DCF S&S25 NOTICE - RFR Amendment 7.17.24.pdf

MAURA T. HEALEY

GOVERNOR

Central Office

600 Washington Street, 6th Floor

Boston, MA 02111

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

KATHLEEN E. WALSH

SECRETARY

KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

STAVERNE Y. MILLER

ACTING COMMISSIONER

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN & FAMILIES

Department of Children and Families Amendments to Request for Response

RFR Title: Support and Stabilization

RFR Number: DCF S&S25

Amendment #2 July 17, 2024 The Request for Response for DCF Support and Stabilization S&S25 issued by the Department of Children and Families on May 10, 2024 shall be amended as follows:

1. DCF S&S25 RFR Section 2.2 Service Model Descriptions, Safe and Stable Family Services – Safe & Stable Rate Unit (pg. 36)

Service Model Safe & Stable

Description Assist parents/caregivers with building their capacity to keep children safe and stable in a family-based setting based on the individualized strengths and needs of the caregiver and the children.

Rate Unit Daily

DCF S&S25 RFR Section 2.2 Service Model Descriptions, Safe and Stable Family Services – Safe & Stable Rate Unit (pg. 36) is amended as follows:

Service Model Safe & Stable

Description Assist parents/caregivers with building their capacity to keep children safe and stable in a family-based setting based on the individualized strengths and needs of the caregiver and the children.

Rate Unit Hourly http://www.mass.gov/dcf

2. DCF S&S25 RFR Section 2.2 Service Model Descriptions, Comprehensive Services – Therapeutic Staffing (pg. 48)

Staffing The staffing model must support 24/7 in-person availability and include multiple team members.

Team members who deliver services and supports other than therapy should have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree or a minimum of 5 years’ related experience. Licensure is desirable, but not required.

Clinicians delivering therapy should have a minimum of a master’s degree with licensure or be enrolled in a training program in preparation for licensure.

Staff responsible for clinical supervision should have a minimum of a master’s degree with independent licensure or be enrolled in a training program leading toward independent licensure. Supervisory/managerial experience is desirable but not required.

Staff responsible for non-clinical supervision and program management should have either a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 3 years’ related work experience or a master’s degree. Licensure for supervisory and program management staff is desirable, but not required.

Hiring staff with relevant lived experience is desirable, but not required.

Providers may meet responsibilities for Continuous Quality Improvement in different ways. If there is an internal staff person with the skills and available time to collect, analyze, and summarize data on service delivery and outcomes, the provider may fulfill the CQI function by relying on internal staff.

If there is not internal capacity to manage the CQI function, the provider may subcontract this work.

DCF S&S25 RFR Section 2.2 Service Model Descriptions, Comprehensive Services – Therapeutic Staffing (pg. 48) is amended as follows:

Staffing The staffing model must support 24/7 in-person availability and include multiple team members.

Team members who deliver services and supports other than therapy should have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree or a minimum of 5 years’ related experience. Licensure is desirable, but not required.

Clinicians delivering therapy should have a minimum of a master’s degree with licensure.

Staff responsible for clinical supervision should have a minimum of a master’s degree with independent licensure or be enrolled in a training program leading toward independent licensure. Supervisory/managerial experience is desirable but not required.

Staff responsible for non-clinical supervision and program management should have either a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 3 years’ related work experience or a master’s degree. Licensure for supervisory and program management staff is desirable, but not required.

Hiring staff with relevant lived experience is desirable, but not required.

Providers may meet responsibilities for Continuous Quality Improvement in different ways. If there is an internal staff person with the skills and available time to collect, analyze, and summarize data on service delivery and outcomes, the provider may fulfill the CQI function by relying on internal staff.

If there is not internal capacity to manage the CQI function, the provider may subcontract this work.

3. APPENDIX E.1: Response Sheet Part A: Provider Organization General Response, Questions 10 and 11

Racial/Cultural/Ethnic Specialization

10. If your organization has specialization with serving any racial, cultural, and/or ethnic populations, please list them below. Please insert additional rows, if necessary.

Service Limits

11. As an organization, DCF expects providers to be prepared to serve children and families from a wide variety of life experiences and cultural and linguistic backgrounds. If the mission of your organization is such that you only work with certain populations (e.g., speakers of certain language; individuals with cognitive disabilities), please describe below.

APPENDIX E.1: Response Sheet Part A: Provider Organization General Response, Questions 10 and 11 are amended as follows:

Ability to Work With Diverse Populations or a Specialized Mission The Department serves families of diverse and intersecting identities and needs, which span race, culture, language, lived experience, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, education, etc. This makes it essential that providers of S&S services assist the Department in meeting consumers’ diverse and intersecting needs. To do this, the Department seeks all types of providers – those designed to serve a broad population and those designed to serve a more specialized population or populations. Please answer question 10 or 11 below based on your organization’s abilities and experiences.

10. Organizations that meet the needs of a broad array of consumers. Please describe strategies your organization uses to ensure ability to work effectively with individuals and families from diverse backgrounds and life experiences, as described above. Within this approach, does your organization identify as having any type of specialization with serving a particular population, as described above? If so, please list them below.

