Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director of Health Services or designee to execute a retroactive Mental Health Services Agreement between the County of Monterey and Psynergy Programs, Inc. for the provision of mental health services to adults with severe psychiatric disabilities for a maximum County obligation of $4,704,973 for the term of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026; and
b. Approve and authorize the Director of Health Services or designee to execute up to three (3) future amendments that do not exceed 10% ($470,497) of the original Agreement, do not significantly change the scope of services, and do not increase the total not to exceed maximum amount over $5,175,470.
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 a retroactive Mental Health Services Agreement between the County of Monterey and Psynergy Programs, Inc. for the provision of mental health services to adults with severe psychiatric disabilities for a maximum County obligation of $4,704,973 for the term of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026; and
b. Approve and authorize the Director of Health Services or designee to execute up to three (3) future amendments that do not exceed 10% ($470,497) of the original Agreement, do not significantly change the scope of services, and do not increase the total not to exceed maximum amount over $5,175,470.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION
Psynergy Programs, Inc. operates three (3) licensed residential care facilities that Monterey County Behavioral Health Bureau has used for many years: Cielo Vista, located in the City of Greenfield, which provides the maximum level of care to assist clients who are at risk of being admitted to a facility requiring a high level of care; Nueva Vista, located in the City of Morgan Hill, which provides intensive levels of care for clients recently discharged from locked skilled facilities; and Tres Vista, also in Morgan Hill, which provides 24-hour adult independent housing and outpatient clinic. In addition to these facilities, we have also utilized their facilities that offer similar services in the Sacramento area called Nueva Vista Sacramento and Vista de Robles and another facility in North Highlands, California called Vista Esperanza. All of these facilities provide crucial mental health and residential care services to the County of Monterey residents, which provide normalizing experiences and the supervision that is necessary for clients with serious and persistent mental illnesses.
The County contracted with Psynergy Programs, Inc. for mental health services to Monterey County adult residents with severe psychiatric disabilities in these varying facilities for the periods of FY 2007-2025. This Agreement with Psynergy Programs, Inc. is for one (1) fiscal year term from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026, which renews and updates Agreement A-17005 ending in June 30, 2025. This agreement renews the same contract provisions but with an increase of services from twenty-nine (29) clients to thirty-six (36) clients provided by Psynergy Programs, Inc.
Due to late and ongoing contract negotiations, with the direction for an effective date of July 1, 2025, the agreement took additional time to review and agendize, which by necessity makes the agreement retroactive when presented to your board.
Approval of this Agreement complies with the requirements of the Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5600 (Bronzan-McCorquodale Act).This Agreement contains the County’s standard 30-day “no cause” provision (Section V, B) and an additional defunding provision (Section V, D), which provides the County the ability to amend or terminate the Agreement in the event of a reduction and/or termination of funding.
This work supports the following County of Monterey Health Department 2025-2028 Strategic Plan Goal(s):” 3) Ensure access to culturally and linguistically appropriate, customer-friendly, quality 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 provisions of health care when otherwise unavailable.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Office of the County Counsel and Auditor-Controller have reviewed and approved this Agreement as to form and fiscal provisions, respectively.
FINANCING:
This Agreement is funded by 1991 Realignment funding and FFP/Medi-Cal funding. The funds for this Agreement are included in the Health Department’s Behavioral Health (HEA012, Unit 8410) Fiscal Year 2025-26 Adopted Budget.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Check the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives:
☐ Economic Development:
• Through collaboration, strengthen economic development to ensure a diversified and healthy economy.
☐ Administration:
• Promote an organization that practices efficient and effective resource management and is recognized for responsiveness, strong customer orientation, accountability and transparency.
☒ Health & Human Services:
• Improve health and quality of life through County supported policies, programs, and services; promoting access to equitable opportunities for healthy choices and healthy environments in collaboration with communities.
☐ Infrastructure:
• Plan and develop a sustainable, physical infrastructure that improves the quality of life for County residents and supports economic development results.
☐ Public Safety:
• Create a safe environment for people to achieve their potential, leading businesses and communities to thrive and grow by reducing violent crimes as well as crimes in general.
Prepared By: Tami Nguyen, Management Analyst II, 279-4740
Approved by: Elsa Mendoza Jimenez, Director of Health Services, 755-4526
Attachment:
Board Report
Agreement