Specifications include, but are not limited to: Specifically, the Offeror (Contractor) awarded the contract must achieve the following program objectives: a. increase parental knowledge and skills which contribute to improved self and family management, more effective family and community relationships, and a safe and healthy home environment; b. educate parents to understand the benefits of, and participate in, meaningful relationships with their children’s schools; c. educate parents about community resources and how to use those resources to foster and support a healthy family life (e.g., recreational and/or after-school programs, hobbies, special interests, and support groups); and d. identify and help families access and draw upon community assistance based on their individual needs and preferences (e.g., faith-based organizations, housing resource centers, and parent/child resource centers). In doing so, the Contractor must work within the following framework: a. services must be family-focused and address the individual needs of all members of the family and the family unit as a whole; b. services must build upon the strengths and abilities of families; c. services must foster the integrity of the family unit to the greatest extent possible without compromising the safety of its members; and d. services must reflect, respect, and respond to the cultural and linguistic strengths and needs of the family. A. The Contractor must offer family-focused, culturally-appropriate, home-based services coordination and family skills training concurrently or sequentially to families referred by the County. The Contractor will encourage participation in both services when appropriate. All aspects of the Contractor’s program must address child safety from a family-focused, strengths-based perspective and must provide services which are inclusive of all family members. Most families will include at least one parent as the primary caregiver, but other primary caregivers may be eligible for services, subject to consideration and approval by the County. B. The Contractor must provide services for up to six months per family; additional services require written justification from the Contractor and County approval prior to the provision of additional services. C. The services provided under the Contract resulting from this RFP must conform to professionally accepted social work practices and federal, State, and local laws, regulations, and policies, particularly Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) §07.02.07. D. The Contractor’s program of services must accommodate ethnically and culturally diverse populations, with emphasis on sensitivity to differences in parenting practices. The Contractor must make a reasonable effort to provide written and verbal interpretation, when necessary to provide services. E. The Contractor must offer a flexible schedule for service availability to families. This schedule must include the provision of services on evenings and weekends, unless an alternative schedule is approved by the County. F. The Contractor must form community partnerships and serve as a member of a multidisciplinary team with other County service providers. The Contractor must: 1. Utilize the public-private community-based system of medical, behavioral health, and social services (e.g., Linkages to Learning, DHHS Adult Addiction Services, DHHS Public Health, DHHS Income Supports, etc.) as determined by each family’s service plan, as described in Section II, paragraph D; and 2. Coordinate the provision of services to each family with the other agencies to whom the County or Contractor refers the family, and/or with other agencies providing services to the family, including medical or mental health service providers.