Subject:
Title
First Option of Renewal and Second Amendment with Westcare Gulfcoast - Florida, Inc. for the Cooperative Agreement to Benefit Homeless Individuals.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the Renewal and Second Amendment (Renewal) with Westcare Gulfcoast - Florida, Inc. (Westcare), for the Cooperative Agreement to Benefit Homeless Individuals (CABHI).
• This Renewal will continue funding of CABHI. The CABHI program provides supplemental field-based co-occurring behavioral health treatment to housed residents that have experienced being unhoused and have a behavioral health diagnosis. CABHI staff bring services to the client to reduce barriers in maintaining behavioral health care. The Renewal also updates the term of agreement and termination contract items.
• Annual funding in an amount not to exceed $735,310.00 is included in the FY24 Human Services Adopted Budget. This allocates $220,657.50 to Westcare. The FY24 contract amount is effective October 1, 2023 - September 30, 2025.
• This is a two-year renewal, effective October 1, 2023. The current agreement has been in effect since October 1, 2020, and expired on September 30, 2023.
• Original agreement was approved on September 22, 2020, file #20-1223A. First Amendment was approved on February 20, 2023. Agreements with other CABHI partners were approved by the Board on November 14, 2023, file #23-1489A.
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Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety and Welfare
2.1 Provide planning, coordination, prevention, and protective services to ensure a safe and secure community
2.2 Be a facilitator, convener and purchaser of services for those in need
2.4 Support programs that seek to prevent and remedy the causes of homelessness and move individuals and families from homelessness to permanent housing
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.1 Maximize partner relationships and public outreach
5.2 Be responsible stewards of the public’s resources
Summary:
This Renewal continues funding to Westcare to support the CABHI program. Westcare will continue providing collaborative co-occurring behavioral health treatment services to recently housed individuals and families at risk of becoming unhoused. CABHI provides counseling, case management, and substance use peer support to clients.
Since inception, the CABHI program has enrolled 390 individuals with a serious mental illness and/or cooccurring substance use disorder. CABHI partner collaboration has been key in CABHI’s success, the team holds weekly meetings to staff new clients and problem-solve encountered barriers.
Background/Explanation:
In August of 2016, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded the County a three-year grant to implement the CABHI program. In FY20, the Board approved a recurring decision package to maintain the program and continue providing supportive services to help with stability for newly housed individuals.
Westcare works in collaboration with Operation PAR, Inc. and Directions for Living to provide mental health and substance use treatment to individuals and families that are at risk of homelessness, have been recently housed, and have a serious mental illness, emotional disturbance, substance use, and/or co-occurring diagnosis. CABHI staff utilize engagement strategies to build relationships with clients and provide collaborative services to help clients maintain housing.
Fiscal Impact:
Annual funding in an amount not to exceed $735,310.00 has been identified in FY24 Human Services Adopted Budget for this Renewal. This item allocates $220,657.50 total to Westcare.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign this Renewal is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Karen Yatchum, Director, Human Services
Partners:
Westcare Gulfcoast-Florida, Inc
Operation PAR, Inc.
Directions for Living
Attachments:
Renewal