Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign an Agreement with Franciscan Workers of Junipero Serra for $477,000 to provide operations for the Chinatown Health Services Center and Dorothy’s Drop-In Center to support the homeless population in Salinas including Whole Person Care referrals for the period July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018; 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% (47,700) of the original contract amount, and do not significantly change the scope of work.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
a. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign an Agreement with Franciscan Workers of Junipero Serra for $477,000 to provide operations for the Chinatown Health Services Center and Dorothy’s Drop-In Center to support the homeless population in Salinas including Whole Person Care referrals for the period July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018; 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% (47,700) of the original contract amount, and do not significantly change the scope of work.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Since the inception of these services, Dorothy’s Drop-in Center hours have been 7:30 am-6:00 pm seven days a week, serving 120-200 adults daily with secure shelter, restrooms, showers, and laundry. The agency also provides trauma-based case management services to assist persons experiencing homeless find permanent or temporary housing. The agency reports that caseloads are at capacity but hundreds of homeless individuals still come daily for basic needs and case management services. From July to December 2016 the agency served 669 clients in the Drop-In Center, Trauma Informed Case Management has been successful. The agency housed 37 formerly homeless individuals into transitional housing and 33 formerly homeless individuals into permanent housing in the last nine months of 2016.
Community based case management is an effective strategy for supporting individuals experiencing homelessness to overcome barriers and become housed. These services address numerous challenges for people experiencing homelessness and the entire community by promoting the well-being of individuals experiencing homelessness, and giving people who often have no other place to spend their days but the streets a safe and supportive day program. It is important to note that this support helps reduce other system costs that could include incarceration and emergency care.
This funding will allow for continued progress in housing chronically homeless community members, and will build momentum towards assisting even more individuals and families in conjunction with the Department of Health’s Whole Person Care (WPC) Pilot program. Franciscan Workers of Junipero Serra is a key player in the identification and referral to the WPC Pilot program.
The Department of Social Services is partnering with the Health Department to fund half of this Agreement using WPC revenues. The Chinatown Health Services Center (CHSC) receives referrals from the Drop-In Center. Services at the CHSC include outpatient mental illness treatment (Community Human Services), Monterey County Public Health Nursing, CSUMB’s “suitcase clinic”, Clinica de Salud (twice weekly medical and dental) and Access Support Network’s HIV and Hepatitis C testing, counseling, and referral into treatment.
Case management services at Dorothy’s Place were included in the WPC application developed by the Health Department. The County’s agreement with the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) for the WPC five-year pilot program was approved by your Board on November 1, 2016. The WPC Pilot was authorized under California’s Medi-Cal 2020 waiver to test locally-based initiatives that will coordinate physical health, behavioral health, and social services for vulnerable Medi-Cal beneficiaries who are high users of multiple systems and continue to have, or are at risk of, poor health outcomes. Monterey County’s WPC Pilot will be in effect through December 31, 2020.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Auditor-Controller and Purchasing have reviewed and approved this agreement. County Counsel has approved the agreement as to form.
FINANCING:
As a condition of participation in the Health Departments’ WPC Pilot program, the Agreement will be funded with Federal Whole Person Care funds and the County intergovernmental transfer of funds necessary to meet the non-federal share obligation for the WPC Pilot program. There is sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues included in the SOC004 FY 2017-18 Recommended Budget. Approval of this action has no additional impact to Social Services County General Fund Contributions.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This resolution correlates to the Health & Human Services Strategic Initiative adopted by the Board of Supervisors by providing support services and case management to the County’s most vulnerable population of individuals experiencing homelessness.
Check the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives:
Economic Development
Administration
X Health & Human Services
Infrastructure
Public Safety
Prepared by: Lauren Miller, MAII, x3584
Approved by: Elliott Robinson, Director, x4430
Attachment: Franciscan Workers of Junipero Serra, Agreement
Proposed agreement is on file with Clerk of the Board as an attachment to this Board Report