Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign an agreement with Rebekah Children’s Services for $1,360,000 to provide intensive Wraparound Care Coordination for foster youth and their families for the period July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2019; 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% ($136,000) 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 Rebekah Children’s Services for $1,360,000 to provide intensive Wraparound Care Coordination for foster youth and their families for the period July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2019; 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% ($136,000) of the original contract amount, and do not significantly change the scope of work.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Wraparound Monterey County (WMC) is one of the pillars of practice outlined in AB 403 Continuum of Care Reform(CCR). It offers an alternative service provision to return or keep children with high needs in the community, ideally reuniting children safely with their families of origin. The program is a collaborative partnership among Monterey County Department of Social Services, Probation Department and Children’s Behavioral Health that has been serving youth since 2002.
WMC provides intensive of case management, individual and family services, and a cost effective fiscal model. This model includes a Wraparound Care Coordinator function, a Wraparound Administrative Service function and a Wraparound Provider Network. Wraparound is an outlined process used to support the most high-needs children and youth to live safely and productively within families. It requires bringing a group of people together as a team to help families accomplish their goals. In partnership with youth and families, Wraparound identifies family needs, then plans for and identifies services and supports that respond to these needs, building on family strengths. Positive outcomes in Wraparound center on safety, permanence, and well-being. Rebekah Children’s Services (RCS) provides the Care Coordination function of Wraparound, coordinating the process and service needs. The provision of WMC also responds to the Katie A vs. Bonta class action lawsuit which requires the provision of Wraparound mental health and supportive services for children in, or at imminent risk of, placement in foster care in California.
RCS is a non-profit agency that has been providing services to families for over 100 years. Seventy-three (73) unduplicated clients were served by WMC in 2016, up from fifty-seven (57) clients in 2015. This data reflects families open to services more than 60 days. In 2016, the average length of service was 7.47 months. Forty-nine (49) of the seventy-three (73) families were discharged in 2016, with 69.4% of them continuing to reside in the community. WMC uses the Wraparound Fidelity Index as a tool to measure adherence to the 10 foundational principals of Wraparound. In 2016, RCS demonstrated a higher score than the National average on each of the 10 different areas. Examples of these principles include natural supports, community based services and persistence.
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 with Realignment Funds. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues in SOC005 are included in the FY 2017-18 Recommended Budget. There is no impact to the County General Fund contributions.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This Agreement correlates to the Health & Human Services and Administration Strategic Initiatives adopted by the Board of Supervisors by providing Wraparound Care Coordination for high-needs youth and their families to assist at-risk youth with high-need emotional and behavioral issues overcome challenges and remain in their home and community.
Check the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives:
Economic Development
X Administration
X Health & Human Services
Infrastructure
Public Safety
Prepared by: Virginia R. Pierce, MA III
Approved by: Elliott Robinson, Director, x4430
Attachments: Rebekah Children’s Services Agreement 2017/19
Proposed agreement is on file with Clerk of the Board as an attachment to this Board Report