Authorize the Yolo County Procurement Manager to approve and execute the first amendment to Agreement 21-42 with CommuniCare Health Centers, Inc. to add funding in the amount of $95,197.48, for a new contract maximum of $237,993.69 and extend the term through December 31, 2021, for the provision of implementing a single, coordinated plan for a mobile response system to meet the Family Urgent Response System legislative requirements. (No general fund impact) (Larsen)

Authorize the Yolo County Procurement Manager to approve and execute first amendment to Agreement 21-42 with CommuniCare Health Centers, Inc. to add funding in the amount of $95,197.48, for a new contract maximum of $237,993.69 and extend the term through December 31, 2021, for the provision of implementing a single, coordinated plan for a mobile response system to meet the Family Urgent Response (FUR) System legislative requirements.

Thriving Residents

The California Department of Social Services (“CDSS”) has allocated funds to support the implementation of the Family Urgent Response System (“FURS”).  FURS is a coordinated statewide, regional, and county-level system designed to provide support to current and former foster youth, as well as their caregivers.  FURS requires county child welfare, probation, and behavioral/mental health agencies to establish a joint county-based mobile response system that includes a mobile response and stabilization team to provide in-person support as needed.  This support also includes a toll-free hotline available 24 hours per day, seven days a week, in order to effectively engage caregivers and children and youth currently or previously in the foster care system who are experiencing tension and conflict in their relationships, emotional distress, or behavioral or other difficulties that may threaten their relationships. Hotline operators provide immediate assistance over the phone to help defuse conflict and provide focused engagement and assessment to make a referral to the county mobile response system for further support. 

FURS is intended to have multiple positive effects on the lives of children and youth and
caregivers, including:
 

• Preventing placement disruptions and preserving the relationship between the child or youth and their caregiver.
• Preventing the need for a 911 call or law enforcement involvement and avoiding the criminalization of traumatized youth.
• Preventing psychiatric hospitalization and placement into congregate care; and
• Promoting healing as a family. 
• Preventing foster care reentry for former foster youth.
• Assist foster parents and foster youth to develop and practice skills and strategies that mitigate conflict.

Yolo County (“the County”) received funding from CDSS to meet the FURS requirements and established a joint county-based system that includes a mobile response and stabilization team that provides immediate, in-person support 24 hours per day, seven days per week, including during normal business hours.  Counties were required to begin accepting and responding to referrals received from the state-established hotline as of the statewide hotline launch date of March 1, 2021. 
 
Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency (“HHSA”) contracted with CommuniCare Health Centers, Inc, and Victor Community Support Services to collaborate on providing the FURS services with initial short-term agreements for the period of March 1, 2021, through August 31, 2021.  Approval of this amendment will enable HHSA to continue providing these services in collaboration with CommuniCare Health Centers, Inc and allow time for the County to issue an RFP for further longer-term agreements with an estimated start date of January 1, 2022. The extension amendment for the Victor Community Support Services agreement will be brought under a separate item in the near future.
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Performance Measures included in this Agreement are as follows:
Performance measures were included in Agreement No. 21-42 and are not being changed by this amendment.  

County Counsel has approved this Agreement as to form.

These services were procured through a sole source approved by the Procurement Manager pending the issuance of an RFP.