1. DCF Parenting Capacity Evaluation RFR 7.30.21.docx

Request for Response (RFR)

RFR Title: DCF Parenting Capacity Evaluation

RFR Number: DCF PCE22

July 30, 2021

Brief Description: The Department of Children and Families (DCF) seeks proposals from Bidders qualified to conduct culturally and linguistically competent and impartial parenting capacity evaluations. Approved Bidders will form a pool of provider resources across the Commonwealth available to conduct parenting capacity evaluations in response to referrals submitted by one of DCF’s 29 Area Offices.

Parenting capacity evaluations address the fit between a youth’s developmental needs and the ability of the youth’s parent to meet those needs in a manner that will provide the youth with sufficient care and protection to prevent abuse or neglect.

Table of Contents

Key Terms and Definitions

Section 1: Purpose of Procurement and Background Description

The Department of Children and Families seeks culturally and linguistically competent and impartial parenting capacity evaluations to inform decisions on core child welfare issues, which include safety and risk, placement of youth in out-of-home settings, permanency, and reunification.

Parenting capacity evaluations address the fit between a youth’s developmental needs and the ability of the youth’s parent to meet those needs in a manner that will provide the youth with sufficient care and protection to prevent abuse or neglect. Parenting capacity is about the match between the unique needs of a specific youth and the parent’s abilities to meet those needs on a consistent basis. In families with multiple youth, each youth has a different set of developmental needs. Therefore, when a parenting capacity evaluation is requested for multiple youth in a family, the fit between a parent’s abilities and a youth’s needs will be assessed separately for each youth. The evaluation will also consider the collective needs of all youth included in the referral and the parent’s capacity to meet those collective needs.

The Department will develop specific questions pertinent to each family case to frame the focus for each parenting capacity evaluation that is requested. Typically, the questions will address aspects of the following broad topic areas:

· The parent’s ability to provide a youth with the safe care needed to prevent abuse or neglect;

· The developmental needs and psychological functioning of the youth, with particular attention to factors such as age, communication skills, sexual orientation or gender identity, or disability that affect a youth’s vulnerability and level of capability for self-care;

· The parent’s emotional well-being and resilience for managing stress in a manner that does not interrupt meeting a youth’s parenting needs;

· Whether the parent has (or had) a disability, whether the disability impacts the parent’s ability to provide a safe and nurturing environment to a youth, and if so, what accommodations might be provided to the parent;

· The social and concrete supports available to the parent and youth;

· The emotional relationship between a parent and youth, including the level of attachment and affection parent and youth have for each other and the parent’s ability to promote the youth’s social growth and competence; and

· The need for and likelihood of success of treatments and interventions for any issues in which there is not a fit between a parent’s abilities and a youth’s needs and the lack of fit raises concerns regarding the adequacy of the parent’s care and protection of the youth.

The families involved with DCF come from diverse heritages and experiences that have relevance for family norms and parenting. This diversity in background and experience encompasses race, culture, national origin, language, inclusive of American Sign Language (ASL), religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, and physical or mental disability. The Department seeks Bidders qualified to conduct culturally and linguistically competent and impartial parenting capacity evaluations informed by a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes and attitudes that enable evaluators to work effectively in cross-cultural settings by understanding how diverse heritages and experiences influence family dynamics, parenting practices, child rearing expectations, and youth’s behaviors.

Section 2: Performance and Contract Specifications

2.1 DCF Mission

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) works in partnership with families and communities to ensure the safety, permanency, and well-being of the youth it serves. In most cases, DCF is able to provide supports and services to keep youth safe with parents or family members. When necessary, DCF provides foster care or finds new permanent families for youth through kinship, guardianship, or adoption.

