Title
Authorize Competitive Solicitation for Community Services for Families Program (Districts: All)
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Overview
The County of San Diego (County) Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA), Child and Family Well-Being (CFWB) provides a continuum of family support services from preventing families from entering the child welfare system to ensuring children involved with child welfare services can grow up in safe, stable and permanent families while maintaining strong connections to their schools and communities. Since 2004, CFWB has offered the Community Services for Families (CSF) program, through contracted partnerships with non-profit agencies to provide primary and secondary prevention services through home-based parenting support, parent education classes, needs assessments, Peer Partner support, and referrals to additional resources. The CSF program aims to promote child safety, child well‑being, stable living environments, and permanency. Services are delivered across the region, with a focus on underserved communities where risk factors, such as poverty, substance abuse, and domestic violence are known to increase the likelihood of child maltreatment. In FY 25/26, an estimated 1,289 families received services through CSF with families that completed outcomes surveys demonstrating 79.7% of increased knowledge in parenting and child development and 84.5% demonstrating an increase in family functioning and resilience.
On May 4, 2021 (21), the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) authorized a competitive solicitation for the CSF Program. The current contracts expire on February 28, 2027. Today’s action requests the Board to authorize the Director of the Department of Purchasing and Contracting to issue a new competitive solicitation for the CSF program.
Today's action supports the County vision of a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all, specifically, those communities and populations in San Diego County that have been historically left behind as well as our ongoing commitment to the regional Live Well San Diego vision of healthy, safe, and thriving communities. This will be accomplished by ensuring continued access to prevention-focused, community-based services that promote safety, stability and permanency for families across San Diego County.
Body
Recommendation by Chief Administrative Officer:
In accordance with Section 401, Article XXIII of the County Administrative Code, authorize the Director, Department of Purchasing and Contracting, to issue a Competitive Solicitation for the Community Services for Families program, and upon successful negotiations and determination of a fair and reasonable price, award a contract(s) for the period of up to one year and up to four option years, and up to six additional months if needed, subject to the availability of funds; and to amend the contract(s) as required to reflect changes in services and funding allocations, subject to the approval of the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Health and Human Services Agency.
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Equity Impact Statement
This contract advances equity by prioritizing services for families and children most at risk of child abuse and neglect, with a focus on communities experiencing the highest barriers due to poverty, language, and systemic inequities. Services are delivered in a culturally and linguistically responsive manner, ensuring access for diverse populations. The program leverages evidence-based practices, community partnerships, and staff who reflect the communities served, to reduce disparities in child welfare involvement and promote safety, stability, and well-being for all children and families.
Sustainability Impact Statement
Today’s actions support County Sustainability Goal #2 to provide just and equitable access to County services and Sustainability Goal #4 to protect the health and well-being of everyone in the region. These goals will be accomplished by ensuring continued access to prevention-focused, community-based services that promote safety, stability and permanency for families across San Diego County.
Fiscal Impact
Funds for this request are included in the Fiscal Year 2026-28 Operational Plan of the Health and Human Services Agency. If approved, this request will result in estimated annual costs and revenue of $6,740,000 in Fiscal Year 2026-27 and in FY 2027-28. The funding sources are Social Services Administrative Revenue and Realignment. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
Business Impact Statement
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Advisory Board Statement
N/A.
Background
The County of San Diego (County) Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA), Child and Family Well-Being (CFWB) provides a continuum of family support services from preventing families from entering into the child welfare services system, to ensuring children involved with child welfare services are able to live in safe, permanent families and maintain their connections to their school and community.
The Community Services for Family (CSF) program provides support for all families (primary), targeted services for families at risk (secondary), and interventions for families experiencing significant challenges (tertiary) through home-based parenting education, needs assessments, and referrals for other needed services. The objectives of the CSF program are child safety, child-well-being, stable living environments, and permanency. Services are provided countywide, with community-based services provided primarily in underserved communities where the risk of child maltreatment has been shown to be the highest due to poverty, substance abuse, domestic violence, and other risk factors. CSF provides the following levels of services to families based on their unique needs and family strengthening capacity:
• Family Preservation Services assist and support children and families to resolve crises, connect with necessary and appropriate services, and remain safely together in their homes so they will not require more formal intervention from CFWB. County staff, community providers, educators, medical providers, law enforcement, other key stakeholders, and community members make referrals to these family preservation services.
• Family Support Services enhance parents’ ability to create stable and nurturing home environments that promote healthy child development, avoid unnecessary out-of-home placement of children, and help children already in out-of-home care to be returned and safely maintained with their families. Referrals are made primarily by CFWB staff for families that are involved with CFWB through a Voluntary Services case. Voluntary Services cases are designed to allow children to safely remain in their own homes while addressing risk factors for child maltreatment.
• Reunification Services address the problems of families whose children have been placed in out-of-home care so that reunification may occur in a safe and stable manner.
In addition, the CSF framework consists of various program components. Depending on the level of services and needs of the family, any of the following service components can be accessed:
• Family Support Partner Services provide case management and in-home parenting education and support families with children at risk of abuse or neglect.
• Parent Partner Services provide short-term educational and support services to parents to encourage early engagement in services needed to meet either their CFWB Case Plan objectives or to prevent further CFWB involvement.
Additionally, to further support parents and reduce instances of child maltreatment, CFWB implemented the SafeCare model through the CSF program in 2007. SafeCare is an evidence-based in-home parenting training curriculum for parents and is the primary home-based parenting program used by the Family Support Partners in the CSF program. Family Support Partners work through the SafeCare curriculum with the parent during visits to complete the four key areas of parent skill training: health care, home safety and cleanliness, child/parent interaction, and healthy relationships. In Fiscal Year 2025-2026, 540 parents participated in the SafeCare program. Of those who completed the program, 81% achieved success or mastery on each of the program components demonstrated to reduce referrals of child neglect. The projected outcomes for the upcoming procurement are for at least 70% of participating clients to successfully demonstrate mastery of each program component. Achieving these outcomes is expected to strengthen parenting knowledge and contribute to a reduction in subsequent referrals for child neglect.
On May 4, 2021 (17), the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) authorized a competitive solicitation for the CSF Program. The current contracts expire on February 28, 2027. Today’s action requests the Board to authorize the Director of the Department of Purchasing and Contracting to issue a new competitive solicitation for the CSF program.
Linkage To The County Of San Diego Strategic Plan
Today’s action aligns with the County of San Diego 2026-2031 Strategic Plan initiatives of Sustainability (Economy and Resiliency), Equity (Health and Housing), and Community (Engagement, Quality of Life, Communications, and Partnership), as well as the regional Live Well San Diego vision. This is accomplished by ensuring continued access to prevention-focused, community-based services that promote safety, stability and permanency for families across San Diego County.
Respectfully submitted,
Ebony N. Shelton
Chief Administrative Officer
Attachment(s)
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