreement with San Francisco State University/Bay Area Academy

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution:

 

A. Waiving the Request for Proposal (RFP) process;

 

B. Authorizing the execution of an Agreement with San Francisco State University/Bay Area Academy (SFSU/BAA) to provide training for the Human Services Agency (HSA) and other participants as determined by HSA, for the term July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2011, in the amount of $900,000, $414,000 is Net County Cost; and

 

C. Authorizing the Director of the Human Services Agency (HSA) 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 6: Children grow up healthy in safe and supportive homes and neighborhoods.

 

The Agreement contributes to this commitment and goal by providing training program that is designed to improve the skills and knowledge base of HSA staff, resource parents and other individuals to meet the complex needs of the children and families we serve.

Performance Measure(s):

Measure

FY 2008-09

Target

Percent of participants who will rate the usefulness of the training 4.0 or higher on a 5.0 scale.

100%

 

BACKGROUND:

In accordance with California’s Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) which establishes specific strategies and benchmarks for improving child welfare performance, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and the California Social Work Education Center (CalSWEC) convened a Statewide Training and Education Committee (STEC) to identify training concerns and to recommend improved training across the state. The PIP required the CDSS to establish statewide minimum requirements for on-going training of existing staff and the development and implementation of a standardized Title IV-E Common Core Curriculum for all new Children and Family Services (CFS) staff to ensure consistency of child welfare practice across all counties in California. In addition to the standardized Core Curriculum, CFS Social Workers and CFS Supervisors are required by the CDSS to have 20 hours of on-going advanced training each fiscal year.

 

DISCUSSION:

This Agreement with SFSU/BAA is to provide Title IV-E eligible on-going advanced training to CFS staff, resource parents and other participants for purposes of professional development and to improve outcomes for children and families as outlined in the PIP. The comprehensive training program will include training on AB 636 outcomes, the CFS’ Agency’s System Improvement Plan (SIP) and CFS Strategic Plan 2008.

 

It is in the County’s best interest to waive the Request for Proposal (RFP) because CDSS has designated the SFSU/BAA as the Bay Area’s Regional Training Academy (RTA) to provide Title IV-E Common Core Curriculum training to CFS social workers and supervisors in the Bay Area counties. CDSS has five RTA’s throughout California for Title IV-E training with each RTA serving only one geographic region. Having one provider for the California Standardized Core curricula for social workers and supervisors and Advanced curricula ensures continuity of training. In addition, SFSU/BAA has been providing Child Welfare focused training to the Bay Area Regional Child Welfare Agencies for over 10 years and is considered expert providers of the Core training and advanced Child Welfare training in our region. The SFSU/BAA is very knowledgeable about San Mateo County’s culture, training needs and Title IV-E funding, and is therefore able to be respond to Child Welfare’s changing needs while complying with Federal training funding regulations. SFSU/BAA also has access to and knowledge of subject matter experts in the training community in the Bay Area, as well as experts in and out of the State.

 

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. County Counsel has approved this Agreement as to form and Risk Management has approved the Contractor’s insurance.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The term of this Agreement is July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2011. The total obligation is $900,000. Of this amount, $486,000 is funded through Child Welfare Services Staff Development Funds and $414,000 is Net County Cost. Appropriations have been budgeted in the FY 2008-09 Recommended Budget and will be in the FY 2009-11 Recommended Budgets.