2.2 RFR Goals and Objectives

DCF seeks proposals from Bidders qualified to conduct culturally and linguistically competent and impartial parenting capacity evaluations. Approved Bidders will form a pool of provider resources across the Commonwealth available to conduct parenting capacity evaluations in response to referrals submitted by one of DCF’s 29 Area Offices. DCF’s 29 Area Offices are organized into five regions, which oversee the operations of the Area Offices:

Fall River, New Bedford, Plymouth, Taunton

Evaluators will gather information that will allow them to respond to the specific questions that the Department develops for an individual case. Information required to conduct the evaluation will include topics such as, but not limited to, the family’s race, culture, national origin, language, inclusive of American Sign Language (ASL), religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, and physical or mental disability of a parent or youth that may require accommodations; DCF history; family history, including veteran status; relevant mental health diagnoses, including substance use, for a parent or youth; the nature and quality of the parent-youth relationship; evidence of trauma; intimate partner violence; physical health status; social and concrete supports available to the family; and the entire family context.

The deliverables that evaluators will provide to DCF include:

· The completion of a written report that summarizes the evaluation process; responds to the specific questions submitted by the Department to the evaluator; addresses the fit between a youth’s developmental needs and the ability of the youth’s parent to meet those needs in a manner that will provide the youth with sufficient care and protection to prevent abuse or neglect; and makes recommendations,

· Opportunity for DCF to discuss a written report with an evaluator to deepen understanding of the evaluation process as well as the findings and recommendations in the report,

· Participation of the evaluator in court proceedings, as requested by DCF, including testifying at a hearing or trial, and

· Participation of the evaluator in DCF clinical review teams and/or foster care reviews, as requested by DCF.

2.3 Bidder Requirements

2.3.1 Individual Practitioners or Organizations

Bidders may be individual practitioners (hereafter, “evaluators”) or organizations that employ evaluators.

2.3.2 Professional Competence

The Department considers evaluators with the following licensures as qualified to conduct culturally and linguistically competent and impartial parenting capacity evaluations:

· Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers, pursuant to 258 CMR 12.00;

· Psychologists, pursuant to 251 CMR 3.00;

· Licensed Mental Health Counselors, pursuant to 262 CMR 2.00;

· Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, pursuant to 262 CMR 3.00; or

· Professionals pursuing one of the above-listed licensures under the supervision of a professional holding one of the above-listed licensures. In these situations, the final evaluation must be signed by both the evaluator and the supervising professional.

In addition to professional competence, evaluators must be prepared to demonstrate competence to serve the population of families involved with DCF, where abuse or neglect has, or is suspected to have, occurred.

These families may have one or more of the following types of lived experiences:

· A parent and/or a youth with disabilities

· Living in poverty

· Trauma, which may be intergenerational

· Mental and behavioral health concerns, including substance use

· Difficulty with engaging in services or mistrust of government agencies

· Intergenerational experience with DCF

· Intimate partner violence and other forms of family violence

· Experiences of discrimination, bias, and racial trauma

The questions that accompany each referral will differ based on the unique circumstances of the case. In addition to addressing the specific questions, evaluators will note any additional issues that have relevance for a youth’s safety and risk that may not have been addressed in the referral questions provided by DCF.

Evaluators will consider what specific competencies are required for each referral. For situations in which the evaluator possesses the needed competencies, they will conduct the evaluation independently. Otherwise, evaluators are expected to supplement the evaluation by consulting with one or more professionals who possess the necessary competencies. Initiation of, and arrangement for, such consultation is the responsibility of the evaluator because cultural competency is an expectation for parenting capacity evaluations.

Consultation may be needed regarding specialized knowledge of various factors that affect parenting, such as physical, cognitive or developmental disabilities, mental health, substance use disorders, and patterns of intimate partner violence. Consultation may also be needed to ensure competency regarding cultural norms for child-rearing, treating illnesses, and disciplining youth. In circumstances when consultation is needed, evaluators will be expected to partner with individuals or organizations (e.g., community-based organizations, faith-based and charitable organizations, tribal organizations, or voluntary associations) that have the professional and cultural competencies needed to supplement the competencies of the evaluator.

To ensure linguistic competence, evaluators will:

· Offer language assistance, including ASL and Communication Access Realtime Translation Service (CART) from certified providers to individuals who have limited English proficiency and/or other communication needs, at no cost to them,

· Inform, verbally and in writing, all parents and youth of the availability of language assistance

· Ensure the competence of individuals providing language assistance, recognizing that the use of untrained individuals and/or minors as interpreters should be avoided.

