HomeMy WebLinkAbout20050341.tiff RESOLUTION
RE: APPROVE REQUEST FOR TWO ADDITIONAL CORE SERVICES FUNDING
PROPOSALS AND AUTHORIZE CHAIR TO SIGN
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, pursuant to
Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of
administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and
WHEREAS,the Board has been presented with a Request forTwo Additional Core Services
Funding Proposals between the County of Weld, State of Colorado, by and through the Board of
County Commissioners of Weld County, on behalf of the Department of Social Services, and
Colorado Department of Human Services, commencing upon full execution, and ending May 31,
2006, with further terms and conditions being as stated in said proposals, and
WHEREAS, after review,the Board deems it advisable to approve said proposals, copies
of which are attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Weld
County, Colorado, ex-officio Board of Social Services, that the Request for two Additional Core
Services Funding Proposals between the County of Weld, State of Colorado, by and through the
Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, on behalf of the Department of Social Services,
and Colorado Department of Human Services be, and hereby are, approved.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Board that the Chair be, and hereby is, authorized to
sign said proposals.
The above and foregoing Resolution was,on motion duly made and seconded,adopted by
the following vote on the 31st day of January, A.D., 2005.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
EL WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
861 , fal t William H. Jerke, Chair
eld' Jerk to the Board
EXCUSED
(tEY - M. eile, Pro-Tpm
I3- ,Deputy Clerk t t e Board M.7
(i n )1 e- y
Da id E. Long
APPRO D A RM: ll��u\ 1,\
/7.--1
Robert D. asden
ounty Att en
Glenn
Date of signature: O146--
2005-0341
SS0032
a
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
P.O. BOX A
GREELEY, CO. 80632
Website:www.co.weld.co.us
"ri IDe.
Administration and Public Assistance(970)352-1551
Child Support(970)352-6933
COLORADO MEMORANDUM
. TO: William H. Jerke, Chair Date: January 27, 2005
Board of County Commissioners
FR: Judy A. Griego, Director, Social Services,/ a
U
RE: Core Services Grant Applications—Multisystemic Therapy and
Expansion of Teamwork, Innovation, Growth, Hope and
Training(TIGHT) Program
Enclosed for Board approval are two grant applications under monies appropriated by the State
General Assembly for additional expansion of the Core Services Program within counties.
The Joint Budget Committee determined that they had under estimated the funds available for this
State Fiscal Year ending May 31, 2005, and have released $750,000 under a Request for Proposal
(RFP)process through the Colorado Department of Human Services and requires the regular 20%
local match. These monies will be used to implement family and community based services for
adolescents at the county level for the purpose of avoiding or reducing the length of stay in costly
out of home placements.
1. Multisystemic Therapy Program Grant Proposal. The Department is requesting
funding of$150,000 to fund 10 MST slots per month. The Department would contract
with the Larimer County Mental Health Agency. North Range Behavioral Health is not
certified to provide an MST program. The MST Program is considered an evidence-
based and prevention model to reduce high costs of residential services.
2. Expansion of Teamwork,Innovation, Growth,Hope, and Training(TIGHT)
Program Grant Proposal. The Department was successful last year in receiving monies
through a similar competitive grant process for these monies. Our request is to add
another crew under the TIGHT Program of six slots per month at the rate of$2,078.86
per month per family. The annual cost would be $149,678.01. The TIGHT Program is a
collaborative effort with Employment Services of Weld County combining the Youth
Conservation Corps with a Family Based Services (FSB) model, which is a family
therapeutic model.
If the Department is successful in securing funding, it is our understanding that these programs
will continue to be funded by the Colorado Department of Human Services through the next State
Fiscal Year ending May 31, 2006.
2005-0341
STATE OF COLORADO
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
REQUEST FOR GRANT PROPOSAL SIGNATURE PAGE
DATE: 01/13/2005 RETURN TO:
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
DIRECT INQUIRIES MelindaS. Cox Division of Child Welfare
TO:
PHONE: 303.866.5962 1575 Sherman Street, 2nd floor
E-Mail : Melinda.Cox@state.co.us Denver, CO 80203
DATE - January 2e, 2005 AT 4 : 00 PM (LOCAL TIME)
DUE:
Proposals properly marked as to DATE and HOUR of opening, subject to the conditions
herein stipulated and in accordance with the specifications set forth and/or attached
hereto, will be accepted at the address listed above, prior to the date and time listed for
the grant opening. All proposals shall be quoted F.O.B. destination, unless otherwise
specified, to the delivery location or jobsite listed herein.
REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROPOSAL
TITLE: Core Service Expansion of Services/County Design
AGENCY:
SEE ATTACHED PAGES FOR PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS.
IMPORTANT: Proposals submitted in response to this request MUST be
accompanied by this REQUEST FOR GRANT PROPOSAL SIGNATURE PAGE.
Counties should read the entire document before submitting a proposal.
PROPOSALS MUST BE SIGNED IN INK 1
William H. Jerke 1--C-77J JAN 3 1 2005
TYPED OR PRINTED SIGNATURE Handwritten Signature by County
Director or Authorized Representative
Chair, Board of County Commissioners, Weld County Colorado
TITLE
01/27/05 Weld County
DATE COUNTY DEPARTMENT
Confirm # OF AMENDMENTS
RECEIVED
Confirm # OF ADDENDA
RECEIVED
^Complete the blanks for each statement. RETURN THIS PAGE
RFP,Page 2
REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL CORE SERVICES FUNDING PROPOSAL
MULTISYSTEMIC THERAPY
WELD COUNTY
A. Needs Assessment:
The Weld County Department of Social Services (WCDSS) provides all eight basic
CORE programs. These services include Home Based Intervention, Intensive Family
Therapy, Life Skills, Day Treatment, Sexual Abuse Treatment, Special Economic
Assistance, Mental Health Services and Substance Abuse Treatment. The Weld County
Family and Youth Commission oversees the CORE Service Plan.
A recent survey study by the national firm of Vroon VanDenberg (2003) of Weld County
services for children and families identified a number of general community needs and
service gaps. Some of these include: (Quotes from the independent study.)
