02 Office of the City Manager CONSENT CALENDAR March 29, 2011 To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council From: Phil Kamlarz, City Manager Submitted by: Beth Meyerson, Director, Health Services Subject: Contract: Youth Engagement Advocacy Housing for Community Education & Supports Project RECOMMENDATION Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract and any amendments with Youth Engagement Advocacy Housing to provide services and supports to transition aged youth (aged 18-25) for the period November 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011 in an amount not to exceed $26,520. FISCAL IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION Pursuant to a request for proposals (Specification No: 10-10508-C) issued in April 2010, Youth Engagement Advocacy Housing (YEAH) was selected as the provider for services and supports to transition aged youth (aged 18-25) who are suffering from the impact of trauma and/or other life stressors and are homeless, marginally housed, or housed but in need of supports. Priority will be given to target youth who are currently underserved and in need of mental health supportive services. Outreach strategies and services will be culturally competent and will be tailored to engage youth in various ethnic communities. This service contract is consistent with the State requirements of, and entirely funded by, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA). Funds are available in the current year budget in the MHSA Fund to cover this expenditure. The expenditure code to be charged is 063-4412-440.35-10-10MH04. This contract has been entered into the City contract database and assigned Contract Management System (CMS) No. LB4NU. Council approval for this contract is required because the sum total of all City contracts with YEAH exceeds the City Manager authorization threshold of $50,000. CURRENT SITUATION AND ITS EFFECTS In an effort to provide an avenue of prevention and support for individuals (16 and above) from various cultural, ethnic and age specific populations who are suffering from the negative impacts of trauma or other stresses, the Department of Health Services, Mental Health Division created the “Community Education & Supports” project through the local approved MHSA Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) Plan. This project 2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704 ● Tel: (510) 981-7000 ● TDD: (510) 981-6903 ● Fax: (510) 981-7099 E-Mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/manager Contract: Youth Engagement Advocacy Housing for Community Education & Supports Project CONSENT CALENDAR March 29, 2011 adds capacity to local agencies, organizations and/or entities to implement targeted, community-based education and support services to the following designated underserved populations: African-Americans, Asian/Pacific Islander, Latino LGBT, and Transition Age Youth. The overarching goals of the “Community Education & Supports” project is to reduce the negative psycho-social impact of trauma, emphasize wellness, and target those who are unlikely to seek help through traditional mental health services. Specifically, this project will provide psycho-educational support services aimed at reducing the effects of trauma and other stress within identified populations. Through this added capacity, the “Community Education & Supports” project will fill a gap in services at Berkeley Mental Health (BMH) by providing resources that are limited or nonexistent for communitybased mental health support services, especially in underserved populations. BACKGROUND In November 2004, California voters passed Proposition 63, the MHSA which is intended to “transform and expand the public mental health system” by helping systems become more integrated, culturally competent, consumer and family driven and wellness and recovery oriented. Through five funding components, MHSA is designed to create the capacity for a broad continuum of prevention, early intervention and treatment services along with the necessary infrastructure, technology, and training elements to support effective mental health system transformation. One of the five funding components in MHSA is Prevention and Early Intervention. The purpose of PEI programs is to design strategies that bring mental health awareness into the lives of all members of the community and to facilitate access to supports and resources at the earliest possible sign of stress, trauma or mental health issues. In accordance with guidelines developed by the California Department of Mental Health (DMH), BMH engaged in a community planning process in order to create the City’s approved PEI Plan. The PEI community planning effort included outreach to and feedback from unserved, underserved and inappropriately served populations, a review of various community data sets, stakeholder input, and a public review process. Among other things, the PEI community planning process revealed gaps in the availability of, and access to, services providing support for individuals experiencing the psychosocial impact of trauma, social inequities, and other mental health related stressors. Common issues across each underserved cultural population included: disparities in access to appropriate mental health services; the stigma of mental illness and accessing mental health services; a shortage of service providers that are culturally competent and language proficient; and a lack of support and educational services for trauma exposed individuals and those experiencing everyday stressors. In order to address some of the issues identified in the community planning process, the “Community Education and Supports” project was developed and chosen for inclusion in the PEI Plan. In May 2009, DMH granted approval of the City of Berkeley PEI Plan. The current funding amount for the local approved plan is $750,000. Page 2 Contract: Youth Engagement Advocacy Housing for Community Education & Supports Project CONSENT CALENDAR March 29, 2011 RATIONALE FOR RECOMMENDATION This contract with YEAH is being awarded on a competitive basis following the issuance of a request for proposals. YEAH possesses unique organizational capacity to meet the needs of the target populations and the ability to effectively coordinate with the Mental Health Division and other community agencies and resources. Council approval for this contract is required because the sum total of all City contracts with YEAH exceeds the City Manager authorization threshold of $50,000. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS CONSIDERED No alternative actions were considered. CONTACT PERSON Dr. Karyn Tribble, Interim Mental Health Manager, 981-5213 Karen Klatt, MHSA Coordinator, 981-5222 Attachment: 1. Resolution Page 3 RESOLUTION NO. -N. S. CONTRACT: YOUTH ENGAGEMENT ADVOCACY HOUSING FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ACT PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND SUPPORTS SERVICES WHEREAS, the City’s Department of Health Services, Mental Health Division currently receives Mental Health Services Act Prevention and Early Intervention funds on an annual basis to provide services and supports to children, youth, transition age youth, adults and older adults; and WHEREAS, the Mental Health Division works cooperatively and in partnership with community-based agencies and school districts in the provision of such services and supports; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the City of Berkeley’s Mental Health Services Act State approved Prevention and Early Intervention Plan, funds are to be allocated to support the successful implementation of trauma supports for underserved populations; and WHEREAS, in April 2010, Bid Specification No. 10-10508-C was issued for proposals for support services targeting trauma exposed individuals and/or those in need of coping strategies for stress related issues for transition aged youth and Youth Engagement Advocacy Housing was determined to be the best responsible bidder; and WHEREAS, funds are available in the current year budget in the Mental Health Services Act Fund, Budget Codes: 063-4412-440.35 MH04 (Expenditure) and 063-4412-331 (Revenue), and the contract has been entered into the Citywide contracts database and assigned CMS No. LB4NU. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Berkeley that the City Manager is hereby authorized to execute a contract and any amendments with Youth Engagement Advocacy Housing to provide services and supports to transition aged youth (aged 18-25) who are suffering from the impact of trauma and/or other life stressors and are homeless, marginally housed, or housed but in need of supports for the period of November 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011 in an amount not to exceed $26,520. A record signature copy of said contract and any amendments to be on file in the Office of the City Clerk.