To: Board of Supervisors
From: Anna Roth, Health Services Director
Report Title: Contract #74-491-10 with FIERCE Advocates (Families and Individuals Equitably Rooted in Collective Empowerment), Inc.
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Health Services Director, or designee, to execute on behalf of County Contract #74-491-10 with FIERCE Advocates (Families and Individuals Equitably Rooted in Collective Empowerment), Inc., in an amount not to exceed $257,723, to provide Mental Health Service Act (MHSA) Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) Services to underserved cultural communities in West Contra Costa County for the period from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of this contract will result in annual budgeted expenditures up to $257,723 for FY 2024-25 and will be funded 100% by MHSA PEI funds.
BACKGROUND:
This contract meets the social needs of County’s population by providing MHSA PEI services to underserved cultural communities and families in West County including support and education of family’s access to mental health services. This contractor has been providing services to the County since July 1, 2015.
This contract is entered into under and subject to the following legal authorities: California Government Code §§ 26227 and 31000. Extensive market research has revealed a limited pool of qualified providers. The Behavioral Health’s Quality Management, Utilization Management and Contract Monitor staff meet on a regular basis to ensure monitoring and performance measures in the contract are upheld. This contract was approved by Health Services Personnel to ensure there is no conflict with labor relations. Per Administrative Bulletin 600.3, this contractor has been approved by the Public Works Department’s Purchasing Division on October 3, 2023.
On October 17, 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved Contract #74-491-9 with FIERCE Advocates (Families and Individuals Equitably Rooted in Collective Empowerment), Inc. in an amount not to exceed $247,811 for the provision of MHSA PEI services for the period July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024.
Approval of Contract #74-491-10 will allow this contractor to continue providing MHSA PEI services in West Contra Costa County through June 30, 2025.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this contract is not approved, residents of West Contra Costa County will not have access to this contractor’s MHSA PEI services which could negatively impact wait times for these mental health services.
CHILDREN’S IMPACT STATEMENT:
This MHSA-PEI program supports the following Board of Supervisors’ community outcomes: “Families that are Safe, Stable, and Nurturing”; and “Communities that are Safe and Provide a High Quality of Life for Children and Families”. Expected program outcomes include increases in social connectedness, communication skills, parenting skills and knowledge of the human service system in Contra Costa County.