TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Jennifer Yasumoto, Director of Health and Human Services Agency
REPORT BY: Jennifer Ivancie, Staff Services Analyst I
SUBJECT: Agreement No. 250184B with Expressions of Hope
RECOMMENDATION
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Approve and authorize Agreement No. 250184B with Expressions of Hope for a contract maximum of $398,796 upon approval through June 30, 2025, and each subsequent renewal, for the administration of the Family Urgent Response System. (Fiscal Impact: $398,796 Expense; Health and Human Services Agency Fund; Budgeted; Discretionary).
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BACKGROUND
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) implemented a free statewide hotline (Cal-FURS), as well as required local mobile response teams to provide immediate, trauma-informed support to current and former foster youth and their caregivers, known as Family Urgent Response System (FURS). FURS builds upon the Continuum of Care (CoC) Reform and the State's recent System of Care development. Cal-FURS is staffed by professionals and paraprofessionals, including mental health clinicians and youth and parent peer partners.
For FURS-eligible callers, hotline staff will make a referral to a local county-based mobile response system for an in-person response, when needed and desired, through a warm handoff. These multidisciplinary teams may be composed of trained professionals and peer partners, all of whom will have received specialized training in trauma and the foster care system and are available to provide face-to-face support during critical moments.
Approval of this agreement will allow Expressions of Hope to fully operate FURS in Napa County. They will be available to respond to FURS calls, as appropriate and directed by the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Child Welfare Services (CWS) Division. Trained Expressions of Hope staff will be available to have direct conversations with Resource parents and current/former foster youth and provide onsite support to deescalate any unsafe...
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