• Human service cuts are beginning to erode the safety net for the poor that has
been a traditional strength of the county.
• Services lack individualization and cultural awareness.
• Many respondents were concerned about the lack of juvenile justice diversion and
felt that youth who committed crimes in the county were being given the message
that they could do what they wanted to do without consequences.
• Although substance abuse was seen as a major factor in human services needs,
many respondents noted the lack of a comprehensive approach to substance abuse
treatment for youth and parents.
• No comprehensive single point of entry or common plan of care for children with
co-occurring disorders.
• Rates for out-of-home placements are very high in comparison to other counties
and national data, although rapid county growth without increases in child welfare
budget are a factor.
Others have noted service gaps in Weld County that include:
• Gaps in services that assist parents with skills and resources needed to address the
difficulties of raising adolescent aged children.
• Gaps in culturally sensitive services, especially for the county's growing
population of Hispanic/Latino youth and families.
• Gaps in follow-up services for families in completion of programs.
• Gaps in preventing out-of-home placements and commitments to DYC
placements.
• Gaps in the system's approach services, such as MST, in working with families.
Over the last year several events have occurred that have dramatically affected our ability
to manage at risk youth in the region. Our local SB-94 Planning Committee budget was
1
significantly reduced. This reduction allows for the provision of intake services,
assessment, and pretrial case management only. The Probation Department was forced to
reduce its staff. Additionally there has been a statewide capitation of detention
placements. This situation will require significant coordination of resources within the
community. The majority of at risk youth in the community are clients of the Probation
Department, the Department of Human Services and North Range Behavioral Health.
Given the budgetary constraints that exist in the county and the mandatory caps placed on
the detention facility many of the at-risk youth released from the Platte Valley facility
will be excellent candidates for Multisystemic Therapy.
Similar to other districts in the state, the SB-94 program for the 19th Judicial District
experienced funding reductions for SFY 2004-05. In addition,juvenile probation
services have also been reduced in the 19`h. These reductions will result in additional
pressure in the 19th District and Weld County to place youth in RTCs, detention, or
commitment, who otherwise might be served with early invention safely in the
community. All of these alternatives are more costly and less effective in the long run
than MST services.
Finally, in recent years funding for mental health services through North Range
Behavioral Health have been reduced. The current Long Bill for SFY 2004-2005, if
approved, will statewide slightly increase some of the mental health funding available to
Weld County but this amount will likely be insufficient to cover the county's needs.
Out-of-home placements and commitments of youth leave gaps in several service areas
for youth. These placements are typically not family-focused and the family is not
involved in treatment. In addition, out-of-home placements are most costly than in-home
and community based services. Eventually, when the youth returns to the family, many
of the prior issues that lead to the initial placement have not been addressed. This
increases the probability that the youth will relapse, recidivate, and consequently return to
the human services system.
Although gaps exist, a recent study by the national firm of Vroon VanDenberg of Weld
County services for children and families identified a number of strengths that suggest
that the county is in a great position to expand services. Among the some of the strengths
identified were: (Direct quotes)
• Providers are hustling to adapt to cuts in available funding, responding with
innovation and new approaches.
• Although Weld County is one of the fastest growing counties in the US, human
services have made great effort to adapt as needed.
• The various collaborative focused committees (Youth Net, MYAT, etc.)have
been well attended and focused.
• Child welfare has recruited high numbers of relative foster placements, especially
grandparents.
• Child welfare has tried innovations like multi-systemic therapy and family group
decision making, and solution-focused therapy.
2
• Child welfare has worked to partner with families and children who have
developmental disabilities.
(Note: Other strengths were identified in this independent report.)
B. County Design Description:
Planning for this Proposal
The Weld County Board of Commissioners, Department of Social Services,North Range
Behavioral Health, Island Grove Regional Treatment Center, Employment Services,
Juvenile Diversion Program, Families, Youth, and Children Commission, Multi-
Disciplinary Youth Assessment Team (MYAT), and the Weld County Workforce
Development Board have had input in the development of this proposal. Members of the
Families, Youth & Children Commission Members represent private citizens, a clinic
nurse, a Licensed Health Professional, kinship care, mental health, law enforcement,
probation, a private attorney, the child protection team, and social services.
The Weld County Board of Commissioners, Department of Social Services, North Range
Behavioral Health, Island Grove Regional Treatment Center, Employment Services,
Juvenile Diversion Program, and the Weld County Workforce Development Board
entered into an agreement to develop and implement the Multi-Disciplinary Youth
Assessment Team (MYAT). These parties committed in 2002, in part, to provide one
FTE from each organization in the development of the Multi-Disciplinary Youth
Assessment Team through a two-year phase-in plan. A commitment has been made to
provide the community with a proactive approach to develop positive alternatives for at
risk youth and families, strengthen families, and to prevent these youth from entering the
Child Welfare or Youth Corrections systems.
While this collaborative program has a yearly budget to help facilitate participating
families involvement in utilizing community resources, the program does not have the
necessary funds to provide a small number of families with intensive in-home
intervention. These interventions would be designated for families experiencing a high
level of crises and be designed to prevent out-of-home placement while the family is
getting involved in community resources.
The County is requesting to fund 10 MST slots per month at the rate of$1250.00/month
per family. The annual cost would be $150,000.00.
Support for MST—An Evidence Based Practice
MST is a well-validated treatment model with proven success in preventing out-of-home
placements and reducing days in out-of-home placements. MST is a home-based model
providing therapeutic support to juvenile offenders with serious antisocial behavior and
their families. This is an intensive program lasting three months with daily or weekly
3
contact to achieve the necessary behavioral changes. With a small client to therapist ratio
(4:1 —6:1), a course of treatment lasting three months, and an initial funding cycle of
twelve months, we are expecting the expanded service will serve a total of 40 youth.
Weld County had access to MST through Alternative Homes for Youth but this provider
no longer offers MST as a service option.
