Agenda

Return

C. 66

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Marla Stuart, Employment and Human Services Director
Date:	May 24, 2022

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Contract with Seneca Family of Agencies for family visitation services

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 05/24/2022

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

C. Youngblood (925) 608-4964

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: May 24, 2022
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Employment and Human Services Director, or designee, to execute a contract with Seneca Family of Agencies, a non-profit corporation, in an amount not to exceed $691,628 to provide comprehensive visitation services through the East Bay Visitation Center (EBVC) for the period July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2024.

FISCAL IMPACT:

This contract will increase expenditures by $691,628 ($345,814 per year) to be funded with 30% County General Fund revenue and 70% State Realignment, Protective Services revenues, all of which is already budgeted in FY 2022-23.

BACKGROUND:

Seneca Family of Agencies (Contractor) was selected through the competitive bid process conducted by the City and County of San Francisco Human Services Agency (SFHSA) issued as Request for Proposal (RFP) #964. RFP #964 was a combined process between SFHSA and Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services Department Children and Family Services Bureau. The EBVC is a collaborative model amongst Seneca, the City and County of San Francisco, and Contra Costa County. As much as possible, services will align between the two counties. Contractor will have separate agreements with each county but program and policy decisions will be developed via the partnership. Contract purpose is to provide a venue for families referred by Children and Family Services (CFS) to access reunification services.

The contract will allow CFS to follow visitation orders and mandates, utilize visitation as an opportunity to build parental capacity and strengthen family relationships, and increase successful reunification and permanency outcomes for youth in foster care. Contractor will maintain a primary East Bay Visitation Center in Antioch with five satellite visitation centers in Concord, San Leandro, El Sobrante, Fairfield and Santa Clara to promote maximum geographic accessibility for children and families referred by Contra Costa County.

The Contractor’s provision of visitation centers in the East Bay is rooted in over eight years of experience providing visitation services to San Francisco County youth and families, and their commitment to partner with child welfare departments to eliminate all barriers to family reunification and each child’s right to grow up in a stable, loving, and supporting home.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Without EBVC services and geographically accessible sites, foster youth would be at risk for experiencing disruptions to receiving high-quality, regular visitation with family.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

This contract supports all five of the community outcomes established in the Children's Report Card: 1) "Children Ready for and Succeeding in School"; 2) "Children and Youth Healthy and Preparing for Productive Adulthood"; 3) "Families that are Economically Self Sufficient"; 4) "Families that are Safe, Stable and Nurturing"; and 5) "Communities that are Safe and Provide a High Quality of Life for Children and Families" by promoting sustainable and successful family reunification to build and support strong family relationships.