SSN-RC-2016-075 - Proposed Sole Source Contract Volunteer Counseling Services, Inc.

The County of Rockland is considering the issuance of a Sole Source award to Volunteer Counseling Services,  Inc. for the provision of a Relatives as Parent Program (RAPP) to provide services to relative caregivers raising children in Rockland County whose parents are unwilling or unable to care for them.
 
Funding amount is contingent on the adoption of the County of Rockland 2017 Annual Budget.  As such, the final funding amount may differ from the estimated amount provided in this notice.
 
This award may be made on a sole source basis in accordance with the Rockland County Procurement Policy.
 
Program/Services
 

• Provide appropriate case management services to Rockland youth who reside with a relative caregiver to assist them to adapt successfully in their peer, family, and school relationships.

• Provide appropriate case management services to Rockland relative caregivers who are raising children whose parents are unwilling or unable to care for them.     

• Case management services include but are not limited to comprehensive risk assessment and development of a plan of action/services to address identified issues and make referrals to other appropriate services.

• Youth in the program may present difficulties in one or more of the following risk factors:

1. Safety of home environment
2. Peer Relationships (when age appropriate)
3. School attachment disorder (when age appropriate)
4. Undefined or contested legal status of child
5. Child mental health issues

• Provide school advocacy to assist relative caregivers in navigating  school bureaucracy and obtaining necessary testing and special services for youth in their care.

• Provide Information and Referral about resources available to the relative caregivers who need services for themselves and/or the youth in their care.

• Hold at least one (1) Relatives As Parents Support Group per month facilitated by the Program Coordinator.  The Student Advocate and the Director of the Older Adults and Their Families program will attend the meetings periodically as needed.

• Provide home visits for those families who present as at-risk or at least as needy in regard to the well-being of the child(ren) and the caregiver relative(s) in order to evaluate the family situation.  A checklist will be used to  assess the physical conditions of the home, the caregiver’s ability to parent, and in the case when the children are present, the caregiver-child interaction.  Based on the results of the home visits, referrals may be made for additional services for the family.

• RAPP staff will receive Mandated Reporter training from DSS staff.

• Outreach will include but is not limited to regular attendance at all of the County Collaborative meetings (Haverstraw, Spring Valley, Nyack, and Western Ramapo), meeting with all school Family Resource Centers, and to school guidance counselors to discuss the RAPP program and distribute informational brochures.  In addition, the Program Coordinator will contact the existing RAPP families via-phone and mailings on a monthly basis to inform them of the existing support group and available services.  

• Written materials about the RAPP program must be pre-approved by the Department of Social Services prior to reproduction and distribution.

• An Outreach Plan must be submitted to the Department of Social Services for approval within fifteen (15) days of execution of contract for RAPP program.

• Provider will refer clients, as appropriate, to the New York State's MyBenefits website, to inform them about various assistance programs and supportive services.

• Demonstrated successful experience in providing the above services to eligible individuals and families by records indicating Performance Target Outcomes have been met.

• Provider must include a written attestation that it will be delivering one or more of the following services to all of its clients, as applicable, under the resulting contract:

• Child Preventive Services (referral, monitoring supportive and rehabilitative services provided to children under the age of 18 and their families to avert disruption of family unit)
• Child Welfare Services (services to protect and promote the welfare and safety of all children, including individuals with disabilities; homeless, dependent or neglected children)
• Family Preservation Services (services for children and families designed to prevent harm to children and help families at risk or in crisis)
• Family Support Services (community-based services to promote the well-being of children and families designed to increase the strength and stability of families and enhance child development)