MST has considerable valid research supporting its effectiveness for some youth and
families. CDHS Agency Letter CW-04-09-A(March 11, 2004) lists Multisystemic
Therapy is identified as an acceptable service that qualifies for additional evidence based
practice. In addition, Research from the University of Colorado's Blueprints Project
(www.colorado.edu/espv/blueprints),Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention
(OJJDP), Washington State Institute for Public Policy, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, and a Report of the Surgeon General (1999). Further information on the cost
effectiveness of MST services can be found at the COMST website at www.colomst.org.
If this grant were awarded, Weld County would contract with an existing certified MST
provider for services. This intensive service (MST) is currently not available in Weld
County. Implementation would request startup time to ensure the MST provider(s) have
the capacity to provide services. One possible provider would be the Larimer Center for
Mental Health, which has an excellent reputation for providing MST services. Initial
discussions with the Center suggest it would be interested in providing MST services if
arrangements can be worked out. The Larimer Center for Mental Health's MST program
currently has 4.5 FTE therapists and one supervisor. Adding new Weld County youth
would require the Center to change staffing and supervisory patterns (add staff) to remain
in compliance with the MST guidelines. The long-term plan would be to build the
capacity to provide MST services Locally, possibly through Larimer Center for Mental
Health or North Range Behavioral Health. This also would be contingent on a prior or
future site assessment by Colorado MST.
Youth and families who might be suitable for MST services, regardless of provider,
would be identified by the Youth in Conflict manager and tracked using the TRAILS
system. If the grant is funded, the existing MYAT program would be expanded to
include a member from a MST provider to help ensure that MST services are appropriate
similar to the model used at the Apache Behavior Health Site in Arizona that has the
provider participate in the multi-disciplinary team.
The County Design will serve 40 adolescents and will reduce the need for 40 residential
services during the additional funding period. Those families would be entered into the
TRAILS system in order to track interventions, expenses, youth participation and any
further penetration of the system. Follow-ups with the families by the MST provider
staff will provide an additional level of monitoring, determining whether the youth enters
the system and what additional community resources were accessed during the year
following MST's intervention.
The eligible population to be served would include youth, aged 10-17. MST services
would be offered to families who are at a crisis point that potentially would require an
4
out-of-home placement of the child if immediate in-home services were not available and
when MST is deemed appropriate.
A typical caseload for the MST therapist would be five families during a three month
period with a supervisor\worker ratio of 1:2. Workers contracted for services would be at
a Masters level or higher in clinical experience and would have completed relevant MST
training. MST therapists would assess the family's needs, preparing a treatment plan, and
preparing the family's transition to appropriate community resources upon a reasonable
stabilization of the family's issues.
E. Projected Outcomes:
The intensive in-home services to be provided by MST to eligible youth and their
families would be an outcome-driven prevention\intervention program to address a range
of acting out behaviors which place the child at risk for out of home placement or
involvement with the juvenile justice system. The goal of the intervention would be to
stabilize the family system at the time of crisis, assess and address system issues related
to the child's behaviors, and transition the family to an appropriate community resource
for continued interventions. Another goal of the intervention would be to prevent
younger siblings in these families from penetrating the system. This information could
also be monitored by utilizing the TRAILS system.
Outcome measurement is incorporated into the design requirements of MST services,
thus the MST provider will be collecting outcome (results) data for each case as part of
its normal operations. Typically MST monitors outcomes such as arrests, school
achievements, adjudications, or other areas identified as important. Further outcome
measurements would be available by reviewing the data entered into TRAILS on each
participating family.
These data will be shared with the MYAT, Weld County Family and Youth Commission,
and Weld County DSS on an on-going basis. In addition, if additional funding is
received, the Weld County Department of Social Services will be monitoring:
• Assessment scores of pre-and post MST services.
• Comparative costs of MST vs. out-of-home placements.
• Additional involvements of any type with social services, mental health, DYC, or
other systems following MST services.
• Percent of siblings who do not enter the system following MST intervention.
• Out-of-home placement rates (DYC/CW) following MST services compared to
rates for youth not receiving MST services.
• Numbers of new D&N filed following MST services compared to similar families
not being
• Tracking the cost of MST services.
5
CORE SERVICES
STATEMENT OF ASSURANCES
WELD County(ies) assures that, upon
approval of the Core Services-MultiSystemic Therapy Program Plan the following will be
adhered to in the implementation of the Plan:
Core Services Assurances:
• Operation will conform to the provisions of the Plan;
• Operation will conform to State rules;
• Core Services Program Services, provided or purchased, will be
accessible to children and their families who meet the eligibility
criteria;
• Operation will not discriminate against any individual on the basis
of race, sex, national origin, religion, age or handicap who applies
for or receives services through the Core Services program;
• Services will recognize and support cultural and religious
background and customs of children and their families;
• Out-of-slate travel will not be paid for with Core Services funds;
• All forms used in the completion of the Core Services plan will be
State prescribed or State approved forms;
• Core FTE/Personal Services costs authorized for reimbursement
by the State Department will be used only to provide Core
Services authorized in the county(ies)' approved Core Services
Plan;
• The purchase of services will be in conformity with State
purchase of service rules including contract form, content, and
monitoring requirements; and
• Information regarding services purchased or provided will be
reported to the State Department for program, statistical and
financial purposes.
1
•
MULTI-SYSTEMIC THERAPY PROGRAM PLAN
STATEMENT OF ASSURANCES
WELD County(ies) assures that, upon
approval of the Core Services- Multi-Systemic Therapy Program Plan the following will be
adhered to in the implementation of the Plan:
Multi-Systemic Therapy Program statement of assurances:
• Funds shall be used exclusively for the purposes specified in the plan;
• Funds shall not be used to supplant,duplicate or replace existing child welfare funds and;
• Funds shall not be used for county budget shortfalls;
• Assistance and services will be provided to youth who have left foster care because they have
attained
18 years of age, and have not attained 21years of age [Section 477(b)(3)(A)];
• Not more than 30 percent of the amounts allocated for CFCIP for a fiscal year
will be expended for room and board for youth who have left foster care because they have
attained 18 years of age, and have not attained 21 years of age [Section 477(b)(3)(B)];
• None of the amounts paid to the County Department from its allocation will be expended for
room and board for any child who has not attained 18 years of age [Section
477(b)(3)(C)];
• The County Depailment will make every effort to coordinate the CFCIP program receiving
funds with other Federal and State programs for youth(especially transitional living youth
projects funded under part B of title III of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Act of 1974); abstinence education programs, local housing programs,programs for disabled
youth(especially sheltered workshops), and school-to-work programs offered by high schools
or local workforce agencies [Section 477(b)(3)(F)];
• Adolescents participating in the program under this section will participate directly in
designing their own program activities that prepare them for independent living and the
adolescents will be required to accept personal responsibility for living up to their part of the
program [Section 477(b)(3)(H)]; and
• The County Department agrees to enforce standards and procedures to prevent fraud and
abuse in the programs carried out under the plan.
2
PAGE E Core Service County Designed Services Page
County Designed Service
Service Name: MULTISYSTEMIC THERAPY
1. MST therapists would assess the family's needs, preparing a treatment plan, and
preparing the family's transition to appropriate community resources upon a reasonable
stabilization of the family's issues. The youth and their family will work with their
assigned MST Clinician in developing a specific plan to help change maladaptive family
patterns that placed the youth at risk for out of home placement. These interventions
would be designated for families experiencing a high level of crises and be designed to
prevent out-of-home placement while the family is getting involved in community
resources. Integrated into the services, the plan is designed to help the family develop a
support system of extended family and community resources.
2. The eligible population to be served would include youth, aged 10-17. MST services
would be offered to families who are at a crisis point that potentially would require an
out-of-home placement of the child if immediate in-home services were not available and
when MST is deemed appropriate.
3. The Time frame for involvement with each family would be three months.
4. A typical caseload for the MST therapist would be five families during a three-month
period with a supervisor\worker ratio of 1:2. A total of 40 families would be serviced
during the year.
5. Workers contracted for services would be at a Masters level or higher in clinical
experience and would have completed relevant MST training. The current service
provider would be The Larimer Center for Mental Health's MST program. The long-
term plan would be to build the capacity to provide MST services locally, possibly
through North Range Behavioral Health. This also would be contingent on a prior or
future site assessment by Colorado MST. The County is requesting to fund 10 MST slots
per month at the rate of$1250.00/month per family. The annual cost would be
$150,000.00.
STATE OF COLORADO
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
REQUEST FOR GRANT PROPOSAL SIGNATURE PAGE
DATE: 01/13/2005 RETURN TO:
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
DIRECT INQUIRIES MelindaS. Cox Division of Child Welfare
TO:
PHONE: 303.866.5962 1575 Sherman Street, 2nd floor
E-Mail: Melinda.Cox@state.co.us Denver, CO 80203
DATE - January 280, 2005 AT 4 : 00 PM (LOCAL TIME)
DUE:
Proposals properly marked as to DATE and HOUR of opening, subject to the conditions
herein stipulated and in accordance with the specifications set forth and/or attached
hereto, will be accepted at the address listed above, prior to the date and time listed for
the grant opening. All proposals shall be quoted F.O.B. destination, unless otherwise
specified, to the delivery location or jobsite listed herein.
REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROPOSAL
TITLE: Core Service Expansion of Services/County Design
AGENCY:
SEE ATTACHED PAGES FOR PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS.
IMPORTANT: Proposals submitted in response to this request MUST be
accompanied by this REQUEST FOR GRANT PROPOSAL SIGNATURE PAGE.
Counties should read the entire document before submitting a proposal.
PROPOSALS MUST BE SIGNED IN INK
William H. Jerke 4.1,1 -1,AA. JAN 3 1 200.5
TYPED OR PRINTED SIGNATURE Handwritten Signature by County
Director or Authorized Representative
Chair, Board of County Commissioners. Weld County Colorado
TITLE
01/27/05 Weld County
DATE COUNTY DEPARTMENT
Confirm # OF AMENDMENTS
RECEIVED
Confirm # OF ADDENDA
RECEIVED
^Complete the blanks for each statement. RETURN THIS PAGE
RFP, Page 2
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
To Expand Existing TIGHT Program
The design proposal, which was accepted last year, is a collaborative effort combining
the highly successful model of the Weld County Youth Conservation Corps with a
Family Based Services (FBS) model. The program has provided at-risk-youth and their
families with wrap around highly intensive in-home and community services that have
benefited both the family and the community by preventing out-of-home placements and
incarcerations. This concept is based on evidence presented through the restorative justice
model that emphasizes the healing of the wounds of victims, offenders and communities
caused or revealed by the criminal behaviors.
As the first TIGHT corps is completing its first six month involvement, we would like to
present the following data. Of the six youth who participated in the TIGHT program
instead of entering residential treatment programs, all six will successfully complete the
program. Four of these youth have been accepted into the Weld County Youth
Conservation Corps and will continue to provide services to the community. Four youth
are ready to complete their GED and two youth are working in the AIMS diploma
program. No member of the TIGHT Program has re-offended and all youth are in
compliance with the terms and conditions of their probation. All six families successfully
participate in the intensive in-home family therapy component of the program. The youth
have been involved in many community projects including planting and wrapping trees,
painting and cleaning the county fair grounds and in trail building. The youth have also
been very involved in building a historical replica of a frontier era tool storage building at
the Centennial Village. All of the youth are quite proud of their achievements while
involved in the TIGHT Program.
Although these outcomes are based on a short amount of time and on one group of youth,
the outcomes appear to warrant the Department's desire to expand the program.
Currently the program serves 12 youth each year. The youth participate is groups of six
for six months. The Department, in conjunction with Employment Services, would like
to increase the program in order to service an additional 12 youth and their families.
1
Page D CORE SERVICES
STATEMENT OF ASSURANCES
WELD County(ies) assures that, upon
approval of the Core Services-TIGHT Program Plan the following will be adhered to in the
implementation of the Plan:
Core Services Assurances:
• Operation will conform to the provisions of the Plan;
• Operation will conform to State rules;
• Core Services Program Services, provided or purchased, will be
accessible to children and their families who meet the eligibility
criteria;
• Operation will not discriminate against any individual on the basis
of race, sex, national origin, religion, age or handicap who applies
for or receives services through the Core Services program;
• Services will recognize and support cultural and religious
background and customs of children and their families;
• Out-of-state travel will not be paid for with Core Services funds;
• All forms used in the completion of the Core Services plan will be
State prescribed or State approved forms;
• Core FTE/Personal Services costs authorized for reimbursement
by the State Department will be used only to provide Core
Services authorized in the county(ies)' approved Core Services
Plan;
• The purchase of services will be in conformity with State
purchase of service rules including contract form, content, and
monitoring requirements; and
• Information regarding services purchased or provided will be
reported to the State Department for program, statistical and
financial purposes.
1
TIGHT Program
Teamwork, Innovation, Growth, Hope and Training
A restorative justice/evidence-based therapy program
STATEMENT OF ASSURANCES
WELD County(ies) assures that, upon
approval of the Core Services- TIGHT Program Plan the following will be adhered to in the
implementation of the Plan:
TIGHT Program statement of assurances:
• Funds shall be used exclusively for the purposes specified in the plan;
• Funds shall not be used to supplant,duplicate or replace existing child welfare funds and;
• Funds shall not be used for county budget shortfalls;
• Assistance and services will be provided to youth who have left foster care because they have
attained
18 years of age, and have not attained 2lyears of age [Section 477(b)(3)(A)];
• Not more than 30 percent of the amounts allocated for CFCIP for a fiscal year
will be expended for room and board for youth who have left foster care because they have
attained 18 years of age, and have not attained 21 years of age [Section 477(b)(3)(B)];
• None of the amounts paid to the County Department from its allocation will be expended for
room and board for any child who has not attained 18 years of age [Section
477(b)(3)(C)];
• The County Department will make every effort to coordinate the CFCIP program receiving
funds with other Federal and State programs for youth(especially transitional living youth
projects funded under part B of title III of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Act of 1974); abstinence education programs, local housing programs,programs for disabled
youth(especially sheltered workshops), and school-to-work programs offered by high schools
or local workforce agencies [Section 477(b)(3)(F)];
• Adolescents participating in the program under this section will participate directly in
designing their own program activities that prepare them for independent living and the
adolescents will be required to accept personal responsibility for living up to their part of the
program [Section 477(b)(3)(H)]; and
• The County Department agrees to enforce standards and procedures to prevent fraud and
abuse in the programs carried out under the plan.
2
PAGE E Core Service County Designed Services Page
County Designed Service
Service Name: TIGHT Program
Teamwork, Innovation, Growth, Hope and Training
A restorative justice/evidence-based therapy program
1. For the youth, the TIGHT Program is designed to engage youth in community service
activities, educational components, and life skill development activities for
approximately 8 hours a day, five days a week. Additionally,by being engaged in
activities that promote growth in self-esteem and sense of community, corps members
will realize that there are positive alternatives available to them.
For the families, the TIGHT Program is designed to evaluate the youth's environment,
determine with the family specific attainable treatment objectives, contract treatment
goals and develop a therapeutic alliance with the youth's parents. Parents are supported in
developing household structure, increased monitoring and supervision of their youth, and
the development of clear rules and consequences. An additional goal is to empower
parents with the skills and resources needed to independently address the difficulties that
arise in raising teenagers. The therapist focuses on helping parents become self-sufficient
problem solvers. Intervention strategies include structural family therapy, behavioral
parent training, cognitive behavioral therapies and connecting the family with appropriate
community resources.
The goal of the TIGHT Program will be to delay/eliminate the need for out of home
placement.
2. The eligible population to be served would include youth, aged 14-17. The program
would provide youth who would require residential treatment and their families with
wrap around highly intensive in-home and community services that would benefit the
family, the community and would prevent out of home placement or incarceration.
3. The Time frame for involvement with each family would be six months.
4. The TIGHT Program is structured to have a maximum crew membership of six youth.
This is an intensive program providing an average length of intervention of six months
with daily contact to achieve the necessary behavioral changes. With a small client to
therapist ratio (Family therapist:family ratio of 1:3 and crew leader:crew ratio of 1:6), and
a course of treatment lasting six months the Department expects to provide services, with
the additional funding, to 24 families a year. The maximum supervisor to worker ratio
would be 1:4.
1
5. Workers contracted to provide Family Based Services are Masters level or higher in
clinical experience. The current service provider is Youth Emancipation and Services.
The Crew Leaders for TIGHT are supervised by Employment Services and all have
extensive training through the Weld County Youth Conservation Corps. The County is
requesting to fund an additional six TIGHT Program slots per month at the rate of
$2078.86/month per family. The annual cost would be $149,678.01.
2
REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL CORE SERVICES FUNDING PROPOSAL
A restorative justice/evidence-based therapy program
Teamwork, Innovation, Growth, Hope and Training
(TIGHT)
A Collaborative Program through the Weld County Departments of
Social Services and Employment Services
WELD COUNTY
A. Needs Assessment:
The Weld County Department of Social Services (WCDSS)provides all eight basic
CORE programs. These services include Home Based Intervention, Intensive Family
Therapy, Life Skills, Day Treatment, Sexual Abuse Treatment, Special Economic
Assistance, Mental Health Services and Substance Abuse Treatment. The Weld County
Family and Youth Commission oversees the CORE Service Plan.
A recent survey study by the national firm of Vroon VanDenberg (2003) of Weld County
services for children and families identified a number of general community needs and
service gaps. Some of these include: (Quotes from the independent study.)
• Human service cuts are beginning to erode the safety net for the poor that has
been a traditional strength of the county.
• Services lack individualization and cultural awareness.
• Many respondents were concerned about the lack of juvenile justice diversion and
felt that youth who committed crimes in the county were being given the message
that they could do what they wanted to do without consequences.
• Although substance abuse was seen as a major factor in human services needs,
many respondents noted the lack of a comprehensive approach to substance abuse
treatment for youth and parents.
• No comprehensive single point of entry or common plan of care for children with
co-occurring disorders.
