Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director of Health Services or designee to execute Amendment No. 1 to Memorandum of Understanding A-17303 between Monterey County Health Department, Behavioral Health Bureau and the Monterey County Office of Education for Monterey County Alternative Education to add $45,202 of additional therapeutic and mental health services, for a revised total Memorandum of Understanding amount not to exceed $150,672 with no change to the term of August 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026; and
b. Approve and authorize the Director of Health Services or designee to execute a retroactive Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with each school district listed in Attachment 1 for therapeutic and mental health services, for an estimated total revenue amount of $682,040 in the aggregate across all MOUs as listed in Attachment 1, for term of August 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026; and
c. Approve the non-standard insurance and indemnification provisions in the MOUs listed in Attachment 1 as recommended by the Director of Health Services; and
d. Approve and authorize the Director of Health Services or designee to execute the MOU as modified by the parties, where the terms are not significantly different from the MOU, 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 (3) 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 Memorandum of Understanding, and that does not significantly change the scope of services, for a total in the aggregate not to exceed $750,244.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the County of Monterey Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Director of Health Services or designee to execute Amendment No. 1 to Memorandum of Understanding A-17303 between Monterey County Health Department, Behavioral Health Bureau and the Monterey County Office of Education for Monterey County Alternative Education to add $45,202 of additional therapeutic and mental health services, for a revised total Memorandum of Understanding amount not to exceed $150,672 with no change to the term of August 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026; and
b. Approve and authorize the Director of Health Services or designee to execute a retroactive Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with each school district listed in Attachment 1 for therapeutic and mental health services, for an estimated total revenue amount of $682,040 in the aggregate across all MOUs as listed in Attachment 1, for term of August 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026; and
c. Approve the non-standard insurance and indemnification provisions in the MOUs listed in Attachment 1 as recommended by the Director of Health Services; and
d. Approve and authorize the Director of Health Services or designee to execute the MOU as modified by the parties, where the terms are not significantly different from the MOU, 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 (3) 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 Memorandum of Understanding, and that does not significantly change the scope of services, for a total in the aggregate not to exceed $750,244.
SUMMARY:
This request to the Board of Supervisors adds additional school districts that secured funding after the original request was approved on May 13, 2025 (Attachment 1). The additional school districts 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 2025-26 academic school year.
DISCUSSION:
On May 13th, 2025, the Board of Supervisors approved and authorized the Director of Health to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) template for the 2025-26 fiscal year for six school districts and a total not to exceed amount of $445,650. In addition to the school districts previously approved on May 13th, the school districts listed in Attachment 1 secured funding after the original request was approved by BOS, and they 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 2025-26 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 various programs: General Education, Interconnected Systems Framework, and Out of School Youth Mental Health Supports (see Attachment 1 of the Board Report). The School 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 across all MOUs of $1,172,892 from these MOUs in FY 2025-26 (Attachment 2) may vary based on changes in School District budgets and County staffing.
The previously approved 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), School District, and Mental Health Student Services Act (MHSSA) Grant. The associated revenue and expenditures are included in the Health Department’s Behavioral Health (HEA012, Unit 8410) FY 2025-26 Approved Budget.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS:
This agreement will improve the health, quality of life, and support the well-being of residents.
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
Prepared by: Salvador Cervantes, Management Analyst III, 279-3755
Approved by: Elsa Mendoza Jimenez, Director of Health Services, 755-4526
Attachments:
Board Report
Amendment No. 1 to Memorandum of Understanding A-17303
Attachment 1
Attachment 2
MCOE Alternative Ed Memorandum of Understanding
General Education Memorandum of Understanding Template