DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Mario Martinez, Assistant Director
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Authorizing an amendment to an agreement with Communities in Schools of San Antonio for the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District for a term ending June 30, 2021.
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes an amendment to an agreement with Communities in Schools of San Antonio (CISSA) for a total amount not to exceed $216,000 during the renewal period, a term ending June 30, 2021, for additional services related to the provision of behavioral mental health counseling for youth and adolescents and/or their families affected by domestic violence. Funding for this agreement is available in the City’s FY 2021 General Fund Budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In September 2020, City Council authorized an agreement with CISSA for youth and adolescent health services to provide behavioral mental health counseling sessions that address current inadequate access to care while promoting mental health wellness through services provided by Licensed Professional Counselors. CISSA was contracted to provide a minimum of 400 behavioral mental health counseling sessions for students and/or their families affected by domestic violence through a various types of therapy-including Dialectical Therapy, Solution Focused, Person-Centered, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Play Therapy Techniques-and provide community referrals for basic needs and psychiatric evaluation.
In January 2021, City Council authorized a renewal and amendment to the agreement with CISSA to allow Metro Health to continue funding youth and adolescent mental health counseling services for youth and their families affected by domestic violence. The first amendment to the agreement with CISSA provided for an additional 1,000 behavioral mental health counseling sessions for the term ending June 30, 2021 and a renewal amount of $150,000.00 in compensation.
Authorization of the proposed second amendment to the agreement with CISSA will allow for a Case Manager to provide wraparound and family strengthening services to students and families receiving behavioral mental health counseling sessions. The additional services will increase the compensation to a total amount up to $216,000.00 during the renewal term.
ISSUE:
Metro Health is requesting City Council authorization of an amendment to an agreement with CISSA for youth and adolescent health services to provide behavioral and mental health counseling and case management services for youth and their families affected by domestic violence. In the event COVID-19 dictates, CISSA clinicians are fully trained to provide tele-counseling services via HIPPA approved video conferencing and phone-based communication platforms.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should this contract not be authorized, Metro Health will be unable to move forward with plans for providing case management services to youth and their families receiving behavioral mental health counseling sessions.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes an amendment to an agreement with Communities in Schools of San Antonio (CISSA) to increase the compensation by an additional $66,000.00 for a total amount of $216,000 during the renewal term for additional services related to the provision of behavioral mental health counseling for teens for a term ending June 30, 2021. The amendment with CISSA will be funded by the FY 2021 General Fund Budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends City Council authorize an amendment to the agreement with CISSA to support Metro Health’s domestic violence prevention efforts.