Youth with high acuity needs enter out-of-home care settings at higher rates than their peers, experience multiple placements within an out-of-home placement episode, are more likely to remain in out-of-home placement longer, and experience life-long traumatic impact that contributes to negative life outcomes. The Intercept® program, developed by Youth Villages, has demonstrated success in supporting youth with high acuity needs. The program outcomes show that youth enrolled in the program are more likely to remain in-home, reunify faster if placed in group care settings, and are less likely to re-enter out of home care. As a result, Intercept® is rated as “Well Supported” on the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse. In utilizing the evidence-based Intercept® program, DMCPS is seeking to: If an out-of-home placement is needed, increase the number of youth placed with relative caregivers, rather than group care settings; using Intercept® to provide supports needed to maintain a lower-level placement long-term, if needed For the youth who enter out-of-home care, reduce their placement episode length Reduce the number of youth who are placed in group care settings Reduce the length of time youth are placed in group care settings Prevent youth from re-entering out-of-home care Increase positive outcomes for youth, post-service intervention and case closure Reduce out-of-home care costs by increasing the use of less expensive preventive services The following are agency characteristics desired to implement the Intercept® program: Organizational service philosophy aligned with providing intensive, home-based services to families with a caregiver-centered approach Intercept® model fits with organizational priorities and strategic direction of the organization, including leadership investment and support of new program implementation Proven tenacity engaging families and youth with complex needs (high acuity needs) in services and serving them successfully through a collaborative strength-based approach Proven ability to manage ongoing referrals, collaborate with community referral partners, and meet a targeted number of youth who are served annually (past performance with contracts) Willingness to implement model and its elements, adhere to the fidelity of the Intercept® model, engage in continuous quality program improvement to improve youth-level outcomes and culture of a learning organization Desire to collaborate with model developer— engaging in ongoing meetings and trainings, and implementing feedback to achieve and maintain model fidelity The Proposer awarded a contract through this RFP will: Partner with Youth Villages and DMCPS to become certified for Intercept® Maintain Intercept® certification and continued partnership with Youth Villages for the duration of the contract Establish an office location as headquarters for Intercept in Milwaukee County accessible to families involved in the program, if needed Recruit, hire, train, and retain staff for program services Establish referral relationships with the DMCPS contracted child welfare agencies From referrals received from the contracted child welfare agencies, enroll youth and families, and administer Intercept services to fidelity in the service area Collect, analyze, and report program demographic and outcome data Provide documentation of services provided including client names, number of service hours, and any other costs associated with direct service delivery to youth and families served by the program to Youth Villages, monthly Intercept® programs will be supported by DCF and DMCPS in the following ways: Provide short-term startup funding to become certified by Youth Villages to provide Intercept Services to children, youth, and families served by DMCPS. Support agencies in creating referral relationships with the contracted child welfare agencies in Milwaukee County Establish a system of data collection to demonstrate the success of the service to support program growth with a future hope to expand the provision of Intercept services