· Provide easy-to-understand print and multimedia materials in the languages commonly used by the parents and youth referred for evaluations.

If needed, DCF will assist with arranging and reimbursing interpreting services for low prevalence languages or dialects (i.e., used by less than .05% of the Massachusetts population) or for communication services that are difficult to secure, including ASL and CART certified providers.

The families involved with DCF come from diverse racial, cultural, and linguistic heritages, which have relevance for family norms and parenting practices. The data provided in Attachment A shows the racial, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds of the families served in DCF’s 29 Area Offices. Bidders are expected to use this data to understand and be responsive to the diverse cultural backgrounds of the parents and youth for whom parenting capacity evaluations will be conducted.

2.3.3 Impartiality

The Department seeks culturally and linguistically competent and impartial parenting capacity evaluations. Evaluators shall have no other relationship, either formal or informal, with the adults and youth for whom a parenting capacity evaluation is requested. If an evaluator has a personal or professional relationship with either the adults or youth in a referred case, the evaluator shall decline the referral. Instances in which an evaluator had a past professional relationship that terminated more than 12 months prior to receipt of a referral will be permitted when the evaluator’s self-assessment determines that conducting the evaluation is aligned with the ethical guidelines of the evaluator’s profession and when the evaluator meets the following conditions:

· The evaluator notifies the DCF referral source of the past professional relationship,

· The evaluator engages consultation from another professional with the competencies listed in Section 2.3.2 for the explicit purpose of discussing and reviewing both the process and final evaluation report with the evaluator to guard against unwarranted judgements and unintended biases based on the previous professional relationship, and

· Details of the past professional relationship and the strategies used to avoid bias as a result of that past relationship are described in the written report.

While conducting the evaluation or during the pendency of a legal matter in which the evaluation is considered, an evaluator shall not engage adult or youth examinees as clients for therapy or any other professional services, including services paid for by DCF.

If the evaluator is employed by an agency that provides therapy or other services for the youth or parent examinee, the agency must have and follow policies and procedures to ensure impartiality in communicating about the case. These policies and procedures must include expectations for the professional conducting a parenting capacity evaluation to communicate about the case with agency colleagues who are providing therapy or other services for the family in the same professional manner as communicating with collaterals employed by other agencies.

Evaluators will base findings and recommendations included in the evaluation report on an unbiased review of all available data and information, which will include evaluators’ own observations of and interactions and interviews with parents and youth. Evaluators, based on their training, experience, and knowledge of research and professional literature, will use the generally accepted methods and procedures of their profession when conducting the evaluation and will disclose any limitations to the findings and recommendations.

In written reports, discussions with staff at DCF, and court testimony, evaluators are expected to distinguish and clarify the differences among the data and information reviewed to inform an evaluation, inferences, and recommendations. The evaluator must provide the underlying reasoning for summary conclusions and recommendations.

To remain impartial, evaluators shall not adopt a stance of advocacy regarding an individual case or regarding characteristics of the broader child welfare or legal system within which they work.

2.4 Service to Area Offices

The RFR is released on a statewide basis. However, in their responses, Bidders must indicate which Regions they are able to serve, opting out of certain Area Offices if needed. DCF may negotiate defined geographic service areas with Bidders, especially when the Bidder offers unique specialized expertise that may be needed in multiple geographic locations across the Commonwealth.

The Bidder must provide services within the contracted service delivery area selected when properly authorized and as requested by DCF. For a full list of Massachusetts towns and their corresponding catchments and DCF Area Offices, please see Attachment B.

Evaluators’ service hours must be flexible and include afternoon, evening, and weekend hours to accommodate working parents and must accommodate school-age youth by scheduling interviews and observations at times that do not interfere with school attendance and participation in school activities. Preferably, interviews and observations with school-age youth will be conducted outside of school hours. The evaluator must conduct interviews and observations in the most natural, least restrictive settings possible, such as homes or community settings, so that information collected accurately represents family functioning. Locations for interviews and observations must be locations convenient for parents and youth. Observations and interviews shall not be conducted in a youth’s out-of-home placement or in a therapeutic setting where the parent and youth are receiving therapy.

