SSN-RC-2019-012A - Sole Source Award to provide Family Services Liaison Services - $42,734

The County of Rockland Department of Social Services is considering the issuance of a Sole Source award to Bikur Cholim, Inc. for the provision of Family Services Liaison Services to residents of Rockland County.
 
This award may be made on a sole source basis in accordance with the Rockland County Procurement Policy.
 
This sole source award is being reissued to replace Sole Source Notice #SSN-RC-2019-012.  SSN-RC-2019-012 was awarded but contract never issued.
 
Program/Services –
 

1. Case Management Services:

• Family Liaison Services in collaboration with Rockland County Department of Social Services (RCDSS) Child Welfare Casework staff will work with families residing in Rockland that have language and cultural barriers

• Family Liaison Services to be provided by an individual with the following qualifications:

• • • Bachelor’s Degree that included or was supplemented with at least 18 credits in social work, psychology, or comparable curriculum; or

• • • Bachelor’s Degree and one (1) year of social casework experience with an agency adhering to acceptable standards, and/or counseling experience; or

• • • Master’s Degree in social work.
    • Demonstrated knowledge, understanding, experience and access working with families in communities that face cultural and language barriers

• • • Sensitivity to cultural needs of communities in Monsey and Soring Valley

• • • Be familiar with and have access to clinical professionals working in communities that face cultural and language barriers

• • • Be familiar with and understand Department of Social Services Child Welfare regulations.

• Collaborate with RCDSS Child Welfare services to facilitate ongoing intervention with at-risk families in communities that face cultural and language barriers

• Collaborate to build more open, trusting relationships between communities that face cultural and language barriers and RCDSS Child Welfare Services

• Convey information and communication between RCDSS Child Welfare services and families in need of intervention.

• Conduct specific outreach to families and provide education in communities that face cultural and language barriers by partnering with RCDSS Child Welfare services to disseminate information regarding RCDSS services including but not limited to family safety planning, individual and family counseling, case management, advocacy, etc.

• Collaborate with RCDSS Protective Services for casework staff to provide case management, advocacy, referrals, etc.

• Conduct at least one (1) meeting quarterly* (total of 4) with RCDSS Child Welfare staff to discuss the status of the Family Services liaison, including areas of strength and areas needing improvement; develop an understanding of working with families that face cultural and language barriers; discuss information about services provided by RCDSS services, eligibility programs, and system mandates and protocols
• Conduct joint family meetings with RCDSS Child Welfare Services staff twice per month* [at least 24/year]; at least one of these meetings will be in the home.

• Demonstrated Successful Experience providing the above services to eligible families in Rockland County communities that face cultural and language barriers by records indicating Performance Target Outcomes have been met

• Provider will refer clients, as appropriate, to the New York State's MyBenefits website, to inform them about various assistance programs and supportive services.

• Provider must include a written attestation that it will be delivering one or more of the following services to all of its clients, as applicable, under the resulting contract:

• Child Preventive Services (referral, monitoring supportive and rehabilitative services provided to children under the age of 18 and their families to avert disruption of family unit)
   
• Child Welfare Services (services to protect and promote the welfare and safety of all children, including individuals with disabilities; homeless, dependent or neglected children)
   
• Family Preservation Services (services for children and families designed to prevent harm to children and help families at risk or in crisis)
   
• Family Support Services (community-based services to promote the well-being of children and families designed to increase the strength and stability of families and enhance child development)
   

• Create written operating guidelines on the Family and Child Support Services program and collaboration with RCDSS to be reviewed and approved by RCDSS

• Strengthen and expand already existing successful collaboration between RCDSS/CPS/FAR and Bikur Cholim’s Community Support Liaison.

• Transition appropriate cases handled by the existing collaboration between RCDSS/CPS/FAR and Bikur Cholim’s Community Support Liaison to ongoing intervention and services through the Family Services Liaison program with RCDSS Child Welfare Services.

• Work collaboratively with RCDSS to identify and engage an anticipated 30 families in communities that face cultural and language barriers with Child Welfare risk assessment and prevention needs.
• Coordinate four (4) quarterly meetings for RCDSS staff to cross-train with Bikur Cholim staff, community leaders, school personnel and/or service providers.

• Coordinate a minimum of one (1) training by RCDSS Child Welfare staff at a meeting of School Principals in communities that face cultural and language barriers

• Coordinate a minimum of one (1) training by RCDSS Child Welfare staff at a meeting of community leaders

• Coordinate two (2) trainings by RCDSS Child Welfare staff /Protective Services staff for EMS staff serving communities that face cultural and language barriers

• Meet with at least one (1) time by June 1, 2019 and one (1) time by August 1, 2019 with another Rockland County community agency in communities that face cultural and language barriers contracted to provide Family and Child Support (Family Liaison) Services to the Department of Social Services Child and Family Services division.  Topics to be discussed include but are not limited to:

• • family safety planning

• • individual and family counseling

• • case management

• • advocacy

• Demonstrated Successful Experience providing the above services to eligible individuals and families.

• Quarterly vouchers must include completed reports including but not limited to:

• First and last name of UNDUPLICATED (new) individual served
  (individual’s initials and CPS or FSS number may be substituted for full names)
   
• Date the service was provided, and list of services provided
   

• • Date(s), time, place of meeting or training

• • Proof of quarterly meeting, date, time and location

• • First and last names of those who attended the training or meeting

• • Agenda or Purpose of the training or meeting

• • Total number of meetings and trainings provided/collaborated

• • Proof of CPS trainings at DSS (date, time, location, list of attendees or sign-in roster)
• • Proof of case meetings (Bikur and DSS) [at least twice monthly] 
• Provider must ensure that its information, and all updates, are provided to and contained on the “2-1-1- database system”; [2-1-1 is a program of United Way in the Hudson Valley]. Within thirty (30) days of contract execution the Provider will complete and submit to Hudson211 the “211 Agency Profile Form”, which can be accessed via the following link: www.hudson211.org/cms/contact.
   

• Experienced in providing the same or equivalent services

• Be a 501 (c)3
• Be located in Rockland County
• Evidence of Family Services Liaison’s criminal background history, State Central Registry, State Justice Center (VPCR) and checked references must be provided to RCDSS
• Family Services Liaison must possess a valid motor vehicle license or accessibility to transportation to meet field work requirements in a timely and efficient manner.
• Be governed by a Board of Directors
• Be up-to-date with all IRS filings
• Be up-to-date with all NYS filings
• Have a 2019 budget with Board approval
• Be fiscally sound
• Have a Non-discrimination Policy
• Have a Conflict of Interest Policy
• Provide a copy of agency’s most recently filed 990 IRS Form

• Maintain program records for the purpose of an audit and provide to the County all program-related information including proprietary materials, upon request
• Submit quarterly vouchers and reports with required data, including attendance lists for each group activity, and log sheets for clients served
• Quarterly Vouchers, which may only include expenses for the respective quarter, that are not supported by the proper documentation and/or not provided to RCDSS within thirty (30) days of the end of each quarter, or within 14 (fourteen days) of request by RCDSS, will not be considered for payment by RCDSS.
• Be available for on-site visits, announced and unannounced

• Cost per service unit/per individual: