The County of Rockland is considering the issuance of a Sole Source award to Empire State Forensics LCSW, P.C., (“the Provider”) for the provision of treatment and evaluation services of sexual behavior clients of Rockland County Department of Social Services in order to achieve family reunification. Funding amount is contingent on the adoption of the County of Rockland 2023 Annual Budget. As such, final funding amount may differ from the estimated amount.
TERM: September 3, 2023 – June 30, 2024
This award may be made on a sole source basis in accordance with the Rockland County Procurement Policy.
Program/Services shall include the following services:
The Program must serve male and female offenders aged 18 and up who have committed a sexual offense, nonoffending parents and supportive individuals. The Program is expected to provide competent, concerned, and individualized care to offenders regardless of race. The Program will target approximately 15 sex offenders annually, with approximately 15 offenders expected to be in treatment at any one time. The program will conduct an initial evaluation / assessment, including progress reports regarding same, and provide ongoing treatment, using group and individual therapy as clinically indicated. New referrals can be seen for a comprehensive sex offender evaluation that includes assessment instruments and rating scales as indicated. Comprehensive evaluations can also be performed during the course of treatment as required by the court or requested by the Rockland County Department of Social Services (RCDSS).
PROGRAM SERVICES
General Provisions
Provider must operate a Sex Offender Specific Evaluation and Treatment Services Program consistent with treatment standards prescribed by the Association for Treatment of Sexual Abusers, implementing current evidence-based models and interventions in all aspects of service provision and utilizing recognized sex offender actuarial assessment instruments.
Provider must operate a Sex Offender Specific Evaluation and Treatment Services Program consistent with clinical standards prescribed by the New York State Education Department for supervision of Licensed Social Workers and Mental Health Counselors in New York State.
In the event that there are barriers to a client traveling to Provider, the legitimacy of those barriers will be determined by Provider and DSS. If determined by both agencies that traveling to Provider is not possible, services may be provided at 50 Sanatorium Road, Building C, Pomona, NY.
The sex offender treatment program must have a written program description and/or curriculum which includes a description of the following elements and how they are utilized in the treatment program:
- Cognitive-behavioral interventions;
- Relapse prevention knowledge and skills;
- Pro-social interpersonal skills and positive social support networks;
- Deviant sexual arousal control;
- Victim awareness and empathy, including a clarification process;
- Methods for family (unification) reunification, including a safety plan for children in the offender's home or in the extended family network. Decisions about family unification/reunification should consider the offender's progress in treatment, the input of the RCDSS as appropriate, the availability of a responsible and informed non-offending adult in the home, and the child's readiness for contact with the offender. Safety plans must be specific about the protection of the child's safety, and meet the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA) guidelines;
- The development of community safety plans for offenders, addressing how approved activities are conducted, including the role of an approved supervisor, and specifics about the location of the activity, the beginning and end time, and specific activities the offender will be engaged in;
- Criteria for successful completion of treatment; and
- Transition and/or aftercare services.
Provider must require offenders to sign a release of information for RCDSS.
Evaluations
Provider must schedule an initial evaluation as soon as possible, in an effort to meet the needs of RCDSS. Each sex offender must receive evaluations that examine the interaction of the offender's mental health, social/systemic functioning, family and environmental functioning, and offending behaviors. To ensure the most accurate prediction of risk for sex offenders, the following evaluation modalities are required in performing a sex offense-specific evaluation:
- Use of instruments that have specific relevance to evaluating sex offenders
- Use of instruments that are empirically informed, validated risk assessments, that address risk factors that are linked to sexual re-offense
- Examination and integration of criminal justice information and other collateral information including;
➢ Details of the current offense(s),
➢ Documents that describe victim trauma, and
➢ Scope of offender's sexual behavior other than the current offense.
- Structured clinical and sexual history interview.
- Offense specific psychological testing and standardized assessment instruments when applicable.
