Specifications include, but are not limited to:The Monroe County Office for the Aging (MCOFA) is seeking an entity to provide efficient and cost-effective support services for the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren/Kinship Care Program. The services will be provided to Monroe County residents, 55 years of age or older, with special emphasis on low-income, frail, and minority individuals, who are caring for or raising grandchildren or other relatives under the age of 18. The selected Respondent will provide support groups and educational training sessions, designed to support eligible caregivers and help sustain their efforts to provide care for grandchildren, a minimum of once per week. Support groups and sessions will focus on the following: enhancing effective parenting skills, understanding child development, dealing with grandchildren with developmental delays/disabilities, legal issues, advocacy, understanding the role of kinship care versus foster care, anger and stress management, adult and youth health and nutrition education. Services also include counseling to help in making decisions and solving problems related to their caregiving roles. Currently, there are approximately 50 unduplicated informal family caregivers who are being provided these services. In addition, there are a total of 50 professionals who provide information and assistance for this program. The selected Respondent must establish a mentoring program in which a minimum of six (6) grandparents, who have been in the program for at least six (6) months, are trained to mentor new participants in the program. When needed, the Program Coordinator and trained volunteer mentors will make home visits to grandparents needing such assistance. Respondents must be willing to provide outreach services, as well as information and assistance services. Outreach services include identifying potential clients and encouraging their use of existing services and benefits through face-to-face or telephone contact. Information and assistance services are those that provide individuals with information on services and opportunities available through the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) and within their communities; link individuals to those services; and, to the maximum extent practicable, provide adequate follow-up procedures. The current total number of units of service provided, defined by the New York State Office for the Aging as one contact, is approximately 1500. Internet web “hits” are to be counted only if information is requested and supplied. MCOFA’s intent through this RFP is for these numbers to be met or exceeded.
