Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign an agreement with Aspiranet for $184,988 to support the Resource Family Approval Program throughout Monterey County for the period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023; and
b. Authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign up to three (3) amendments to this agreement where the total amendments do not exceed 10% ($18,498 of the contract amount, and do not significantly change the scope of work.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign an agreement with Aspiranet for $184,988 to support the Resource Family Approval Program throughout Monterey County for the period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023; and
b. Authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign up to three (3) amendments to this agreement where the total amendments do not exceed 10% ($18,498 of the contract amount, and do not significantly change the scope of work.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The agreement provides the Department of Social Services - Family and Children’s Services with assistance in conducting family evaluations for Resource Family Approvals (RFA). Resource families include foster parents, foster-to-adopt families, kinship and non-relative care givers.
RFA was authorized through Senate Bill 1013 (Chapter 35, Statutes of 2012) and requires the State Department of Social Services, in consultation with the county welfare agencies, foster parent associations, and other interested community parties, to implement a unified, family friendly and child-centered resource family approval process. Monterey County will team with Aspiranet and utilize other strategies to ensure families are assessed for RFA approval in a timely manner. This Agreement will allow for open communication, oversight of adherence to RFA requirements and time frames, discussion and decision making regarding written referral and assessment issues, evaluation of contract usage and effectiveness, and making recommendations for processing, or process modifications.
Aspiranet is a full-service agency providing family evaluation assessments to Resource Families and continues to provide services focused on retention efforts to ensure children remain in Monterey County.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Auditor-Controller and Purchasing have reviewed and approved this Agreement. County Counsel has approved the Agreement as to form.
FINANCING:
Funding is provided by Federal and State revenues and Realignment funds. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues for SOC005 are included in the FY2022-23 Requested Budget.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This Agreement correlates to the Health & Human Services Strategic Initiative adopted by the Board of Supervisors by allowing the Department to improve the quality of life for foster children by expanding capacity for timely completion of Resource Family Approvals
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
__Economic Development
__Administration
X Health & Human Services
__Infrastructure
__Public Safety
Prepared by: Rene Kausin, MAII, x4737
Approved by: Lori A. Medina, Director, x4430
Attachment: Agreement
Proposed agreement is on file with the Clerk of the Board as an attachment to this Board Report.