COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Human Services Agency

DATE:

June 9, 2008

BOARD MEETING DATE:

June 24, 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 Edgewood Center for Children and Families

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution:

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

B. Authorizing an execution of an Agreement with Edgewood Center for Children and Families to provide Kinship Support Services Program (KSSP) for the term July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009, in the amount of $517,136, $228,109 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.

This Agreement contributes to this commitment and goal by providing support services to children and their relative caregivers and Non-Related Extended Family Member (NREFM) caregivers in order to strengthen the caregiver-child relationship, stabilize placements and support the health and well being of relative and NREFM caregivers.

Performance Measure(s):

Measure

FY 2007-08 Actual

FY 2008-09

Target

Percentage of children placed in relative or NREFM care that will remain with kin, NREFM or returned to birth parents.

99%

99%*

*Contractor meets or exceeds the performance measure requirement.

BACKGROUND:

The Human Services Agency (HSA) receives an annual allocation from the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) under AB 1193 to provide KSSP to relative caregivers of children, community-based family support services to relative and NREFM caregivers, and the children placed in their homes. The goal is to help caregivers raise children who are vulnerable and disadvantaged in a stable home. In the first three quarters of FY 2007-08, Edgewood Center for Children and Families (ECCF) provided kinship services to 404 caregivers and 264 children and successfully met or exceeded all the outcome measures.

DISCUSSION:

This Agreement will allow ECCF to provide information, referrals, case management, support groups, parent education, counseling/family conferencing, recreation, transportation, and linkage to tutoring services through KSSP. ECCF will also provide two new program elements: 1) a needs assessment and implementation to ensure that kinship support services are meeting the needs of families in various regions of the County, and 2) educational and skill building sessions to support and strengthen the skills of community-based organizations and HSA staff in working with families. KSSP services will benefit families and children throughout San Mateo County and have positive impacts on the outcome measures that are in CFS’ strategic plan as well as State and Federal outcome measures.

It is in the County’s best interest to waive the RFP process based on ECCF’s strong and nationally known expertise in the area of kinship services and the State has approved the KSSP program to be used as a model. ECCF is also CDSS’s technical assistance provider for the KSSP. ECCF’s vast experience in providing kinship support services, extensive knowledge of the target population and successful history in leveraging funding will ensure the successful implementation of kinship support services for FY 2008-09. HSA will conduct an RFP for services beginning in FY 2009-10.

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 the Agreement is July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009. The total obligation is $517,136, of which $100,000 is funded through the Kinship Supportive Services Program, $97,155 is CalWORKs Funds, $91,872 Child Welfare Services Funds and $228,109 is Net

County Cost. Appropriations have been included in the FY 2008-09 Recommended Budget.