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Approve three First 5 Solano Children and Families Commission contracts and contract amendments totaling $2,541,500 effective July 1, 2024; Delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the contracts and amendments and any subsequent amendments, pending County Counsel concurrence, that remain within budget appropriations up to $74,999; Authorize the Executive Director of First 5 Solano, pending County Counsel concurrence, to execute any subsequent amendments which are administrative in nature and have no fiscal impact; and Delegate authority to the County Administrator to authorize grant submissions over $75,000 to secure funding to maintain or expand programs which further the Commission's strategic plan
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No __X_
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No __X_
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
First 5 Solano recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve three First 5 Solano Children and Families Commission contracts and contract amendment totaling $2,541,500 effective July 1, 2024;
2. Delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the contracts and amendments and any subsequent amendments, pending County Counsel concurrence, that remain within budget appropriations up to $74,999;
3. Authorize the Executive Director of First 5 Solano, pending County Counsel concurrence, to execute any subsequent amendment which are administrative in nature and have no fiscal impact; and
4. Delegate authority to the County Administrator to authorize grant submissions over $75,000 to secure funding to maintain or expand programs which further the Commission’s strategic plan.
SUMMARY:
The First 5 Solano Children and Families Commission recently updated its three foundational documents that guide its funding strategy and broader systems change activities. Those documents are the Commission’s Strategic Plan, Long-Term Financial Plan and Program Investment Plan. These guiding documents were used to determine the Commission’s allocations of funding for services in the community to support families with children ages 0-5. Two of the contracts/amendments included in this Board item are to support the Commission’s funding portfolio, including a contract amendment with Bay Area Community Resources to continue services at the Vallejo First 5 Center and a contract with Solano County Office of Education to provide systems support regarding the roll out of Universal Pre-Kindergarten.
In addition, this item brings forward one three-year contract with Touro University California under the Board of Supervisor’s Community Investment Fund to continue the SolanoConnex web app and support mental health trainings to increase access to behavioral health services throughout the community.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The contracts with Bay Area Community Resources and Solano County Office of Education are fully funded by First 5 Solano and included in the FY2024/25 Recommended Budget. The contract with Touro University is funded through the Board of Supervisors Community Investment Fund. The County General Fund related to this contract is included in the FY2024/25 Recommended Budget for next fiscal year and included in the Community Investment Fund plan for future years.
DISCUSSION:
The First 5 Solano Children and Families Commission is dedicated to catalyzing change that strategically advances innovative, prevention-focused approaches across systems that improve the lives of young children and their families. To achieve this mission, the Commission utilizes a strategic planning process to develop its priorities, goals, results expected, and program or initiative areas to be funded. The Commission also relies on its Long-Term Financial Plan and Program Investment Plan to allocate funds and establish services.
In January 2022, the First 5 Solano Children and Families Commission approved its 2022 Strategic Plan Update. In December 2022, the Commission approved a new Program Investment Plan (PIP) for a five-year funding cycle (2023-2028) allocating funding in priority areas: Health and Well-Being, Early Childhood Learning and Development, Family Support and Parent Education, and Systems Change.
Two contracts/amendments are being brought forward are to move into year two of funding of the Commission’s 2023 - 2028 funding cycle. These contracts and contract amendment are as follows:
Bay Area Community Resources:
A fifth contract amendment for an additional $641,500 is with Bay Area Community Resources to extend its services at the Vallejo First 5 Center for a total contract amount of $3,555,967. This contract was originally awarded through a competitive solicitation. The continuation of the family strengthening programs at the First 5 Center in Vallejo through Bay Area Community Resources continues to enable First 5 Solano to meet Commissions Strategic Plan goals of improving the lives of young children and families in Solano County by offering a safe, fun environment that families can play, build the parent/child bond, participate in parent/child classes, receive assistance of needed items such as food, diapers/wipes and engage at the First 5 Center in Vallejo.
Solano County Office of Education:
A contract for $100,000 with Solano County Office of Education (SCOE), for School Readiness Activities to provide systems support with the roll out of Universal Pre-Kindergarten. These activities will be used to develop a roadmap to help build and sustain childcare providers and centers through the changes anticipated with implementation of Universal Pre-Kindergarten.
In addition, one contract is funded through the Board of Supervisors Community Investment Fund per direction provided in November 2023 when the Board adopted its second round of funding utilizing the Community Investment Fund.
Touro University California:
A contract with Touro University California for $600,000 per year for three years totaling $1,800,000 to enhance access to mental health services for all residents of Solano County. This contract will provide expansion of SolanoConnex web app, expansion of SolanoConnex community navigators used to enhance training and fellowship programs by increasing the number of trainings in Mental Health First Aid and Be Sensitive, Be Brave. In addition, the contract contains an evaluation of program effectiveness by analyzing data to understand outcomes and experiences enabling Touro to respond to evolving mental health needs in the community.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose to address some or all of these contracts individually, request clarification or remand these contracts back to First 5 Solano for revision. This is not recommended because these contracts and contract amendment are necessary to implement the Commission’s Strategic Plan and continue the work of the Board of Supervisor’s Community Investment Fund and would result in the delay of services.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
These contracts have been approved by County Counsel.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION