Approve third amendment to Agreement No. 5151 with Brighter Horizon Group Homes, Inc. to extend the term through June 30, 2026; and add funding in the amount of $250,000 for a new contract maximum of $650,000, for the period of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026; for the provision of Short Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP) services. (No general fund impact) (Morales)

Approve third amendment to Agreement No. 5151 with Brighter Horizon Group Homes, Inc. to extend the term through June 30, 2026; and add funding in the amount of $250,000 for a new contract maximum of $650,000, for the period of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026; for the provision of Short Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP) services.

Brighter Horizon Group Homes, Inc. (Brighter Horizon) operates a Short-Term Residential Treatment Program (STRTP) for youth who require Child Welfare or Probation residential placement and provides Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS). When the need for placement in an STRTP occurs, it often involves youth who have an urgent and immediate need for placement, which is difficult to plan for in advance. This challenge is intensified by the limited availability of STRTP facilities statewide. To address these challenges, Yolo County contracts with STRTP facilities in the local and surrounding area as well as any facilities where placement is likely to ensure access to STRTP placements as soon as possible. Brighter Horizon. is one such provider that offers SMHS and meets the needs of youth in Yolo County.

On or about October 5, 2023, the County and Brighter Horizon entered into Agreement No. 5151 (the Agreement) with an initial term of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 and a contract maximum of $100,000. On or about March 12, 2024, the Agreement was amended (first amendment) to add additional funding in the amount of $200,000 for fiscal year 2023-24. On or about May 7, 2024, the Agreement was amended (second amendment) to extend the term of the agreement through June 30, 2025; and add funding in the amount of $100,000 for 2024-25.

This third amendment extends the term of the agreement through June 30, 2026 and adds funding for 2025-26 of $250,000 (taking the existing optional extension amount of $100,000 and adding an additional $150,000); and updates language throughout the Agreement. This additional funding is needed based on the number of youth placed in Brighter Horizon in the current fiscal year and using that as a projection for the upcoming fiscal year’s need.

County Counsel has approved this amendment as to form
General Services Department, Procurement Division

On or about March 15, 2024, the Yolo County Deputy Director/Manager of Procurement approved a sole source letter in conformance with the updated Yolo County Procurement Policy with Brighter Horizon Group Homes, Inc. to provide Short Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP) services.

Procurement reviewed HHSA’s request and determined that it was in the best interest of the County to approve the sole source. Without sole source approval, the County would lose the ability to place Child Welfare or Probation youth into an STRTP facility timely. Factors considered included, but were not limited to: 1) urgent and immediate placement needs for youth into an STRTP facility that provides specialty mental health services; 2) Vendor’s status as an STRTP facility that provides the needed services in the local and surrounding area that typically has availability for placement; 3) Vendor rates being fair compared to other STRTP facilities in the surrounding areas; and 4) the County would be limited or lose the ability to place youth into an appropriate STRTP facility that is able to meet the specific mental health needs of the youth.

Vendor Performance:
The Performance Measures were included in the underlying Agreement and are not being revised at this time. (See Att. B. Performance Measures)

HHSA confirms Brighter Horizon is performing satisfactorily under this Agreement. Brighter Horizon has provided care to the most vulnerable Child Welfare or Probation clients and have been instrumental in meeting the needs of youth in Yolo County by ensuring access to STRTP placements as soon as possible. Yolo County is the Mental Health Plan associated with Brighter Horizon and has a responsibility to ensure that all youth placed in the STRTP can access Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS) during their placement. Yolo County meets with Brighter Horizon on an at least monthly basis. Brighter Horizon provides needed mental health services to youth needing this level of care and has been a collaborative partner in ensuring child welfare and probation youth receive quality services while in the STRTP placement.