Important note: The following recommendation was approved by the Board of Supervisors on Jan. 7, 2014; a subsequent agreement, attached below, was approved on June 16, 2015:

To:             Honorable Board of Supervisors

From:         Beverly Beasley Johnson, JD, Director, Human Services Agency

Subject:     Amendment to the Agreement with StarVista

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution authorizing an amendment to the agreement with StarVista for prevention and early intervention for children at-risk of abuse, trauma, or mental illness, increasing the amount by $1,021,720 to $5,167,542.

Background:

On November 6, 2012, the voters of San Mateo County approved Measure A, establishing a sales tax to fund County operations, and prevention/early intervention mental health services for children and youth. In March, the County Manager asked Children and Youth System of Care (CYSOC) to address this issue, and determine specific gaps in services.

CYSOC is an inter-agency collaboration which has been formed, between the Human Services Agency-Children and Family Services (HSA-CFS), San Mateo County Health-Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS), Probation, the County Office of Education, the Sheriff’s Office, and schools and districts focusing on children and youth at risk of adverse psychological, health, and social outcomes and their families. Among the CYSOC partners, significant resources are devoted to prevention, specifically the early identification, intervention, and treatment of children and families with risks and needs. CYSOC identified a need for more resources to assist children and youth who are at- risk of needing a higher level of care through systems such as child welfare or probation.

Discussion:

This amendment is adding Measure A funds in the amount of $1,021,720 to the current agreement to allow StarVista to develop a program with an active 24/7 hotline to provide easy access to services for childhood and adolescent issues, ages 0 – 18 years and provide a 24 hour a day Early Child & Adolescent Hotline & Prevention Program (CAHPP) that will connect school-based families to prevention and early intervention services throughout San Mateo County. The 24 hour hotline will be able to receive phone calls, emails, and text messages from any San Mateo County resident or service provider. This hotline will be staffed by 3 licensed or registered Mental Health Clinicians who will receive and screen the calls and provide brief therapeutic intervention community-based services as needed. The second service provided will be a school based program called StarVista’s Lucky Kids, which will provide coaching to support  San Mateo County children from Kindergarten to 6th grade who need additional support services to meet their full potential in school. This will be staffed by 6 intensively trained Child Aides.

The Contractor has assured compliance with the County's Contractor Employee Jury Service Ordinance, as well as all other contract provisions that are required by County ordinance and administrative memoranda including, but not limited to, insurance, hold harmless, non-discrimination, and equal benefits. County Counsel has reviewed and approved the amendment and Resolution as to form and the Contractor meets the insurance certification requirement.

Approval of this amendment to the agreement contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of a Prosperous Community by providing San Mateo County residents or providers with a 24 hour hotline for mental health services and a Lucky Kids’ Club for schools and school districts. It is anticipated that 80% of hotline calls will be assessed and referred to appropriate mental health services and 80% of those referred to the Lucky Kids’ Club will show improvement in their academic scores.

Performance Measures:

Measure

FY 2013-14 Actual

FY 2014-15 Projected

Percent of hotline calls referred to and receiving mental health services

To Be Developed

80%

Percent of children receiving Lucky Kids Club services who will improve their academic scores (as described by the pre and post-test completed by the teachers)

To Be Developed

80%


FISCAL IMPACT:

The term of this amendment to the agreement remains the same, July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2016. The amended amount is $1,021,720 for a new total of $5,167,542. The amended amount of $1,021,720 is 100% funded by Measure A Revenue and there is no Net County Cost. Funds have been included in FY2013-14 and FY2014-15 Adopted Budgets.

Important note: This is a copy of the official report -- item 36 on the Board's agenda.