Specifications include, but are not limited to: 1. Program Principles. Services funded through the Department of County Human Services (DCHS) are: a. Based in the community; b. Focused upon support for families, children, and young people; c. Customer-driven, based upon the strengths of program participants; d. Intended to build the self-sufficiency and resiliency of program participants; e. Integrated into the larger systems of social services; and f. Provided in a manner that is culturally appropriate and relevant. Contractor shall provide the services identified in this Contract in a manner that is consistent with these principles. 2. Confidentiality. Contractor shall keep all client records confidential in accordance with State and federal statutes and rules governing confidentiality. 3. Culturally Responsive Services. The Multnomah County Culturally Specific Workgroup has adopted the definition for Culturally Responsive Services as defined in Protocol for Culturally Responsive Organizations: “Culturally responsive services are those that are respectful of, and relevant to, the beliefs, practices, culture and linguistic needs of diverse consumer/client populations and communities whose members identify as having particular cultural or linguistic affiliations by virtue of their place of birth, ancestry or ethnic origin, religion, preferred language or language spoken at home. Cultural responsiveness describes the capacity to respond to the issues of diverse communities. It thus requires knowledge and capacity at different levels of intervention: systemic, organizational, professional and individual.” By partnering with Multnomah County, CONTRACTOR commits to the continuous improvement process necessary to move all entities in the Youth and Family Services (YFS) closer to our shared ideal of culturally responsive services. This commitment includes the expectation that all CONTRACTORS will 1) complete and submit a racial equity organizational self-assessment within the first year of the contract period, 2) create and submit a racial equity action plan for County review; 3) demonstrate progress on their racial equity action plan; and 4) engage in continuous learning as determined by the County.
