Memorandum
Date: September 12, 2023
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Crystal Markytan, Director, Social Services
Subject: Consideration of Lake County Department of Social Services (LCDSS) Department Head Authority to Authorize Contracts Between $25,000 to $100,000 for Out-Of-County Wraparound Services Without Board Approval if Contracts are Eligible Under the Master Contract for Wraparound Services
Executive Summary:
Children and youth in foster care can have complex needs due to trauma, current mental health diagnoses, and/or developmental challenges. Relatives and other caregivers often require a high level of support to meet these youth's needs, and to stabilize the youth's placement in the home. Without this support, youth are at risk of placement in a more restrictive setting (congregate care), and placement disruption can happen quickly. Lake County CWS has a contract with RCS for Wraparound services for youth placed in Lake or Mendocino County. However, youth with high level needs may be placed out-of-county and CWS needs the ability to quickly contract with wraparound service providers in the community in which the youth resides to ensure that the youth and the family receive the needed support without delay.
On February 9, 2018, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 - Public Law (P.L.) 115-123 which includes the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) was signed into law. It requires access to family-based aftercare services to children for at least six months post-discharge from a Short Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP) to support youth and help stabilize the new placement. These required aftercare services have been equated to wraparound services.
The contract initiation and bidding process can take several months to complete, but in these cases, expediency of services is imperative, LCDSS is respectfully requesting that the Lake County Board of Supervisors approve a Master Contract for out-of-county Wraparound Services. Given the nature of these specialized after care services, the already-existing detailed requirements and the potential to require multiple providers in a short time period with little advance notice, a Request for Qualifications process is more appropriate than a Request for Proposals process. The critical factor in selection is whether a program meets the statutory requirements to provide the required Wraparound services within the community in which the youth resides. This master contract will ensure that LCDSS-CWS remains in compliance with the mandates for Wraparound services and the County of Lake Purchasing Ordinance. The master contract will be a three-year contract and will be reviewed each year by LCDSS Department Head, or designee and County Counsel to verify that no changes are required in the master contract.
The Department requests the Board of Supervisors to approve the Master Contract for out-of-county Wraparound services that would allow authorization for the LCDSS Department Head or designee to negotiate compensation with qualifying wraparound service providers and allow the Department Head to approve these contracts in an amount between $25,000 to $100,000 per fiscal year, without Board approval. The Department is asking that the Board approve the Wraparound Master Contract for three years starting with FY 23-24. Board of Supervisors' approval will be required for any agreement with a qualifying service provider when the total compensation exceeds said amount. Total compensation means compensation paid by the LCDSS to the qualifying Wraparound service provider in any given fiscal year.
If not budgeted, fill in the blanks below only:
Estimated Cost: ________ Amount Budgeted: ________ Additional Requested: ________ Future Annual Cost: ________
Purchasing Considerations (check all that apply): ☐ Not applicable
☒ Fully Article X. <https://library.municode.com/ca/lake_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH2AD_ARTXPU_S2-38EXCOBI>- and/or Consultant Selection Policy <http://lcnet.co.lake.ca.us/Assets/Intranet/Policy/Policies+$!26+Procedures+Manual/Ch4_2021v2.pdf>-Compliant (describe process undertaken in “Executive Summary”)
☒ Section 2-38 <https://library.municode.com/ca/lake_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH2AD_ARTXPU_S2-38EXCOBI> Exemption from Competitive Bidding (rationale in “Executive Summary,” attach documentation, as needed)
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☐ Other (Please describe in Executive Summary)
Consistency with Vision 2028 <http://www.lakecountyca.gov/Government/Directory/Administration/Visioning/Vision2028.htm> (check all that apply): ☐ Not applicable
☐ Well-being of Residents ☐ Public Safety ☐ Disaster Prevention, Preparedness, Recovery
☐ Economic Development ☐ Infrastructure ☐ County Workforce
☐ Community Collaboration ☐ Business Process Efficiency ☐ Clear Lake
Recommended Action: Approve the Wraparound Master Contract thus allowing the Department Head or designee for LCDSS the ability to negotiate and authorize compensation with any qualifying service provider through in RFQ process for Wraparound services in an amount between $25,000 and $100.000 per fiscal year for time period of FY 23-24 through FY 25-26 without prior Board approval.