Specifications include, but are not limited to: It is the intent of these specifications, terms, and conditions to describe the Kinship Support Services Program for provision of community based family support services to both formal and informal kinship caregivers in Alameda County. Alameda County believes children and youth do better when they can safely live with kin, rather than strangers or in institutions. The purpose of kinship support services is to provide community-based family support services to both formal and informal kinship caregivers in Alameda County. The program creates public/private partnerships between the County and community-based providers. The successful Bidders will be able to provide services that support these goals: Assist Alameda County Social Services Agency (SSA) in its effort to decrease the number of children/youth entering or re-entering foster care by providing support services to kinship caregivers so that children/youth can remain safely in the kinship home, preventing the necessity for, or imminent risk of, entry into a foster home due to abuse or neglect. Improve outcomes related to child safety, child permanency, child well-being, adult well-being, access to services, referral to services, and satisfaction with programs and services for kinship families receiving services. Improve caregiver understanding of children and youth’s options for permanency, such as guardianship or adoption, and resources available to support permanency such as the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program (Kin-GAP) and the Adoption Assistance Program (AAP). Increase likelihood of relatives to assume and maintain responsibility and care of children/youth from their extended families. Increase placement stability of children/youth with relative caregivers, as measured by length of time in out-of-home care; number of moves during a placement episode; and any changes of placement to a more restrictive setting. Build a sustainable network of care for kinship families through outreach, education, and collaboration. Increase educational outcomes for children/youth in relative care. Increase awareness of the Kinship Support Services Program through presentations and networking with community leaders/organizations. The Kinship Support Services Program (KSSP) works with kinship caregivers who reside in Alameda County and care for their family members. Kinship caregivers may be a grandparent or other relative as well as tribal kin, extended family and friends or other “fictive kin” who are caring for children. Nonrelative extended family members (NREFMs) are often referred to as “Fictive Kin,” adults who have established a significant and family-like relationship with a child, but who are otherwise unrelated to the child by blood, adoption, or marriage. This will be verified through the references provided. Kinship care relationships may be formal or informal. KSSP sites provide an array of services to families who are not engaged in the Juvenile Dependency Court process (non-dependent or “informal” families) and with families who are engaged with the Court (dependent or “formal” families). For non-dependent families, case management as well as supportive services are offered, including caregiver support groups; respite care; child/youth activities; information and referrals to other social, behavioral, or health services; advocacy; assistance with navigating government and other types of assistance, financial or otherwise; homework clubs; training or education; and other activities and events throughout the year. For dependent families, all aforementioned activities, with the exception of case management, are offered. These families already have case management services through the Department of Children and Family Services. Any child welfare worker can refer a kinship caregiver family to a KSSP site for support services. Additionally, the Kinship Unit, which is a part of the Permanent Youth Connections section within the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) has regular meetings with the KSSP sites and, when possible, works to create a warm handoff for kinship caregivers, so that when the family leaves the Juvenile Court and child welfare system, the family has a familiar resource available. Generations United is a nonprofit organization that strengthens practices and policies to benefit all generations. Their mission is to improve the lives of children, youth, and older people through intergenerational collaboration, public policies, and programs for the enduring benefit of all. According to Generations United, for every child in kinship foster care, about 20 children live with kin outside the foster care system, nationally. Census data profiles estimate that of the 44,432 households in Alameda County in which grandparents reside with their grandchildren under 18 years of age, an estimated 10,399, or 23.4%, of those grandparents have primary responsibility for their minor grandchildren. An estimated 10.3%, or 4,569 of these grandparents have held primary responsibility for 5 or more years. Potential KSSP service recipients include current Kin-GAP recipients residing within the boundaries of Alameda County, current Non-Needy Relative CalWORKS recipients, and children/youth currently living with Non-Related Extended Family Members. This RFP calls for up to two contractors, one for each of the following geographic service areas of Alameda County: Northern Alameda County: (Albany, Berkeley, Oakland, Emeryville, and Alameda). Central, Southern, and Eastern Alameda County: (San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Hayward, Fairview, Castro Valley, Ashland, Cherryland, Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, Fremont, Newark, and Union City).
