Authorize the Yolo County Procurement Manager to execute an amendment with Children’s Home Society for Foster Care Emergency Child Care Bridge Program services to extend the agreement through June 30, 2022; and increase the contract maximum by $532,840, for a new contract maximum of $1,676,405. (No general fund impact) (Larsen)

The Yolo County Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children (Bridge Program) provides resource and referral (R&R) services, trauma-informed training for childcare providers, and a voucher payment system for childcare services for Resource Families/Foster Parents.

The Bridge Program is a temporary childcare voucher program where services may be provided for up to six (6) months. If necessary, the County may extend services for up to 12 months. The purpose of the Bridge Program is to provide Resource Families/Foster Parents with immediate access to childcare. A primary goal of temporary childcare assistance is to concurrently enroll families in a permanent long-term childcare program so that there is a smooth transition to permanent childcare with no break in services.

The Bridge Program gives priority to the following target populations: severely disabled children ages 0–21 not receiving foster care payments but expected to complete the Resource Family Approval (RFA) process within 60 days; children with exceptional needs ages 0–21 not receiving foster care payments but expected to complete the RFA process within 60 days; children ages 0–5 years in need of emergency foster care placement; and children ages 0–5 years with current caregivers in need of child care that promotes placement stability.

The Bridge Program also provides a Child Care Navigator in Yolo County and provides a voucher payment program for emergency childcare in an effort to increase placement and stability for children that enter the County of Yolo Child Welfare System (CWS.)  In addition, the Bridge Program provides childcare providers with trauma-informed care training in order to give childcare providers support and education when caregiving for a child that has incurred trauma.

Subsidized childcare in Yolo County is scarce and typically has long waiting lists for those eligible for the programs. In addition, CWS encounters barriers to finding immediate placement for children because many Resource Families/Foster Parents are employed and have a need for childcare for children placed with them. In many instances, childcare may be the only reason why a child is not placed immediately.
 
Approval of this item will allow expediting the process of a fully executed amendment in order for our fiscal team to make year-end payments to Children’s Home Society. This is item will also allow Children’s Home Society to continue to provide these vital services through fiscal year 2021-22.

No general funds are required by this action.  These services will be funded by Emergency Child Care Bridge Funding allocation received from the California Department of Social Services.  The amount of $110,047 is included in the HHSA adopted budget for FY2020-21.  The related funding will be included in the requested budget process for future fiscal years.

The following is the breakdown of funding for this agreement.