TITLE
Title
APPROVE CONTRACT FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING CONSULTANT FOR DHHS CONSOLIDATION, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND OPIOID SETTLEMENT
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SPONSOR
Sponsor
Victor Isler, Assistant County Manager for Successful People
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BACKGROUND
Background
Guilford County staff has identified a need to conduct strategic planning processes in the “Successful People” service area around 1) Health & Human Services Consolidation, 2) Behavioral Health Asset & Access Mapping, and 3) Opioid Recovery and Epidemic Response.
The County issued a RFP for these planning processes for bid with initial advertisement on October 25, 2022, and proposals due on November 17, 2022. The County received six bids in response to this RFP. After evaluating these bids, staff recommend Cansler Collaborative Resources, Inc. (CCR) as the vendor best able to meet the requirements of the RFP to conduct the strategic planning processes. CCR will bring a consulting team with a broad array of knowledge and significant experience in health and human services, policy, finance, innovation, and executive management and present as being able to provide continuity in strategic development in all three areas of work.
The need for strategic planning processes around HHS Consolidation, Opioid Recovery, and Behavioral Health is driven by the negative impacts of the opioid and COVID-19 health crises and by operational and organizational changes in these areas that have occurred over the last several years. In addition, various revenue providers such as the Opioid Settlement MOA and ARPA are requiring the County to promote the development of priorities, strategies and community engagement tactics to enhance environmental conditions for the most vulnerable community members based on the social determinants of health framework. Finally, these programs serve an often-interconnected client base and are operated under specific federal and state guidelines. These considerations mean that the programs will benefit from the continuity in their respective strategic planning process that can be provided by a single consultant, and the ideal consultant must also bring competence in federal, state, and local government and experience in the health and human services field.
The specific scopes for each planning process are:
1) Health & Human Services Consolidation
The study will be a comprehensive strategic planning effort to maximize service enhancements and staffing efficiencies in accordance with Board priorities, customer needs and community resources. Specific phases are:
- Phase 1: Agency Readiness - prepare department staff for the work, set expectations, and build a common vision around whole person care and a shared vision and purpose.
- Phase 2: Organizational Assessment - conduct a comprehensive organizational assessment of Social Service and Public Health programs to identify internal and external priorities and opportunities to incorporate the County’s vision for whole person care.
- Phase 3: Goals and Priorities - conduct a collaborative process of setting distinct goals, priorities, and timelines to realize the department’s mission and values.
- Phase 4: Strategic Plan Development - begin converting the goals and priorities into a tangible roadmap outlining specific measures needed to achieve the goals and identify constraints and risk factors for successful execution and recommend measures to mitigate these threats.
2) Behavioral Health Asset & Access Mapping
The study will review existing behavioral health services and assets and provide strategies to address gaps in services in behavioral health programs. Specific phases are:
- Phase 1: Defining Success and Asset Mapping - identify “what is a successful behavioral health system of care”; conduct asset mapping to identify the current services being offered within the county; and build a common vision around what success in Guilford County looks like.
- Phase 2: Assessment of Services: conduct a comprehensive assessment of the Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC) and the Facility Based Crisis (FBC) programs to identify gaps/barriers to services and what is needed for individuals to have a “successful” experience at the facility.
- Final Report: Prepare a final report which summarizes the findings, recommendations, and implementation strategies within each phase.
3) Opioid Recovery and Epidemic Response
The study will engage a wide array of stakeholders, evaluate existing programs and services, and identify and evaluate strategies to address the opioid epidemic under Option B of the NC MOA for Opioid Settlement funds. Specific phases are:
- Phase 1: Defining Success and Asset Mapping - identify “what is a successful substance use disorder (SUD) system of care” and conduct asset mapping to identify current services being offered.
- Phase 2: Assessment of Services - review and inventory SUD/opioid programs currently available in the county.
- Final Report: Prepare a final report which summarizes the findings, recommendations, and implementation strategies within each phase.
The evaluation committee that reviewed the bids considered:
1) The need for appropriate subject matter knowledge, experience with federal, state and local government operations and regulations.
2) The consultant’s ability to develop impactful, customer-focused, evidence-based strategies and changes to services around substance use disorder treatment, mental health services, health disparity, abuse and neglect and social mobility.
3) The consultant’s ability to conduct a strategic planning and stakeholder engagement process of the necessary scope and scale that includes cross-departmental continuity and collaboration.
The team recommends the selection of CCR for this work based on 1) their experience with and subject matter knowledge of human services in North Carolina; 2) their ability to provide needed technical assistance in HHS consolidation and operations, human services and Medicaid revenues and revenue maximization, and applicable practice barriers in North Carolina; and 3) their ability to conduct all three planning processes in coordination over the same time period.
CCR anticipates the entire planning process to take 12 months. Staff anticipate all three planning processes occurring at or almost at the same time, but will prioritize, as necessary, Opioid Recovery and Response; then Behavioral Health; and finally HHS Consolidation.
The total cost of the CCR contract for Human Services Strategic Planning is $483,247.50. The specific breakout of cost by planning process including applicable travel costs is:
1) Health & Human Services Consolidation - $143,697.50 ($136,400.00 + 7,297.50 travel)
2) Behavioral Health Asset & Access Mapping - $158,460 ($147,750.00 + 10,710.00 travel)
3) Opioid Recovery and Epidemic Response - $181,090 ($171,150.00 + 9,940.00 travel)
Staff recommend the following use of current funding:
1) Identified departmental funds in Behavioral Health ($150,000) and Health and Human Services ($152,158) in the amount of $302,158;
2) Opioid Settlement funds for Opioid Recovery Strategic Planning and Evaluation in the amount of $181,090.
Under the terms of the Opioid Settlement MOA, the Board must also authorize the use of Opioid Settlement funds under Option B, Part 3: Other Strategies, Strategy J: Leadership, Planning and Coordination, item #1 for the full 12-month term of the contract. Sufficient funds are available in the FY 2022-23 budget for this expense through June 30, 2023 so no additional appropriation is necessary at this time, and staff will include sufficient funds for services to be rendered after June 30, 2023 in the FY 2023-24 budget.
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BUDGET IMPACT
Budget Impact
NO ADDITIONAL COUNTY FUNDS REQUIRED
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REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
1) Approve the contract, in substantial form, with Cansler Collaborative Resources, Inc, in the total amount of $483,247.50 for evaluation and planning efforts for Health & Human Services Consolidation, Behavioral Health Asset & Access Mapping, and Opioid Recovery and Epidemic Response; and
2) Approve the use of $181,090 of budgeted Opioid Settlement funds for the Opioid Recovery portion of this project under Option B, Part 3: Other Strategies, Strategy J: Leadership, Planning and Coordination, item #1 for the 12-month term of the contract as well as the associated Opioid Settlement Spending Resolution required for the use of these funds and attached to this item.
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