2.5 Technology-Aided Communication

Use of technology-aided communication (e.g., telephone, video conferencing) rather than in-person communication is reasonable and permitted when the evaluator is interacting with:

· Consultants,

· Collaterals (e.g., the provider of a specific service to the family), and

· DCF staff (e.g., the referrer or service team, when further discussion is needed).

Evaluators must interact with parents and youth in the same physical location, unless the referral from DCF indicates that use of technology-aided communication is reasonable and permitted. Reasonable circumstances may include accommodating:

· A family’s cultural or linguistic needs,

· A family’s scheduling needs,

· A family’s access to transportation,

· A parent’s or youth’s disability, or

· Other specialized circumstances identified by DCF.

In all instances in which video conferencing is allowed rather than in-person communications, the audio/visual fidelity, clarity, and field of view of the video conferencing must be functionally equivalent to an interaction in which participants are in the same physical location. In all instances in which video conferencing is allowed rather than in-person communications, the evaluator will ensure access for parents and youth to technology for participating in video conferencing.

If the evaluator would like to propose technology-aided communication rather than in-person communications with either a parent or youth, the evaluator must receive approval from the DCF referral source for each unique occurrence when technology-aided communication is proposed to be used instead of in-person communication.

2.6 Eligible Population

Referrals will be for parents and youth being served by DCF on an open case.

2.7 Service Authorization and Referral Process

The provider will receive referrals from DCF Area Offices, which will include relevant history and the questions being asked, which will focus on the protective concerns of the case and the individual needs of both the youth and parents. Referrals for parenting capacity evaluations may occur at any point in the life of a case, when youth are living with parents, when youth are in out-of-home placements, or when there is planning for reunification. DCF will provide the referral questions prior to the evaluator initiating the evaluation process. Background information, including, if known, whether any family member will require an accommodation as a result of a disability, will be shared through a variety of documents, which may include a Family Assessment and Action Plan (FAAP), prior reports, or assessments. Information will be shared pursuant to applicable statute and regulations governing confidentiality and privilege.

The evaluator must respond to case-specific questions and follow any case-specific instructions provided in the referral documents. Should the evaluator have a concern or disagreement about the case-specific questions or instructions, the evaluator will, within three (3) business days of receipt of the referral, notify the DCF referral source of the concern or disagreement. At DCF’s discretion, DCF may convene a resolution meeting, which will include the DCF Clinical Team (e.g., social worker, supervisor, area program manager, area clinical manager).

2.7.1 Initiating and Completing Services

· The provider must communicate acceptance or non-acceptance of the referral within three (3) business days of receipt of the referral.

· The provider must make contact with the family within seven (7) calendar days of acceptance of the referral.

· If the evaluator is unable to meet the timelines in A or B above for any reason, the evaluator must:

· Communicate this to the DCF referral source.

· Document each contact attempt, including the method of contact used.

· Contact the DCF referral source requesting alternate family contact information and document this request.

DCF will determine whether the referral should be sent to a different provider.

· The evaluation report must be submitted no later than 35 calendar days from receipt of referral. If, due to the number of youth in the family, or the complexity of the family’s circumstances, the evaluation cannot be completed within that number of days, the provider shall request an extension from the DCF referral source.

· If an evaluation is needed immediately, the provider must work with DCF to expedite service delivery whenever possible, at no additional cost to DCF.

2.8 Cultural Competence

Evaluations shall be culturally competent, which means that the parenting capacity evaluations will be informed by a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes and attitudes that enable evaluators to work effectively in cross-cultural settings by understanding how diverse heritages and experiences influence family dynamics, parenting practices, child rearing expectations, and youth’s behaviors. The term “culturally competent” is inclusive, spanning race, culture, national origin, language, inclusive of American Sign Language (ASL), religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity; physical or mental disability; and, family history, including veteran status.

If evaluators lack the necessary expertise to conduct a culturally competent evaluation, evaluators shall consult with professionals who possess the necessary competencies.

Cultural competency includes:

· A thorough understanding of a parent’s and youth’s cultures, including traditions and societal norms within their community;

· An understanding of the impact of oppression on the lives of populations served;

· Adequate oral or written communication capacity to serve the needs of the parent and youth, including meeting the communication needs of individuals from the deaf and hard of hearing community and individuals who are blind or have vision loss; and

· An understanding of the full range of sexual orientations and gender identifications currently summarized as LGBTQ+.

The provider must conduct all services with sensitivity to the following areas, including, but not limited to:

· Race

· Culture

· National Origin

· Language, inclusive of American Sign Language (ASL)

· Religion

· Age

· Sexual orientation and gender identification

· Physical or mental disability and developmental needs

· Family history, including veteran status

· Medical/Psychiatric History and Functioning

· Level of Education Providers must fully comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Under these laws, providers must provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities, unless doing so would provide undue hardship. Should the provision of accommodations create undue hardship for an evaluator, the evaluator must communicate the hardship to DCF. DCF will either arrange for accommodations itself or transfer the referral to an evaluator who can make the accommodations.

2.9 Evaluation Services

The following sections describe the process for conducting a parenting capacity evaluation.

2.9.1 Participant Orientation to Services

Evaluators shall orient the parent and youth, as age and developmentally appropriate, both verbally and in writing to the evaluation process, the importance of the evaluation, how the evaluation will be used, and reasons for participating in the evaluation process. Written materials must be translated, adapted, and/or provided in alternative formats based on the needs and preferences of the populations served. To orient participants effectively, evaluators must be skilled in engaging in collaborative, person-centered communications.

Use of parenting capacity evaluations to assist with core decision-making in child protection is a foundational practice in child welfare. Therefore, evaluators’ orientation shall communicate the commonness of parenting capacity evaluations so that parents and youth understand they are not being singled out for an unusual process. Evaluators shall avoid use of any threatening or coercive language regarding requirements for participating in a parenting capacity evaluation.

The evaluator shall provide the participant with an informational packet in the participant’s primary or preferred language consisting of the following information. DCF will provide a standard packet of information, which the evaluator shall customize for each specific case. The standard packet will include:

· Description of parenting capacity evaluation process, including the nature and purpose of the evaluation, the nature of the relationship between the evaluator and DCF, the requirement for the evaluation to be impartial, and any other material facts regarding the evaluation process and reporting;

· Participant’s rights, informed consent and assent, limits of confidentiality and privacy protections, which include that any communication is not privileged and may be used in court proceedings;

· Description of the evaluator’s mandated reporter responsibilities; and

· Participation is voluntary and may be terminated at any time.

The evaluator must customize the standard information packet by adding the following:

· Description of the case-specific referral questions provided by DCF that will be covered in the evaluation, and

· Provider’s hours of operation, contact person, and contact information.

2.9.2 Description of the Evaluation

Parenting capacity evaluations focus on parenting abilities and the parent-youth fit rather than on the parent’s cognitive or personality functioning in general. DCF referral questions will focus on the protective concerns of the case and the individual needs of both the youth and parents.

In families with multiple youth, each youth has a different set of developmental needs. Therefore, when a parenting capacity evaluation is requested for multiple youth in a family, the fit between a parent’s abilities and a youth’s needs will be assessed separately for each youth. The evaluation will also consider the collective needs of all youth included in the referral and the parent’s capacity to meet those collective needs.

2.9.2.1 Methods of Data Gathering

Evaluators shall use multiple methods of data gathering, which may include but not be limited to record reviews, interviews, observations, and discussions with collateral sources. Evaluators are expected to observe the youth together with the parent in natural settings, such as homes or community settings familiar to the youth and parent. Any barriers to conducting an observation of the youth and parent in a natural setting that the evaluator cannot overcome shall be communicated to the DCF referral source. In rare instances, DCF may be able to assist with arranging an in-person observation in a natural setting or waive the requirement that the observation must occur in a natural setting and allow observation in a DCF Area Office.

The written report from the evaluator will detail all methods of data gathering used to conduct the parenting capacity evaluation.

2.9.2.2 Evaluation Report: Content

Evaluators must:

· Include the parent’s own understanding of the reason for the evaluation and share the parent’s own words that describe their understanding, as distinct from the evaluator’s interpretation of the parent’s understanding.

· Respond to DCF’s referral questions, which will focus on the protective concerns of the case and the individual needs of both the youth and parents.

· Describe the behavior and skills in everyday performance that illustrate what the parent understands, believes, knows, does, and is able to do with regard to the specific questions that DCF will provide.

· Look for and document evidence of minimal parenting standards in the parent-youth relationship(s) referenced in the referral, taking the family’s cultural norms into account rather than comparing the parent to “optimal” or arbitrary standards. This means accepting that parenting practices differ among cultural, ethnic, and economic groups and respecting such differences in culture, practice, and access to resources.

· Assess and document the emotional relationship between a parent and youth, including the level of attachment and affection the parent and youth have for each other

· Identify and document contextual factors, including but not limited to, the family’s neighborhood, social network, concrete resources, formal and informal supports, and trauma history.

· Describe the parent’s current strengths as well as weaknesses as they relate to the fit between the parent’s skills and abilities and the youth’s needs, which include, but are not limited to, medical, physical, educational, psychological, emotional, developmental, and social needs. Assessments of psychological, emotional, or cognitive functioning are not designed or validated to assess parenting skills. Assessments of a parent’s psychological, emotional, or cognitive functioning may inform the parenting capacity evaluation, but are not the purpose of, and shall not be substituted for, the parenting capacity evaluation.

· Look for and document convergence and lack of convergence among the different data sources (e.g., referral information, parent interviews, collateral interviews, youth interviews, observations of parent and youth) to create a fair representation of the parent’s skills and abilities to meet a youth’s needs for care and protection.

· Suggest potential services, treatments, or interventions to address any lack of fit between a parent’s skills and abilities and a youth’s needs, especially the youth’s need for safety and protection.

· Draw conclusions and recommendations using standard professional methods to evaluate and synthesize the information gathered and clearly identify the inferences upon which the evaluator is basing those conclusions and recommendations.

· Avoid making specific determinations and recommendations about questions that are the domain of the Department or the court, such as the determination of whether abuse or neglect has occurred or the determination of whether DCF should seek custody. Instead, the evaluation should offer behavioral descriptions, possible explanations, and directions for interventions that will improve parenting capacity.

· Make note of any additional issues that have relevance for a youth’s safety and risk that may not have been addressed in the referral questions provided by DCF.

2.9.2.3 Evaluation Report: Administrative Requirements

· Respond to all questions in the referral received from DCF.

· Compose the evaluation at no higher than an eighth-grade reading level, with all acronyms defined.

· Provide a chronology of assessment activities, including the dates of activities, the full names of participants in observations and interviews, and the locations of observations and interviews.

· Provide the names of any psychological tests or assessments administered and the rationale for their use.

· Include only those diagnostic terms that have relevance for describing a parent’s skills and abilities to meet the youth’s needs. If diagnostic terms are included, explain what they mean in lay terms and in a manner that respects the dignity of the individuals with the diagnosis, the basis for the diagnosis, and how the diagnostic condition is relevant to parenting.

· Provide the full name, professional title, degree, discipline, and licensure status of all participating evaluators, consultants, and supervisors.

· Submit reports to the DCF referral source within the agreed-upon timeframe. No other copies of the report shall be distributed without DCF consent. Reports should be submitted electronically in PDF format. Electronic submission must use a secure file transfer process provided by or approved by DCF. Upon request from DCF, the evaluation will be submitted physically in hard copy. Use of a “delivery receipt” through email or physical delivery confirmation is recommended.

2.9.3 Sample Outline of a Parenting Capacity Evaluation

The questions that accompany each referral will differ based on the unique circumstances of the case. The following outline is an example of the sections that DCF will expect in each parenting capacity evaluation report. Additional sections may be included by the evaluator if relevant for providing a thorough evaluation of parenting capacity. Evaluation reports must comply with the requirements in Sections 2.9.2.2 and 2.9.2.3.

