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Approve a second contract amendment with Seneca Family of Agencies for $236,173 for a total contract amount of $5,834,969 to provide wraparound services for the Solano County Family Urgent Response System for the current period through June 30, 2027; and Delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the amendment and any subsequent amendments, with County Counsel concurrence, up to an aggregate of $74,999
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Published Notice Required? Yes _____ No __X__
Public Hearing Required? Yes _____ No __X__
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Health and Social Services (H&SS) recommends that the Board of Supervisors approve a second contract amendment with Seneca Family of Agencies for $236,173 for a total contract amount of $5,834,969 to provide wraparound services for the Solano County Family Urgent Response System for the current period through June 30, 2027 and delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the amendment and any subsequent amendments, with County Counsel concurrence, up to an aggregate of $74,999.
SUMMARY:
The Family Urgent Response System (FURS) provides foster youth and their caregivers with the immediate support they need during times of emotional crisis by linking them to supports and services.
Solano County Child Welfare Services (CWS) contracts with Seneca Family of Agencies for a variety of wraparound services to current and former foster youth and their caregivers, including immediate, trauma-informed support when needed. Approval of this contract amendment will support FURS's continued operations.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The increase in the contract amount is funded by an allocation from the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) for the FURS program for FY2025/26. There is no impact on the County General Fund. The $236,173 cost is included in the Department’s FY2025/26 Working Budget.
DISCUSSION:
Enacted in 2019, California Senate Bill 80 requires the development of a Family Urgent Response System (FURS). FURS is a coordinated statewide, regional, and county-level system designed to provide collaborative and timely state-level phone-based responses and county-level in-home, in-person mobile responses during situations of instability, thereby preserving the relationship between caregivers and children or youth. This legislation requires counties’ child welfare and behavioral health agencies to establish mobile response teams to provide face-to-face, in-home responses on a 24/7 basis. These teams aim to help defuse and stabilize situations, assess the needs of caregivers and children, and develop a plan of action. Hotline and mobile response staff are required to have been trained in working with children and families who have experienced trauma.
FURS serves current and former foster youth and their caregivers, aiming to prevent placement moves, preserve the relationship between youth and their caregivers, reduce hospitalizations and law enforcement contacts, promote healing as a family, improve retention of current foster caregivers, and foster stability for youth in foster care.
The Board approved the original three-year contract with Seneca Family of Agencies for $5,148,000 on June 25, 2024. On January 14, 2025, the first amendment for $450,796 to add FURS services was approved for FY2024/25. This second amendment increases the contract by $236,173 for FURS services for FY2025/26, bringing the total contract amount to $5,834,969.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose not to approve the contract amendment with Seneca Family of Agencies; however, this is not recommended, as these funds are used to implement the State-mandated FURS program.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION