Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign an agreement with Seneca Family of Agencies for $183,210 to support the Resource Family Approval (RFA) program throughout Monterey County for the period retroactive to July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017; and
b. Authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services, or his designee, to sign up to three (3) amendments to this agreement where the total amendments do not exceed 10% ($18,321) of the original 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 Seneca Family of Agencies for $183,210 to support the Resource Family Approval (RFA) program throughout Monterey County for the period retroactive to July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017; and
b. Authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services, or his designee, to sign up to three (3) amendments to this agreement where the total amendments do not exceed 10% ($18,321) of the original contract amount, and do not significantly change the scope of work.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The agreement with Seneca Family of Agencies is to provide the Department of Social Services, Family and Children’s Services, with assistance in supporting the Resource Family Approval program throughout Monterey County.
Resource Family Approval (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. RFA upgrades and unifies approval standards for all caregivers by replacing the existing multiple processes for licensing foster family homes, approving relative and non-relative extended family members as foster care providers, and approving adoptive homes. RFA prepares families to better meet the needs of vulnerable children in the foster care system and allows seamless transition to permanency. RFA implementation will be required for all counties on January 1, 2017. Monterey County was selected as an early implementation county and began implementation on March 1, 2016.
Seneca Family of Agencies is a full-service agency providing assessment, training and support to the overall number of Resource Families and continues to provide services focused on retention efforts to ensure children remain in Monterey County. This contract expands the relationship of Seneca with the Department to incorporate the new, more intensive, approval process required by SB 1013.
This agreement was delayed coming forward for Board approval due to the need to assure that emerging requirements for the RFA process were incorporated into the agreement. The implementation environment has been impacted by the pressures of the state-wide rollout of the RFA process, and the need to expand recruitment, approval and retention requirements to meet the demands of Continuum of Care Reform.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Auditor-Controller and Purchasing have reviewed and approved this agreement. County Counsel has approved the agreement as to form.
FINANCING:
This agreement is funded by Federal, State and Realignment revenues. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues for SOC005 are included in the FY 2016-17 Adopted Budget. Approval of this action has no impact on the County General Fund contributions.
Prepared by: Karen Clampitt, MA II, x8596
Approved by: Elliott Robinson, Director of Social Services
Attachments: Seneca (RFA) Agreement
(Proposed agreement are is on file with Clerk of the Board.)