Broward County Commission Regular Meeting

MOTION TO ADOPT Resolution No. 2017-546 of the Board of County Commissioners of Broward County, Florida, authorizing an appropriation and disbursement for Covenant House Florida, Inc. for Fiscal Year 2018 in the amount of $857,789; providing behavioral health respite care services to eligible Broward County residents; authorizing the County Administrator to execute the standard form agreement with the approved organization and amendments thereto and to take any necessary budgetary or administrative action to implement the agreement and any required amendments; and providing for severability and an effective date.

ACTION:  (T-10:35 AM)  Approved.
 
VOTE: 9-0.  Commissioner Geller voted in the affirmative telephonically.

In accordance with the Broward County Administrative Code Section 23.7, appropriation and disbursement of funds with external agencies and resolutions authorizing the County Administrator to execute the appropriate agreement and amendments are subject to approval by the Board of County Commissioners.

Adoption of this Resolution authorizes funding for Covenant House Florida, Inc. to assist the Human Services Department in providing temporary relief for families with youth involved in the juvenile justice system, tailoring services to youth that have had domestic violence incidents or to youth who may have mental health or behavioral challenges. 

None.

THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.

This recommendation supports the Commission Value of “Approaching human services collaboratively and compassionately, with special emphasis on the most vulnerable,” and the Goal to “Collaborate with public and private partners to find creative, equitable, and responsible solutions to systemic community problems, especially permanent supportive housing for persons experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness,” by providing services that focus on the behavioral health of youth.

On July 26, 2017 and July 28, 2017, the Community Partnerships Division held Focus Group meetings with community representatives and providers of youth Respite Services to identify community needs and ensure capacity to provide this new service. A fair, open and competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued on August 14, 2017 and closed on September 27, 2017. One agency, Covenant House Florida, Inc. (Covenant) applied. The RFP review and rating process included County staff, community experts and representatives of not-for-profit organizations and government entities. Covenant is recommended for Fiscal Year 2018 funding based on the RFP results (Exhibit 1, Attachment A). The Letter of Support from the Children's Services Advisory Board is attached as Exhibit 2.

The initial term of the agreement is January 1, 2018 to September 30, 2018, with two option periods to renew from October 1 to September 30. Funding of the initial term will be prorated based on services delivered, with full annual funding available for subsequent exercised option periods and based on agreement performance. The agreement will include outcomes that offer measurable benefits to the Broward County residents served. Site monitoring visits will occur at minimum on an annual basis, however service performance will be monitored and evaluated four times during each year. Covenant achieved all eight outcome indicators for Fiscal Year 2016 within the current two general fund contracted programs for other behavioral health services. Covenant was previously reviewed for compliance with applicable federal, state and County regulations.

The standard form agreement approved by the Office of the County Attorney, Risk Management, and the Board (August 22, 2017, Item No. 12) will be used. Amendments will be reviewed and approved by the Office of the County Attorney, prior to execution by the County Administrator.

Mandy Wells, Director, Community Partnerships Division, (954) 357-6398
Dr. Philip Harris, Children's Services Section Administrator, (954) 357-7249