RFP 24-04-SP - Student Mental Health Support Services

The Santa Rosa Counry School Board, in Milton, Florida, solicits your company to sumit a proposal on "RFP 24-04-SP Student Mental Health Support Services" as listed in this proposal request.  

Scope of work

Mental Health Counseling Services 

1.  Direct Mental Health Counseling Services will be offered during the school year. 
   1. Up-to Thirty-eight (38) Mental Health Counselor positions, up-to one hundred and ninety (190) school days, at seven and one-half (7.5) hours per day 
   2. Up-to five (5) licensed (LMHC and/or LCSW) to fill the Trauma Informed Counselor positions up to one hundred and ninety (190) school days at eight (8) hours per day
   3. Direct Services refers to the provision of mental health support and interventions to students in the school setting.  These services aim to address the emotional, social, and mental health needs of students while in the educational setting to include, but are not limited to, group and individual counseling, crisis response and intervention and referrals to other agencies when necessary.  It also includes any training or professional development offered by the Contract Manager but to exclude training or professional development required or offered by the Provider.

1. Facilitate and complete Drug Diversionary Program for students who violate the drug policy in the Code of Student Conduct and choose program as an alternative discipline consequence. 
2. The Mental Health Counselor shall receive referrals from School Counselors and/or Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS Teams) and/or Deans of Students and/or School Administration and/or students self-referred and/or parent(s). 
3. Upon receiving a referral, the Mental Health Counselor will: 
   1. Assess referral reasons and conduct assessments to develop written plans within fifteen (15) school days of referral. 
   2. Initiate Services to provide prevention and/or mental health counseling to students individually and/or in groups in accordance with clinical practice standards within thirty (30) school days of referral. 
   3. Monitor service delivery and case status. 
   4. Maintain written case file documentation sufficient to satisfy Florida Statutory requirements and Federal program requirements not to exceed one (1) hour daily away from providing direct services to students. 
   5. Participate in/provide consultation to school-based MTSS Teams and threat management teams as needed. 
   6. Access student data from the school district’s data system. 
   7. Provide feedback on case status to referring parties/MTSS Teams. 
4. Provider shall secure written permission from the parent/guardian of students in grades K-8 prior to formal service delivery. 
5. As indicated in Florida House Bill 1557, the provider shall notify a student’s parent if there is a change in the student’s services or monitoring related to the student’s mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being and the school’s ability to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for the student. 
6. The provider will assume responsibility for administrative and clinical supervision of the Mental Health Counselor. 
7. The provider shall be responsible for reimbursing local travel expenses to the Mental Health Counselors. 
8. Occasional consultation provided to teachers regarding effective practices and service delivery models. 
9. Collaboration at least once a quarter with Trauma Informed Counselors and the district’s Coordinator of Mental Health Services. 
10. The provider shall supply a research-based prevention or counseling curriculum to be utilized in group counseling sessions. 
11. The provider shall ensure that each Mental Health Counselor make initial contact with their assigned schools’ Principal (or Principal’s designee) and establish a protocol whereby provider staff: 
    1. Sign-in upon arrival on campus each day. 
    2. Sign-out upon leaving campus each day. 
    3. Identify a school-based “primary contact person”. 
12. The provider shall ensure that the assigned schools’ primary contact person (or designee) is notified when illness or other reasons prevent the Mental Health Counselors from reporting to work. 
13. The provider shall meet monthly (or less often at the discretion of the Contract Manager or designee) with the Contract Manager (or designee) to monitor and coordinate service delivery and to provide the Contract Manager data on direct services provided to students within said time. 
14. The provider shall ensure that a student’s case record is maintained in such a manner as to document dates and types of contact with student/families/schools/other agencies, case notes are legible and generally describe actions taken and/or conferences held.
15. In the event that a Mental Health Counselor’s position becomes vacant (employee turnover), the monthly contract reimbursement payable to the provider shall be reduced by an amount derived by the following calculation: total contract amount per the particular vacant position divided by 190, multiplied by the number of days the position was vacant.  “Number of days the position was vacant": is defined as the number of days the school district is without direct service.  In the event the vacancy is filled with an intern or counselor without a Master’s Degree, billing will be adjusted accordingly.
16. Complete Youth Mental Health First Aid Training 
17. Complete the Florida Model threat management training as requested by school principal to participate in School Based Threat Management Team. 
18. Schedule of Work: 
    1. The Mental Health Counselors will work Instructional employee hours per week, Monday through Friday, and will follow the school district calendar for Instructional employees.  Direct service delivery shall commence upon the third day of Pre-Planning and terminate upon the last day of Post-Planning.  The Contract Manager shall approve any exceptions to the service commencement date. 

1. The provider shall provide up to five (5) full-time, Licensed Professional Counselors as defined in F.S Chapter 491 as, “a clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, or mental health counselor authorized to provide services under s. 491.017” to serve at Trauma Informed Counselors in our schools.
2. Trauma Informed Counselors (TIC) will be assigned to multiple school sites and will be stationed at one of the assigned school sites. The assignments may change based on need as determined by the Contract Manager. 
3. The provider shall ensure that each TIC make initial contact with their assigned schools’ Principal (or Principal’s designee) and establish a protocol whereby provider staff: 
   1. Sign-in upon arrival on campus each day. 
   2. Sign-out upon leaving campus each day. 
   3. Identify a school-based “primary contact person”. 
4. The provider shall ensure that the Contract Manager (or designee) is notified when illness or other reasons prevent the Trauma Informed Counselor from reporting to work.  
5. The provider will assume responsibility for administrative and clinical supervision of the Trauma Informed Counselor. 
6. TIC Counselors will respond to calls/texts from assigned schools requesting guidance/assistance with students in crisis and will consult with and provide guidance and support to school personnel as needed. 
7. TIC Counselors will conduct suicide risk assessments using the approved instrument to determine if an involuntary examination is needed, and if deemed appropriate, TIC counselor will: 
   1. Arrange transport with SRO/EMS  
   2. Complete required documentation and input in Student Information System (FOCUS) 
   3. Notify parent(s) 
   4. Stay on site with student until transport has taken student to receiving facility 
8. TIC Counselors will complete requirements to become a certified trainer in Youth Mental Health First Aid and will provide training to SRCDS employees as needed. 
9. TIC Counselors will attend monthly threat management meetings at assigned schools. 
10. TIC Counselors will complete the Florida Model threat management training and will conduct mental health questionnaires within the model as deemed necessary by the SBTMT (School Based Threat Management Team) and will serve on their assigned schools’ team as requested. 
11. The provider shall be responsible for reimbursing local travel expenses to the Trauma Informed Counselors. 
12. In the event of a student/staff death or other event requiring school-wide mental health support (i.e., school violence, natural disasters, reunification after traumatic event) TIC counselors will provide on-site crisis counseling as needed. 
13. Collaboration at least once a quarter with school mental health counselors and the district’s Coordinator of Mental Health Services. 
14. Assist with providing professional development/training to employees requiring support with suicide risk assessment administration or other topics related to crisis response.
15. Schedule of Work: 
    1. The Trauma Informed Counselors will work eight (8) hours per day, Monday through Friday, and will follow the school district calendar for Instructional employees.  Direct service delivery shall commence upon the third day of Pre-Planning and terminate upon the last day of Post-Planning.  The Contract Manager shall approve any exceptions to the service commencement date.