DCF S&S25 NOTICE - Q&A for Experienced ID and DD Providers.pdf

MAURA T. HEALEY KATHLEEN E. WALSH

GOVERNOR SECRETARY

KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL STAVERNE Y. MILLER

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ACTING COMMISSIONER

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

600 WASHINGTON STREET, 6th FLOOR, BOSTON, MA 02111

Tel: (617) 748-2000 Fax: (617) 261-7435 www.mass.gov/dcf

INFORMATION NOTICE

To: Experienced ID, DD Providers

CC: Procurement File

From: Andy Van Holt-Mejia, Director of Procurement and Contracts

Date: 5/22/2024

Re: Q&A for Providers of Disability Services

DCF Support & Stabilization (S&S) RFR

BD-24-1034-0009-DSS09-102793

COMMBUYS Website: COMMBUYS LOGIN

Thank you for your interest in DCF’s Support & Stabilization (S&S) RFR. When announcing the posting of the S&S RFR, DCF included outreach to organizations that specialize in providing services to individuals with disabilities, but that may not be familiar with DCF’s service arrays. This document answers questions that may be of particular interest to organizations that specialize in providing services to individuals with disabilities.

A few things to know about S&S services in general:

Who will be eligible?

The S&S service array will be for children and families served by DCF.

The S&S service array will not be open for self-referrals from families or for referrals from schools, medical offices, other state agencies, or other community-based entities.

The S&S service array is procured by DCF to provide services and support to children and families served by DCF.

What is the primary use for S&S services?

The primary use of S&S services is to keep children safe and stable at home with their family without the need for an out-of-home placement in foster care.

See the heading “Flexibility Regarding Type of Cases Served” in the S&S RFR for descriptions of other uses for S&S services.

Why are services needed from providers that specialize in serving individuals with disabilities?

When there is an open DCF case that includes a family member who has an intellectual, developmental, sensory, or physical disability, DCF needs to connect that family with a provider who has the knowledge and skills to meet the family’s needs.

If the family member with a disability is a parent, services are needed to help strengthen the parent’s capacity to keep their child(ren) safe, healthy, and well-cared for.

If the family member with a disability is a child, services are needed to support parents with learning caregiving skills that are matched to their child’s individualized needs.

If there are multiple family members with disabilities, a multi-pronged approach to service delivery is needed.

Why are DCF S&S services needed when DDS already offers services to Massachusetts citizens with disabilities?

As explained on the DDS website (https://ddsmass.github.io/eligibility-guide/), obtaining services from DDS requires applying for and being found eligible for DDS services. Many families served by DCF are not connected to DDS services. There are a variety of reasons for lack of connection: The family may be unaware of DDS; they may find the application process overwhelming; they may have hesitation about applying for services; or they may not quite meet eligibility criteria. Whatever the reason for lack of connection, when DCF is serving a family that has a member with a disability, DCF needs contracted partners who can respond to referrals and promptly start providing supportive services. Also, it is important to note that an essential component of DCF S&S services is strengthening of caregiver capacity. (See the heading “Collaboration When Multiple Providers Involved” in the RFR for a description of the protective factors framework for strengthening caregiving capacity). The DDS service array is not necessarily focused on protective factors and caregiver capacity in the same way that DCF prioritizes these issues.

In some instances, it may be possible to assist a family with the DDS application process and transfer the family from DCF S&S services to DDS services. In those cases, the DCF S&S services can be viewed as performing an essential “bridging” function between the DCF S&S services and the DDS service array.

What are the categories of DCF S&S services that providers experienced working with individuals with disabilities might be likely to deliver?

All providers interested in delivering S&S services will need to read the S&S RFR, which is posted on the COMMBUYS website. For providers experienced working with individuals with disabilities who are unfamiliar with working with DCF, Sections 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3 of the RFR will be especially helpful.

Section 2.1 provides an overview of the S&S service categories and service models.

Section 2.2 provides in-depth details of expectations for each service model.

Section 2.3 identifies under-resourced communities and describes resources that will be dedicated to improving the service array in these areas.

The following list provides some examples of service models, copied from Sections 2.1 and 2.2, that might be likely opportunities for providers with experience serving individuals with disabilities. The following list is not exhaustive. The list is provided to stimulate thinking, not to limit ideas about possible services that an agency might be interested in bidding.

Safe and Stable Family Services

Safe & Stable Safe & Stable – Peer Support Specialist (possible role for parent of a child with a disability) Safe & Stable – Social Connections and Permanency Support Safe & Stable – Group (possibility for group support for parents with a disability or possibility for group support of parents who have a child with a disability)

Comprehensive Services for Child Welfare

Comprehensive Services – Family Member with a Disability (requires a team-based approach provided both on a scheduled basis and available 24/7 to respond to emergency needs)

Therapeutic Family/Child Support for Child Welfare

Therapeutic – Family Therapeutic – Youth Therapeutic – Parent/Caregiver Specialty Group Therapeutic – Youth Specialty Group

(All four Therapeutic Family/Child Support for Child Welfare service models are designed to be delivered by licensed mental/behavioral health professionals.)

Respite for Child Welfare Services to support caregivers and children by providing caregivers with temporary relief from caregiving responsibilities. Respite care may be delivered in a consumer’s home, in a community-based location, or in a licensed setting used for overnight care of children. Respite care may be delivered on an hourly basis or a daily basis, depending on caregivers’ needs. Respite services provide children with developmentally appropriate care and supervision while away from their caregivers.

Youth Support and Stabilization

Youth Support – Enrichment (activities with accommodations to match the needs of children/youth with disabilities - arts, drama, music, sports, recreation, activities with animals)

Youth Support – Educational & Vocational (e.g., tutoring, mentoring) Youth Support – Non School Hours for Children with Disabilities (available during before and after school hours and school vacations to provide supervised activities for children with disabilities)

How will DCF know that a bidder is experienced working with individuals with disabilities?

Bidders will provide details of their experience in their responses to items on the RFR response sheets found in Appendix E. For example, on the Part B response sheet, there is a section that asks bidders to share their Specialization. In the Specialization section, bidders with experience working with individuals with disabilities will check off the item that says, “Families with at least one member who has a disability.”

Will there be a Bidders’ Conference?

Yes, there will be a Bidders’ Conference. Providers with an interest in responding to DCF’s Support & Stabilization (S&S) RFR are strongly encouraged to attend the virtual Bidders’ Conference on June 3, 2024 at 10 am. See Section 3.13 of the RFR for a link to register for the Bidders’ Conference. Providers are encouraged to register early. After registering, an email link to the Bidders’ Conference will be sent to you.

Use this email ServicesNetwork@mass.gov to submit questions for the Bidders’ Conference.