• Rates for out-of-home placements are very high in comparison to other counties
and national data, although rapid county growth without increases in child welfare
budget are a factor.
Others have noted service gaps in Weld County that include:
• Gaps in services that assist parents with skills and resources needed to address the
difficulties of raising adolescent aged children.
• Gaps in culturally sensitive services, especially for the county's growing
population of Hispanic/Latino youth and families.
• Gaps in follow-up services for families in completion of programs.
1
• Gaps in preventing out-of-home placements and commitments to DYC
placements.
• Gaps in the numbers of local treatment provider beds which allow families to
actively participate in their youth's treatment in order to facilitate a rapid return
home.
• A specific gap has been identified which involves home based treatment for those
adolescents placed in shelter and/or who are at risk of being placed in residential
treatment centers.
Over the last year several events have occurred that have dramatically affected our ability
to manage at risk youth in the region. Similar to other districts in the state, the SB-94
program for the 19th Judicial District experienced funding reductions for SFY 2004-05.
In addition,juvenile probation services have also been reduced in the 19`h. These
reductions will result in additional pressure in the 19`h District and Weld County to place
youth in either RTCs, detention, or DYC commitment. Given the budgetary constraints
that exist in the county and the mandatory caps placed on the detention facility many of
the at-risk youth released from the Platte Valley facility will be at risk for out of home
placement. Emergency Release Procedures for adolescents in detention have begun to
exacerbate this already critical situation.
Finally, in recent years funding for mental health services through North Range
Behavioral Health have been reduced. SB 1116 funds have been exhausted. The current
Long Bill for SFY 2004-2005, if approved, will slightly increase statewide some of the
mental health funding available to Weld County but this amount will likely be
insufficient to cover the county's needs.
Out-of-home placements and commitments of youth leave gaps in several service areas
for youth. Due to the limited number of local out of home treatment slots in Weld
County, families of youth receiving this type of services are asked to travel many hours
from their homes in order to participate in their children's treatment. These placements
are typically not family-focused and the family is not consistently involved in treatment
due to the distances involved. These distances do not encourage participation of parents
in family therapy on a regular and consistent basis. The inability of families to
successfully complete family therapy in a timely manner due to time and distance issues
extends the youth's out of home placement. These issues related to decreased
participation in family therapy result in the youth returning home to a family system that
has changed very little. Eventually, when the youth is reunited with their family, many of
the issues which initially lead to placement have not been resolved and still exist in the
home environment. This increases the probability that the youth will relapse, recidivate,
and consequently return to the human services system. Placing youth in treatment
facilities long distances from their homes also prevents the successful development of
local support resources such as teachers, mentors, and local youth groups which are
necessary components of treatment plans designed to prevent recidivism. In addition,
out-of-home placements are often more costly than in-home and community based
services.
2
Although gaps exist, a recent study by the national firm of Vroon VanDenberg of Weld
County services for children and families identified a number of strengths that suggest
that the county is in a great position to expand services. Among the some of the strengths
identified were: (Direct quotes)
• Providers are hustling to adapt to cuts in available funding, responding with
innovation and new approaches.
• Although Weld County is one of the fastest growing counties in the US, Human
Services have made great effort to adapt as needed.
• The various collaborative focused committees (Youth Net, MYAT, Workforce
Development, etc.) have been well attended and focused.
• Child welfare has recruited high numbers of kinship care and relative foster
placements.
• Child welfare has tried innovations like multi-systemic therapy and family group
decision making, and solution-focused therapy.
• Child welfare has worked to partner with families and children who have
developmental disabilities.
(Note: Other strengths were identified in this independent report.)
B. County Design Description:
1. The Family Based Services (FBS)
2. Teamwork, Innovation, Growth, Hope and Training (TIGHT)
Planning for this Proposal
The Weld County Board of Commissioners, Department of Social Services, North Range
Behavioral Health, Island Grove Regional Treatment Center, Employment Services,
Juvenile Diversion Program, Families, Youth, and Children Commission, Multi-
Disciplinary Youth Assessment Team (MYAT), and the Weld County Workforce
Development Board have had input in the development of this proposal. Members of the
Families, Youth & Children Commission Members represent private citizens, a clinic
nurse, a Licensed Health Professional, kinship care, mental health, law enforcement,
probation, a private attorney, the child protection team, and social services. A
commitment has been made to provide the community with a proactive approach to
develop positive alternatives for at risk youth and families, strengthen families, and to
prevent these youth from entering the Child Welfare or Youth Corrections systems.
The design that is being proposed is a collaborative effort combining a Youth Corps
Program (TIGHT) with a Family Based Services (FBS) model. The program would
provide at risk youth and their families with wrap around highly intensive in home and
community services that would benefit the family and the community and would prevent
out of home placement or incarceration. This concept is based on evidence presented
through the restorative justice model which emphasizes the healing of the wounds of
victims, offenders and communities caused or revealed by the criminal behaviors.
3
The Teamwork, Innovation, Growth, Hope, and Training (TIGHT) Youth Corps Program
is designed to engage youth in community service activities, educational components,
and life skill development activities for approximately 8 hours a day, five days a week.
Service and/or volunteerism are seen as national priorities, therefore, work projects will
be developed to provide the participants with first hand experience in lending a helping
hand in their communities and to those in need. Crews will perform service projects in
the community, centered on identified and targeted need areas related to restorative
justice such as conservation and environmental projects, historical conservation, and
neighborhood beautification projects.
The TIGHT Program structure is based upon the highly successful model of the Weld
County Youth Conservation Corps(WCYCC)/AmeriCorps Program. Participants will be
placed in a crew setting with an adult crew (team) leader. The design allows for the
youth to remain with this crew for a full six month period. Corps members will be
exposed to a variety of service projects which directly benefit local communities and the
residents of Weld County. These projects allow youth to make reparations for their
behaviors and develop a mature sense of belonging to the community. Additionally,
youth will be engaged in a variety of activities that promote positive development such as
educational activities to increase the members skills in reading and math, team building
activities, conflict resolution training,journaling and reflection activities, first-aid
training.
