This contract meets the social needs of the County’s population by providing school-based and STRIP services including mental health and TBS services focusing on SED youth and their families. Eligible individuals are determined by the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), wards or dependents of the Contra Costa County Juvenile Court and or are County-referred. Expected program outcomes will result in positive social and emotional development at home, in the community and greater school success. The contractor has been providing these services since 1979.
On January 5, 2021, the Board of Supervisors approved Contract #24-133-74 (as amended by Contract Amendment Agreements #24-133-75 through #24-133-76) with La Cheim School, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $1,316,538 for the provision of school-based and STRIP services which included mental health and TBS services for SED youth and their families in West Contra Costa County, for the period from January 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021, which included a six-month automatic extension through December 31, 2021 in an amount not to exceed $658,269.
On July 13, 2021, the Board of Supervisors approved Contract Amendment Agreement #74-133-75 to increase the per minute billing rates due to COVID-19, with no change to the original payment limit of $1,316,538 or term of January 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021 and no change in the automatic extension through December 31, 2021 in an amount not to exceed $658,269.
In November, 2021, the County Administrator approved and the Purchasing Services Manager executed Administrative Amendment Agreement #24-133-76 to correct a typo in the order of Service Functions set forth in the Rate Table to make consistent with the intentions of the Contractor and County, with no change to the original payment limit of $1,316,538 or term of January 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021 and no change in the automatic extension through December 31, 2021 in an amount not to exceed $658,269.
Approval of County Novation Contract #74-133-77 replaces the automatic extension in the prior contract #24-133-74 and will allow the contractor to continue providing mental health services for SED youth and families through June 30, 2022.
If this novation contract is not approved, there will be fewer treatment options for wards of Contra Costa County Juvenile Court and fewer mental health services available for SED youth in West Contra Costa County as the County solicits and engages an alternative contractor.
This Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) program supports the following Board of Supervisors’ community outcomes: “Children Ready For and Succeeding in School”; “Children and Youth Healthy and Preparing for Productive Adulthood”; “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 an increase in positive social and emotional development as measured by the Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS).