Title
a. Approve and accept the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) template for the provision of therapeutic services and mental health support (Services) by County to students attending school districts (School Districts) in the County of Monterey listed in Attachment 1 for a term of August 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027;
b. Approve and authorize the Director of Health Services or designee to execute the MOU template with each School District listed in Attachment 1, for an estimated total revenue amount of $975,237 in the aggregate across all MOUs;
c. Approve the non-standard insurance and indemnification provisions in the MOU template as recommended by the Director of Health Services;
d. Approve and authorize the Director of Health Services or designee to execute the MOU template as modified by the parties, where the terms are not significantly different from the MOU template, do not significantly change the level of risk or the scope of a party’s obligations or responsibilities, and are subject to review and approval of County Counsel and County Risk Manager; and
e. Approve and authorize the Director of Health Services or designee to execute up to three future amendments to each MOU with the School Districts listed in Attachment 1 that in total, does not exceed 10% of the initial amount specified in each MOU, and that does not significantly change the scope of services, for a total in the aggregate not to exceed $1,072,761.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the County of Monterey Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and accept the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) template for the provision of therapeutic services and mental health support (Services) by County to students attending school districts (School Districts) in the County of Monterey listed in Attachment 1 for a term of August 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027;
b. Approve and authorize the Director of Health Services or designee to execute the MOU template with each School District listed in Attachment 1, for an estimated total revenue amount of $975,237 in the aggregate across all MOUs;
c. Approve the non-standard insurance and indemnification provisions in the MOU template as recommended by the Director of Health Services;
d. Approve and authorize the Director of Health Services or designee to execute the MOU template as modified by the parties, where the terms are not significantly different from the MOU template, do not significantly change the level of risk or the scope of a party’s obligations or responsibilities, and are subject to review and approval of County Counsel and County Risk Manager; and
e. Approve and authorize the Director of Health Services or designee to execute up to three future amendments to each MOU with the School Districts listed in Attachment 1 that in total, does not exceed 10% of the initial amount specified in each MOU, and that does not significantly change the scope of services, for a total in the aggregate not to exceed $1,072,761.
SUMMARY:
The School Districts listed in Attachment 1 seek to their continue partnerships with the County of Monterey, on behalf of its Health Department Behavioral Health Bureau for the 2026-27 academic school year. Through these agreements, the County will provide therapeutic and mental health services to students whose social, emotional, or behavioral challenges interfere with their educational goals. Services will be provided during the school year, with limited summer services, and participating School Districts will fund the non-Federal Financial Participation share of costs. Estimated revenue from all MOUs in FY 2026-27 is $975,237.
DISCUSSION:
The School Districts listed in Attachment 1 seek to continue their partnership with the County of Monterey, on behalf of its Health Department Behavioral Health Bureau, for the provision of therapeutic services and mental health supports for students identified as having trouble with their educational goals due to social, emotional or behavioral issues for the 2026-27 academic school year, with limited services during the summer months. An academic school year is defined as ten months of instruction and two months of vacation during the summer. Through the MOU, County will deploy Psychiatric Social Workers (“Therapist”) or Social Workers to School Districts to provide an array of therapeutic services to students including individual therapy, family therapy, parent and/or teacher consultation, treatment planning, coordination with county psychiatric services, crisis intervention, and teletherapy in coordination with the student’s parent/guardian and intensive in-home behavioral intervention as needed through the General Education program. Districts agree to pay the non-Federal Financial Participation (FFP) portion of the costs up to the total maximum MOU amount since the County is reimbursed FFP directly by the Department of Health Care Services. The estimated expected revenue of $975,237 from all MOUs in FY 2026-27 may vary based on changes in School District budgets and County staffing.
The MOU template provides for mutual indemnification and limitation of liability. The MOU template provides that both County and Districts must meet coverage limits for professional liability and commercial general liability (“CGL”), and additional insured endorsements for commercial general liability, which coverage limits are at or above the requirements for the County’s own service providers. The template further provides for the inclusion of professional liability and CGL coverage related to sexual misconduct.
This work supports one of the County of Monterey County Health Department 2025-2028 Strategic Plan Goal(s): 2. Provide Exceptional Person-Centered Care through Accessible, Community-Focused Health Services. It also supports one of the ten essential public health services, specifically: 7. Link people to needed personal health services and assure the provision of health care when otherwise unavailable.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Office of County Counsel and Auditor-Controller have reviewed and approved this request as to legal form and fiscal provisions, respectively. Risk Management cannot approve this request due to unforeseeable non-standard indemnification, limitation of liability, and insurance provisions.
FINANCING:
These Agreements are funded by Federal Financial Participation (FFP) and School Districts. The associated revenue and expenditures are included in the Health Department’s Behavioral Health (Fund 1310, Department 400005) FY 2026-27 Requested Budget.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS:
This work supports the Board of Supervisors Strategic Plan Goal(s) by providing exceptional Person-Centered Care through Accessible, Community-Focused Health Services to provide service enhancements to support well-being and quality of life.
Mark a check next to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Plan Goals:
X Well-Being and Quality of Life
Sustainable Infrastructure for the Present and Future
____ Safe and Resilient Communities
____ Diverse and Thriving Economy
Dynamic Organization and Employer of Choice
Prepared by: Jenny Pelagio, Management Analyst II, 837-7520
Approved by: Elsa Mendoza Jimenez, Director of Health Services, 755-4526
Attachments:
Board Report
Memorandum of Understanding Template
Attachment 1