I. Identifying information

a. List identifying information for all participants, collaterals, and professionals involved in the evaluation

i. Examples of identifiers: persons evaluated (including names, birthdates, and ages),

ii. Provide the full name, professional title, degree, discipline, and licensure status of all participating evaluators, consultants, and supervisors. Include those who supplemented evaluators’ expertise in areas such as cultural competence, intimate partner violence, substance abuse, disabilities, and other factors specific to the family.

b. List referral source, date of referral, and date of report II. Reason for referral

a. Include the specific clinical questions to be answered, which will focus on the protective concerns of the case and the individual needs of both the youth and parents.

b. Include the parent’s own understanding of the reason for the evaluation. Document the parent’s actual words, not the evaluator’s interpretation of the parent’s understanding.

III. Summary of activities and records reviewed

a. Chronologically list activities (including date, type of activity, full names of persons involved, and locations)

i. Examples of activities (e.g., interviews with family members and collateral sources, observations, record reviews, and assessments)

b. List relevant records reviewed IV. Summary of relevant information obtained

a. Describe relevant information from all activities and records reviewed, citing sources to clarify what information came from what source, noting discrepancies or consistencies across sources

b. Identify contextual factors including, but not limited to, the family’s neighborhood, social network, concrete resources, formal and informal supports, and trauma history likely to influence parenting capacity.

c. Look for convergence and lack of convergence among the different data sources (e.g., referral information, parent interviews, collateral interviews, youth interviews, observations of parent and youth) to create a fair representation of the parent’s skills and abilities to meet a youth’s needs for care and protection.

V. Describe any limitations in the evaluation, which may include the parent’s comprehension of questions, time limits, cultural or language differences, gaps in evaluation activities, or parent or youth illness during evaluation VI. Psychological, emotional, or cognitive assessment administered [This section not required if no assessments were administered.]

a. List each psychological, emotional, or cognitive assessment (full name) used, if any

i. Summarize results of psychological, emotional, or cognitive assessments by describing the assessments’ relevance for parenting capacity, respecting that a single psychological, emotional, or cognitive assessment is not a validated source for determining parenting capacity.

ii. State whether findings from individual assessments are valid, evaluator’s basis for the judgment, and implications for interpreting the relevance to parenting capacity VII. Warning of limits on confidentiality

a. Indicate that the parent has been notified regarding the limits on confidentiality of the evaluation and any information gathered during the course of the evaluation and has provided their informed consent

b. Describe the parent’s understanding of the notice regarding limits on confidentiality and how the evaluator determined the parent’s comprehension of the notice

c. Indicate that collateral sources have been notified that the evaluation will be shared with DCF and other relevant parties, which may include courts, as determined by DCF.

VIII. Response to DCF’s referral questions

a. For each referral question, describe the information used to develop a response to the question, the evaluator’s interpretation of the information, and the information’s relevance for describing and understanding parent-youth fit.

b. Describe the parent’s parenting strengths and protective capacities as well as deficits and risks as they bear on the referral questions and the parent-youth fit for each youth included in the referral questions.

c. Avoid making specific determinations and recommendations about questions that are the domain of the Department or the court (i.e., whether a parent’s rights should be terminated or if a parent should be granted unsupervised visits), but instead provide factual, behaviorally specific, and logical information that informs understanding of parent-youth fit.

d. Make note of any additional issues that may have relevance for a youth’s future safety and risk that were not included in the referral questions provided by DCF.[footnoteRef:2] This may include the emotional relationship between a parent and youth, including the level of attachment and affection the parent and youth have for each other, if not addressed in the DCF referral questions. [2: As licensed human service professionals who are mandated reporters of child abuse or neglect, evaluators are required to follow Massachusetts General Law (MGL c.119, § 51A) on the reporting of suspected abuse or neglect. ]

IX. Summary of recommendations

a. Suggest potential services, treatments, or interventions to improve, as needed, the fit between a parent’s skills and abilities and a youth’s needs

b. Link the recommendations to the family’s unique strengths and needs as described in the responses to DCF referral questions.