The goal of the TIGHT Program will be to delay/eliminate the need for out of home
placement by exposing participating youth to a variety of worthwhile projects within their
communities, allow youth to make reparations to their community, and develop pro-
social relationships with community resources. Additionally, by being engaged in
activities that promote growth in self esteem and sense of community, corps members
will realize that there are positive alternatives available to them and that when they make
the positive choice, the service they perform has value and that they can and do make a
difference in their communities.
In addition to the youth's participation in the Youth Corps program, the family and the
youth would agree to participate in highly structured intensive in-home Family Based
Services (FBS). This intervention is designed to evaluate the youth's environment,
determine with the family specific attainable treatment objectives, contract treatment
goals and develop a therapeutic alliance with the youth's parents. Parents are supported in
developing household structure, increased monitoring and supervision of their youth, and
the development of clear rules and consequences. An additional goal is to empower
parents with the skills and resources needed to independently address the difficulties that
arise in raising teenagers. The therapist focuses on helping parents become self-sufficient
problem solvers. Intervention strategies include structural family therapy,behavioral
parent training, cognitive behavioral therapies and connecting the family with appropriate
community resources. Research indicates that these interventions typically improve
parent discipline practices, enhance family relationships, improve school participation,
4
engage youth in pro-social recreational outlets and develop a local support network of
extended family, neighbors, faith based services, and community resources. Ultimately,
the goal is to alter the family system dynamics which placed the youth, and their siblings,
at risk for criminal behaviors and out of home placement. The program removes barriers
to services access by treating the families in the home and is more intense than traditional
family therapy.
II. Issue Addressed
The cost of out of home placement for youth has become exorbitant, and positive
alternatives should, and need to be explored. The estimated cost of placement at a
Residential Treatment Facility is currently$5,300 per month. The TIGHT Program,
including the costs of family based services, would be more cost effective in a number of
different ways. First, there is a direct cost savings. The monthly cost per participant is
less than half of what out of home placement costs are for a month. Secondly, by
engaging youth in projects that have a direct and lasting benefit to their communities, the
youth will make an attachment to their communities, acquire a better sense of their role as
a citizen, and therefore be less likely to commit further offenses. Third, engaging youth
in positive activities should have an impact on their siblings. Rather than emulating the
poor decisions and destructive behaviors seen previously, TIGHT members' siblings will
see their brother/sister participating in worthwhile activities and achieving positive
outcomes in their lives. Through participation in citizenship classes provided by the
TIGHT Program, crew members will not only understand their rights as citizens, but also
their responsibilities. Finally, the intensive in home services, FBS, will address and
resolve familial issues that put the youth at risk of out of home placement. Appropriate
changes in the family system will encourage youth participation in the corps' team
concept, improve self esteem and develop a system of support encouraging the
maturation process.
By engaging youth in full day positive development activities, followed by intensive
family interventions, the number of youth placed in Residential Treatment Facilities
(RTF), or those ordered to State detention facilities could be reduced. Additionally, the
therapeutic treatment model developed by the Department of Social Services will provide
the necessary family based services, treatment, and support that the youth will need to
remain at home and prevent recidivism. The Department of Social Services,
Employment Services and their identified treatment provider will develop an appropriate
treatment plan to assist the youth and their families with identified issues.
Methods to Address Issue
The Program will primarily serve youth ages 14-17 years of age. Based upon identified
need and the determination of the appropriateness of participation, the program may
serve younger youth. The Program will operate year round and be broken into two six
(6) month sessions. Each session will be designed to serve six youth.
5
The Crew Leader will be on site at the crew home base at 8 a.m. Monday through Friday
for youth to be dropped off by their parent or guardian. The service day for each crew
will begin at 8:30 each morning with circle-up activities to outline the day's events,
discuss any issues from the previous day, and to "check-in" with the crew members to
identify any pressing issues that they may have. The crew will complete their service day
at approximately 2:00 p.m. and corps members will be transported to the Employment
Services of Weld County Learning Lab for two hours of computerized learning activities.
Educational activities will be designed to help prepare the youth to reenter school if
appropriate or to prepare for the GED exams. A service day may include
classes/instruction in anger management, conflict resolution, gang avoidance, pregnancy
prevention through abstinence, team building, etc. Activities and services will be
coordinated with the therapeutic service provider. The last thirty minutes of each day
will consist of reflection and journaling activities. Youth will then be transported to their
residence. It is expected that all youth will be delivered to their residence by 5:00 p.m.
The TIGHT Program will not offer any before or after extended hours. The TIGHT
Program is structured to have a staff:youth ratio of 1:6, therefore the maximum crew at
any time will be six youth. Crews are limited to this number based upon locus of control
for the crew leader in addition to safety issues regarding work projects, transporting to
and from service sites, activities, etc.
Crew members will be eligible for bi-weekly incentives if they adhere to the behavioral
policy established for the program and if they attend as scheduled. The first four months
will consist of non-cash incentives. Incentives during this time period may include such
things as gift vouchers for compact discs, clothing, movie passes, etc. During the final
two months of participation the youth will be eligible for cash incentives based upon
attendance, participation and behavior. Youth will be able to receive a fifty dollar
incentive each week which will be payable on a bi-weekly basis. It will be the goal of the
program for all participants to earn an incentive for the time period they are enrolled. It
is anticipated that the only loss of incentive will be due to lack of adherence to the
behavioral policies and a gross negligence in attendance. The participant will be warned
and counseled prior to this disciplinary measure being enforced. Exceptions for missed
days will be allowed if there is a valid reason such as illness or notification in advance by
the parent/guardian.
Fridays of each week will be used for behavioral skill development activities. This will
include activities or workshops designed to increase the youths self esteem; social skill
development in public settings through activities such as visiting the Denver Zoo,the
Museum of Natural History and the IMAX Theater; team participation activities; etc.
The TIGHT Program will endeavor to make the Friday activities educational as well as
interesting for the youth. Participants will asked for input regarding the type of activities
that they would like to have and staff will take suggestions into consideration when
determining activities. The crew leader will be provided a cell phone and
parents/guardians will be provided the number on the first day that the child is dropped
off at the home base site.
