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 Youth and Family Enrichment Services

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution:

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

B. Authorizing the execution of an Agreement with Youth and Family Enrichment Services (YFES) to provide Transitional Housing Plus Program (THP-Plus) to post emancipated foster youth, for the term June 25, 2008 to June 30, 2009, in the amount of $247,050, there is no Net County Cost; and

C. Authorizing the Director of the Human Services Agency 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: Offer a full range of housing choices.

Goal 9: Housing exists for people at all income levels and for all generations of families.

The Agreement contributes to this commitment and goal by providing safe and stable transitional housing to post emancipated foster youth.

Performance Measure(s):

Measure

FY 2008-09

Target

Within 60 days of occupancy, percent of residents who will be productively engaged in education and/or employment.

85%

After 12 months of completing the program, percent of participants will continue to live in a safe and stable living environment.

85%

BACKGROUND:

In October 2007, the County of San Mateo purchased a Triplex property for transitional housing to house former foster youth eligible for the Transitional Housing Placement Plus (THP-Plus) Program. THP-Plus is administered by the California Department of Social Services and provides affordable housing and a wide range of supportive services, including job training, educational support, and counseling. The goal of the program is to reduce homelessness among former foster youth. YFES has been a State-approved

THP-Plus provider for years and has provided beds for former foster youth through their Daybreak program. Daybreak is a shelter program for homeless youth that has one bed reserved specifically for THP-Plus eligible youth.

DISCUSSION:

This Agreement will allow YFES to provide THP-Plus services to support former foster youth and prepare them for independent living. YFES will manage a total of ten THP-Plus beds in two separate facilities: one youth Resident Advisor and eight youth in the county-owned Triplex facility, and one youth in the Daybreak facility. Services for both facilities include supervision, case management, counseling, education and career planning. These services will enable young adults to gain community living skills in an independent manner as well as be self-sufficient while maintaining safety. The main difference between the two facilities is the level of independence provided to the youth. In the Triplex facility, youth will be able to share an apartment with other youth, while at the Daybreak facility there is lesser degree of independence in a communal living environment that provides additional staff support. This insures a continuum of care for differing needs of the youth.

It is in the County’s best interest to waive the RFP process because YFES has the expertise and experience to provide all the support services that the residents need to ensure a successful transition. YFES is in a good position to implement the expansion of the THP-Plus Program and has organizational skills and resources to immediately begin services. HSA will conduct an RFP process for services beginning July 1, 2009.

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 June 25, 2008 to June 30, 2009. The total obligation is $247,050, of which, $4,050 is for FY 2007-08 and $243,000 is for FY 2008-09. This amount will be funded at 100% from the THP-Plus Program State Allocation and there is no Net County Cost. Funds have been included in the FY 2007-08 Adopted Budget and are included in the FY 2008-09 Recommended Budget.