To: Board of Supervisors
From: Dr. Grant Colfax, Health Services Director
Report Title: Contract Amendment/Extension #72-197-3 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 the County Contract Amendment/Extension #72-197-3 with FIERCE Advocates (Families and Individuals Equitably Rooted in Collective Empowerment), Inc., a non-profit corporation, effective June 30, 2026, to amend Contract #72-197-1 (as amended by Contract Amendment/Extension #72-197-2), to increase the payment limit by $150,000, from $440,000, to a new payment limit of $590,000, and to extend the termination date from June 30, 2026 to September 30, 2026 for additional consultation and technical assistance to assist and support the Doula Program for Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) Public Health Division’s, Family, Maternal & Child Health Programs (FMCH), Perinatal Equity Initiative (PEI) to provide prenatal, birth and postpartum community support for enrolled County participants.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of this Contract Amendment/Extension will result in additional annual expenditures of up to $150,000 and will be funded 100% by Community Development PEI Grant funds. (No rate increase)
BACKGROUND:
PEI aims to improve birth outcomes in African American communities and was established with the passage of California State Legislature’s Assembly Bill (AB) 1810. CCHS, FMCH Programs have been funded to accomplish a scope of work which includes conducting an environmental scan, engaging community partners in planning a process to determine needs, gaining a deeper understanding of the African-American community and its infant mortality rate in Contra Costa County, and developing and implementing a public health awareness campaign to raise awareness about pre-term birth and infant mortality. Additionally, we are required to subcontract with community-based organizations for the provision of supportive services to the most impacted populations of perinatal health inequities. County’s Public Health Division provides outreach and services to communities that may otherwise not get community support for client referrals/case management in collaboration with PEI.
This Contract is entered into under and subject to the following legal authorities: California Government Code §§ 26227 and 31000; Health and Safety Code § 1451. The Public Health Quality Management, Utilization Management and Contract Monitor Staff meet on a regular basis to ensure monitoring and performance measures in the Contract are upheld. Health Services Personnel approved this Contract to ensure no conflicts with labor relations. These contracted services were determined to be exempt from Administrative Bulletin 600.3, solicitation requirements by the Public Works Department’s Purchasing Division.
On August 12, 2025, the Board of Supervisors approved Contract #72-197-1 with FIERCE Advocates (Families and Individuals Equitably Rooted in Collective Empowerment), Inc, in an amount not to exceed $350,000, to provide consultation and technical assistance to develop a Doula Program to provide community support services for prenatal, birth and postpartum period to enrolled County participants for the period April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026.
On March 31, 2026, the Board of Supervisors approved Contract Amendment/Extension #72-197-2 with FIERCE Advocates (Families and Individuals Equitably Rooted in Collective Empowerment), Inc., effective March 31, 2026, to increase the payment limit by $90,000 to a new payment limit of $440,000 and to extend the termination date through June 30, 2026 for additional support for the Doula program for prenatal, birth and postpartum community support services.
Approval of Contract Amendment/Extension #72-197-3 will allow the Contractor to provide additional services through September 30, 2026.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this Contract Amendment/Extension is not approved, referred County participants will not have access to Contractor’s additional community support services for the prenatal through postpartum periods.
CHILDREN’S IMPACT STATEMENT:
“The recommendation supports the following children's outcome(s): Families that are Economically Self Sufficient; Families that are Safe, Stable and Nurturing; and Communities that are Safe and Provide a High Quality of Life for Children and Families.”