c. Avoid making recommendations on topics unrelated to the referral questions unless related to issues that may influence a youth’s future safety and risk that were not included in the referral questions X. Signature

a. Provide full name, professional degree, license number, and signature of evaluator (and supervisor, if any)

2.10 Partnership with the Department

The contractual relationship between the Department and individuals or organizations selected to deliver culturally and linguistically competent and impartial parenting capacity evaluations requires Contractors to deliver evaluations consistent with the specifications in this RFR. The Department may conduct contract management reviews and/or provide technical assistance to support Contractors in fulfilling the RFR specifications. Insights from contract monitoring may be used to amend contract requirements in ways that will improve the quality of parenting capacity evaluations.

Within the contractual relationship, the Department seeks to partner with Contractors in a manner that prioritizes obtaining high quality, impartial, culturally and linguistically competent parenting capacity evaluations to inform core child welfare decisions. Reports may be reasonably requested by DCF on a regular or ad hoc basis pursuant to its obligation to monitor and evaluate purchased services.

2.10.1 Contract Management

Contractors shall participate in any contract management processes, which may include, but not be limited to, responding to feedback regarding:

· Comparisons of evaluation reports to the specifications in this RFR;

· The timeliness of responding to referrals and submitting evaluation reports;

· Policies and procedures that ensure impartiality in communicating about the case when the agency also provides therapy or other services for the youth or parent examinee.

Section 3: RFR General Description Information

3.1 Issuing Entity, RFR Distribution and Contact Information

600 Washington Street Boston, MA 02111

3.2 World Trade Organization (WTO) Government Procurement Agreement This procurement is subject to the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement, established January 1, 1996, to encourage worldwide trade by ensuring fairness, non-discrimination, and equal treatment of laws, regulations and procedures in the government process. In compliance with the advertising requirement of this agreement, the actual RFR documents for this procurement are being posted on COMMBUYS for at least 40 days prior to the Bid Opening Date (also known as Response Due Date).

3.3 Regulations Governing Procurement

The terms of 801 CMR 21.00: Procurement of Commodities or Services Including Human and Social Services and 808 CMR 1.00: Compliance, Reporting and Auditing for Human and Social Services are incorporated by reference into this RFR. Words used in this RFR shall have the meanings defined in 801 CMR 21.00 and in 808 CMR 1.00. All communications, responses, and documentation must be in English and all cost figures in U.S. currency. All responses must be submitted in accordance with the specific terms of this RFR. In addition, this RFR incorporates relevant provisions of the current Operational Services Division Required Specifications. Any updates or amendments to these Specifications during the life of this procurement are also incorporated.

3.4 COMMBUYS Market Center

COMMBUYS Market Center. COMMBUYS is the official source of information for this Bid and is publicly accessible at no charge at www.commbuys.com. Information contained in this document and in COMMBUYS, including file attachments and information contained in the related Bid Questions and Answers (Q&A), are all components of the Bid, as referenced in COMMBUYS, and are incorporated into the Bid and any resulting contract.

Bidders are solely responsible for obtaining all information distributed for this Bid via COMMBUYS. Bid Q&A supports Bidder submission of written questions associated with a Bid and publication of official answers.

It is each Bidder’s responsibility to check COMMBUYS for:

· Any amendments, addenda, or modifications to this Bid, and

· Any Bid Q&A records related to this Bid.

The Commonwealth accepts no responsibility and will provide no accommodation to Bidders who submit a Quote based on an out-of-date Bid or on information received from a source other than COMMBUYS.

COMMBUYS Registration. To respond to a Bid, Bidders must register and maintain an active COMMBUYS Seller account. Bidders may elect to obtain a free COMMBUYS Seller registration which provides value-added features, including automated email notification associated with postings and modifications to COMMBUYS records.

All Bidders submitting a Quote (previously referred to as Response) in response to this Bid (previously referred to as Solicitation) agree that, if awarded a contract: (1) they will maintain an active seller account in COMMBUYS; and (2) in the…