Court Ordered Forensic Evaluations, including progress reports regarding same, may be required to provide an assessment of sexual offenders. A comprehensive evaluation is to be performed and the finding will be reported to the RCDSS.
Treatment/Therapy
Provider must employ treatment methods that are supported by current professional research and practice.
Group therapy (comprised only of sex offenders) is the preferred method of sex offense specific treatment. Any method of psychological treatment used must contribute to behavioral monitoring of sex offenders. The sole use of individual therapy is not recommended with sex offenders and must be avoided.
Therapy will consist of in virtual sessions as well as in-person sessions held at 50 Sanatorium Road, Building C, Pomona, NY, as needed.
For those accepted into the program, Provider must develop an individualized treatment plan based on identified needs and strengths and risks identified in past assessments/evaluations of the offender, as well as measurable outcomes and discharge criteria.
The initial written individual treatment plan for each client must be based on the results of a sex offender assessment or evaluation completed within the most recent 12 months and prior to beginning treatment. The treatment plan must be updated at least once a year.
Clients in the Program must be provided treatment geared toward their individual risk levels, treatment needs, and strengths, abilities, and motivation. Ongoing therapy must be cognitive-behavioral in nature and follow the Risk, Needs, Responsivity Principle.
Therapy may include the use of different types of polygraphs, as clinically necessary, and as agreed upon by RCDSS and Provider.
Regular treatment updates will be provided quarterly, or upon request, to the RCDSS Caseworker as well as Family Court, if required.
Provider must provide written correspondence regarding client specific subjects for the referring agency and/or courts associated with the offender’s Family Court/Criminal Court matter.
At the time of discharge from the program, a comprehensive discharge summary must be provided that includes information about the offender’s course of treatment and length of time in treatment as well as whether the offender successfully or unsuccessfully completed the course of treatment.
Provider must inform the RCDSS Caseworker as soon as possible when they become aware of one of the following:
• Offender misses a treatment session, polygraph, or other appointment (no call, no show, or invalid excuse);
• Offender is determined to be non-compliant or is terminated from treatment. (Send an e-mail to the RCDSS Caseworker);
• Abrupt change in community stability (e.g., loss of job or housing);
• Offender discloses unauthorized alcohol and/or drug use;
• Any known or reported violation of the offender's supervision order; and/or
• Other client developments affecting community safety.
Reports of Suspected Child Abuse
Provider must comply with all provisions contained in Chapter 513 of the Laws of 2007 as described in 07- ODMH-ADM-15 also named Xcstasy’s Law. This law applies to all professional and para-professional staff who work for organizations or entities that have contracts with local social services districts to provide services related to foster care, adoption, or preventive services. All such individuals are required to make a report to the State Central Register whenever they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been abused or maltreated where any person comes before them in their professional or official capacity and states from personal knowledge, facts, conditions or circumstances which, if correct, would mean that a child has been abused or maltreated.
Provider must inform all mandated reporters within its organization of the requirements of Chapter 193 of the Laws of 2007 as described in 08-ODMH-INF-01. This law requires that all mandated reporters who have a reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been abused or maltreated personally make a report to the State Central Registry.
Confidentiality of HIV Information
Information related to an individual who has been diagnosed as having AIDS or an HIV-related illness or an HIV infection or laboratory tests performed for an individual for HIV-related illness is confidential and may not be released except as provided in §2782 of the Public Health Law or 18 NYCRR 360.8 and §403.9. The provider must safeguard HIV related information by maintaining information in a location not accessible to unauthorized persons to ensure against unauthorized disclosure of information. Unauthorized disclosure of confidential HIV related information must be accompanied by a written statement as follows:
“This information has been disclosed to you from confidential records, which are protected by state law. State law prohibits you from making any further disclosure of this information without the written consent of the person to whom it pertains, or as otherwise permitted by law. Any unauthorized disclosure in violation of state law may result in a fine or jail sentence or both. A general authorization for the release of medical or other information is not sufficient authorization for further disclosure.”
