Please note: This is a Sole Source Notification.. The Agency hereby provides notice that it entered into an emergency contract per S.C. Code Ann. §11-35-1570 with Vendor for the following supplies, services, information technology, or construction: SCDSS was tasked at the Michelle H settlement court hearing in October 2024 to meet specific requirements as it relates to Richland County youth in foster care, to ensure that they do not have overnight stays in the SCDSS office, and to reduce the utilization of “night to night” emergency placements for these youth, and remains under an ongoing order to prevent overnight office stays for all youth in foster care. Family Choice Center is contracted with SCDSS as an Enhanced level group care provider for girls. At times, they provide care for youth whose established level of care and corresponding needs exceed the expectations of an Enhanced Group Care provider (i.e., the youth is approved for Psychiatric Residential Treatment Services or has other needs that result in high acuity behaviors). These youth often require 24/7 individualized supervision to remain stable and safe in placement. This provider does not wish to accept services from outside contracted providers to provide the additional supervision and is able provide internal supplemental staffing. In compliance with court ordered requirements, SCDSS is establishing an Emergency Contract with Family Choice Center group home to establish funding for this group care provider for the provision of supplemental, individualized program staffing for youth with high acuity needs who are at risk of being overnight in the SCDSS office, or at risk for being in night- to-night emergency placements. These services are intended to be utilized as time limited, crisis-stabilization to aid a youth in stabilizing or acclimating to placement with the provider and are not a long-term service or replacement for other treatment interventions that could benefit the youth.