6
In the evenings, the youth and his family will work with their assigned therapist in
developing a specific plan to help change maladaptive family patterns that placed the
youth at risk for out of home placement. Typically, the interventions would be more
frequent at the beginning of the program and become less frequent as the family made
progress in treatment. Integrated into the services, the plan is designed to help the family
develop a support system of extended family and community resources. Careful attention
will be placed on successfully transitioning the family to other community services
available to continue to support the changes that the families have chosen to make.
IV Service Projects and Service Partners
The Program will provide many of the participants with their first opportunity to get
involved in their community. It is hoped that their experience will be the beginning of a
life of positive choices and providing volunteer time to worthwhile endeavors. The
TIGHT crew will work alongside the WCYCC when appropriate and will be able to
experience projects that have a lasting impact.
Youth will participate in multiple service projects within a session and service learning
activities will take place at the project site as the opportunity arises. The crew leader will
ensure that the youth link the importance of education with the world of work and
provide practical application of skills whenever possible.
V Transportation Plan
The Program will provide transportation of youth to project sites, planned activities, and
their residence. Youth will need to be dropped off at the home base as discussed in
Section II. The Crew leader will then transport the crew to the project site and program
activities. At the end of the service day, youth will be taken to their residence.
VI Behavior Management
The Program has developed a behavioral agreement and youth will be required to sign the
agreement and return it prior to participation in the session. The TIGHT Program has
also developed a youth contract which is discussed with each youth and their family on
their first day of participation. The behavioral agreement and youth contract are included
as an attachment to this plan. These will be modified as necessary to coordinate with the
youth's therapeutic plan.
VII Program Selection
The Program is designed to serve youth who are expelled from school or who will be
preparing to earn a GED. The selection of youth for the Program will be coordinated
between the Departments of Social Services and Employment Services of Weld County.
The best scenario would be to have a diverse crew of three males and three females with
varying degrees of needs/problems. The TIGHT Program will not serve youth who are
actively engaged in drug/alcohol abuse or who are sexual predators. (If youth are actively
7
engaged in treatment and/or therapy, and their therapist considers the TIGHT Program as
beneficial, participation would be considered.) The youth and their family selected for
the program must also contract with the Department of Social Services to successfully
participate in the highly structured family based services program.
VIII Budget
The program budget is as follows:
Teamwork Innovation,Growth,Hope and Annual Salary Rate #of Amount Required
Trainin Months FTE
PERSONNEL:
Crew Leader $30,171.26 12 100% $30,171.26
Team Leader
Director
FRINGE BENEFITS RATE=30%
Crew Leader $ 8,787.75 12 100% $ 8,787.75
Team Leader
Director
OVERHEAD $6,000.00
OPERATING,EQUIPMENT,SUPPLIES:
Operating: Assessment tests such as EA,VPI,ABP,Lab costs for basic skills,remedial education $12,719.00
etc
Incentives: Certificates,cash etc $31,200.00
Crew clothing:2 short sleeve shirts, 1 long sleeve, 1 sweat shirt. 1 pair pants, 1 pair boots(cost @ $3,000.00
250 per crew member x 12 members)
$9,000.00
Behavioral Skill Activities:
TRANSPORTATION:
Trans ortation Costs $20,000.00
SUB TOTAL $120,878.01
Family Based Services #of Families Service Rate per Hr Hours of Service
Sub Total 12 $40.00 60 $28,800.00
Total $149,678.01
If this grant were awarded, Weld County would contract with existing providers who's
therapists have attained a Masters level or higher in clinical experience. Implementation
would request startup time to ensure the provider(s) have the capacity to provide services.
FBS providers are the Youth Emancipation and Services who have an excellent
reputation for providing evidence based family interventions.
8
E. Projected Outcomes:
The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Research Report ADesktop Guide to Good Juvenile Detention Practice, indicates that
there are five categories that current research has identified as causes and correlates of
delinquency. This project strongly addresses two of those categories by attaching youth
to computerized assisted educational programs, and by exposing them to the world of
work. The youth will be exposed to projects that are designed to correct some of the
damages that they have inflicted upon the community. This concept is based on evidence
presented through the restorative justice model emphasizing the healing of the wounds of
victims, offenders and communities caused or revealed by the criminal behaviors.
The intensive in-home services to be provided to eligible youth and their families would
be an outcome-driven prevention\intervention program to address a range of acting out
behaviors which place the child at risk for out of home placement or involvement with
the juvenile justice system. The goal of the intervention would be to stabilize the family
system at the time of crisis, assess and address system issues related to the child's
behaviors, and transition the family to an appropriate community resource for continued
interventions. Mother goal of the intervention would be to prevent younger siblings in
these families from penetrating the system.
The County Design will serve, on average, 6 families each month. This is an intensive
program providing an average length of intervention of six months with daily contact to
achieve the necessary behavioral changes. With a small client to therapist ratio (FBS 3:1
and TIGHT 6:1), and a course of treatment lasting six months the Department expects to
provide services to 12 families the first year
Outcome measurement is incorporated into the design, thus the FBS provider will be
collecting outcome (results) data for each case as part of its normal operations. Typically
FBS providers will monitor outcomes such as arrests, school achievements,
adjudications, or other areas identified as important.
These data will shared with the MYAT, Weld County Family and Youth Commission,
and Weld County DSS, and Employment Services on an on-going basis. In addition, if
additional funding is received, the Weld County Department of Social Services and
Employment Services will be monitoring:
• Assessment scores of pre-and post FBS in home services.
• Comparative costs of FBS in-home services vs. out-of-home placements.
• Additional involvements of any type with social services, mental health, DYC, or
other systems following services.
• Percent of siblings who do not enter the system following intervention.
• Out-of-home placement rates (DYC/CW) following services compared to rates
for youth not receiving services.
• Numbers of new D&N petitions filed following FBS services compared to similar
families not being served by this program.
9
• Tracking the cost of services.
• Level of recidivism after participation.
• Attitude towards community and out comes of community resource participation.
10
Hello