PROGRAM STAFFING REQUIREMENTS/RESPONSIBILITIES
General
The term Staff persons, as used herein, means the compensated employees and the volunteers of a program. Prior to assuming any responsibilities as a staff person of such program, each staff person must be provided with a copy of the person’s job description and must receive an orientation to the services provided by the program which includes discussion of confidentiality issues, child abuse reporting requirements, program policies and procedures and job responsibilities.
Any employee of the program who has regular and substantial contact with children must be cleared through the New York State Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment to determine if the individual has been the subject of an indicated report of child abuse or maltreatment. If the Contractor hires an individual prior to receiving a response to the clearance the Contractor may not permit the individual to have unsupervised contact with children until the clearance report is received. If the clearance report states that the individual is the subject of a report of child abuse or maltreatment the individual may no longer be employed by the program.
The approved sex offender therapist must have a minimum of a master’s degree and 5 years’ experience in sex offender evaluations and treatment services.
Any staff person directly providing transportation services must have a valid New York State driver's license for the types of vehicles which that staff person will use.
FAMILY REUNIFICATION
The goal for each RCDSS referral is family reunification.
Provider will work collaboratively with agencies involved in the reunification process and make recommendations for how the process can most safely occur.
Provider’s clinical staff will assess readiness of said client for the reunification and clarification sessions to occur. Client readiness will include total accountability of offense, engagement in the therapeutic and change process, demonstrated change in attitudes and beliefs supportive of sexual offending, absence of grievance thinking, demonstrated compliance with supervising agency, successful engagement and implementation of prosocial activities and lifestyle, demonstrated understanding of victim and family impact and demonstrated application of empathic thinking.
Upon determination of offender readiness, Provider will work collaboratively with RCDSS to plan and prepare for clarification sessions and family sessions.
Upon consensus that reunification should continue to move forward, Provider will continue to work with RCDSS and the family to plan and prepare for clarification sessions, family sessions and development of family safety plans and plans for interventions. Provider will only participate in family reunification in circumstances where victim readiness is determined by mental health professionals who are experts in the assessment and support of survivors of sexual abuse.
This notice is issued for informational purposes only and is NOT a request for competitive quotes.
Any Provider that believes they are qualified to provide the services detailed above and is ready, willing and able to provide the services; shall respond to this notice no later than 3 PM on (14 days after advertisement) of this announcement. The response should provide specific details regarding the Provider’s interest in providing such services as well as their prior experience in providing the same or similar services. In addition, the response should detail the Provider’s connections to the Rockland County community.
Responses to this notice must be sent via facsimile to 845-364-3809 or email to purchasing@co.rockland.ny.us. NO PHONE CALLS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Organizations submitting a proposal must meet the following requirements:
- Maintain program records for the purpose of an audit and provide to the County all program-related information including proprietary materials, upon request
- Submit monthly vouchers to RCDSS
- Monthly Vouchers, which may only include expenses for the respective month, that are not supported by the proper documentation and/or not provided to RCDSS within fourteen (14) days of the end of each month, or within five (5) days of request by RCDSS, will not be considered for payment by RCDSS.
BUDGET/COST PER SERVICE UNIT
SERVICE DELIVERABLES for term of September 3, 2023 – June 30, 2024
UNIT 1
Psychosexual Evaluations / Assessments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 40,000
$4,000 per evaluation
UNIT 2
Individual Sessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$161,250
$250.00 per weekly session
[43 weeks X 15 individuals = 645 sessions X $250]
UNIT 3
Group Sessions (per group) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 7,500
5 people X $150 X10 sessions)
UNIT 4
Court appearance for testimony: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,250
To be reimbursed as follows
- Court preparation and testimony
$150 per hour X 3 hours = $450 per case
Up to 3 cases = $1,350 per year
- Travel for court appearance
$300 per hour x 3 hours = $900 per case
UNIT 5
Polygraphs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,000
Up to 5 at $400 each
TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $213,000
A determination by the County not to complete the proposed contract is solely within the discretion of the County.