11. Organizations with a specialized scope of service. Please list below the particular population or populations served by your organization. Describe your organization’s history in meeting the specialized needs of this particular population or populations. These populations may span race, culture, language, lived experience, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, education, etc.

4. APPENDIX F.1: Response Sheet Part A: Individual Provider General Response, Questions 10

10. If you have specialization with serving any racial, cultural, and/or ethnic populations, please list them below. Please insert additional rows, if necessary.

Service Limits

11. As an Individual Provider, DCF expects you to be prepared to serve children and families with a wide variety of life experiences and cultural and linguistic backgrounds. If you only work with certain populations, or there are limits on the populations that you work with, please describe below.

APPENDIX F.1: Response Sheet Part A: Individual Provider General Response, Questions 10 and 11 are amended as follows:

The Department serves families of diverse and intersecting identities and needs, which span race, culture, language, lived experience, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, education, etc. This makes it essential that providers of S&S services assist the Department in meeting consumers’ diverse and intersecting needs. To do this, the Department seeks all types of providers – those designed to serve a broad population and those designed to serve a more specialized population or populations. Please answer question 10 or 11 below based on your abilities and experiences.

10. Individual Providers that meet the needs of a broad array of consumers. Please describe strategies you use to ensure ability to work effectively with individuals and families from diverse backgrounds and life experiences, as described above. Within this approach, do you identify as having any type of specialization with serving a particular population, as described above? If so, please list them below.

11. Individual Providers with a specialized scope of service. Please list below the particular population or populations you serve. Describe your history in meeting the specialized needs of this particular population or populations. These populations may span race, culture, language, lived experience, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, education, etc.

5. APPENDIX G Evaluation Sheet for Part A: Provider Organization General Response, Questions 10 and 11

Max

Score: 5 Points

10. If your organization has specialization with serving any racial, cultural, and/or ethnic populations, please list them below. Please insert additional rows, if necessary.

Service Limits Max

Score: 5 Points

11. As an organization, DCF expects providers to be prepared to serve children and families of a wide variety of life experiences and cultural and linguistic backgrounds. If the mission of your organization is such that you only work with certain populations, or there are limits on the populations that you work with, please describe below.

APPENDIX G Evaluation Sheet for Part A: Provider Organization General Response, Questions 10 and 11 are amended as follows:

Score: 10 Points

10. Organizations that meet the needs of a broad array of consumers. Please describe strategies your organization uses to ensure ability to work effectively with individuals and families from diverse backgrounds and life experiences, as described above. Within this approach, does your organization identify as having any type of specialization with serving a particular population, as described above? If so, please list them below.

11. Organizations with a specialized scope of service. Please list below the particular population or populations served by your organization. Describe your organization’s history in meeting the specialized needs of this particular population or populations.

These populations may span race, culture, language, lived experience, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, education, etc.

6. APPENDIX H Evaluation Sheet for Part A: Individual Provider General Response, Questions 10

Score: 5 Points

10. If you have specialization with serving any racial, cultural, and/or ethnic populations, please list them below. Please insert additional rows, if necessary.

Service Limits

Score: 5 Points

11. As an Individual Provider, DCF expects you to be prepared to serve children and families with a wide variety of life experiences and cultural and linguistic backgrounds. If you only work with certain populations, or there are limits on the populations that you work with, please describe below.

APPENDIX H Evaluation Sheet for Part A: Individual Provider General Response, Questions 10 and 11 are amended as follows:

Score: 10 Points

10. Individual Providers that meet the needs of a broad array of consumers. Please describe strategies you use to ensure ability to work effectively with individuals and families from diverse backgrounds and life experiences, as described above. Within this approach, do you identify as having any type of specialization with serving a particular population, as described above? If so, please list them below.

11. Individual Providers with a specialized scope of service. Please list below the particular population or populations you serve. Describe your history in meeting the specialized needs of this particular population or populations. These populations may span race, culture, language, lived experience, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, education, etc.

7. APPENDIX E.14: Response Sheet Part B: Youth Support and Stabilization, Question 7

7. For Youth Support – Educational & Vocational: Serving youth with a disability or disabilities requires collaboration across multiple systems and service providers. Please explain how your organization handles this collaborative work including names and descriptions of the systems and service providers with which your organization collaborates.

APPENDIX E.14: Response Sheet Part B: Youth Support and Stabilization, Question 7 is amended as follows:

7. For Youth Support - Educational & Vocational: Based on the ages and developmental levels of the youth you are proposing to serve, please describe the techniques your organization will use to promote youth’s engagement with and success in school, and the type of vocational exploration that will be offered, as developmentally appropriate.

8. APPENDIX G Evaluation Sheet for Part B: Service Model Response, Youth Support – Educational & Vocational

Service Model-Specific

Score: 30 Points

7. For Youth Support – Educational & Vocational: Serving youth with a disability or disabilities requires collaboration across multiple systems and service providers. Please explain how your organization handles this collaborative work including names and descriptions of the systems and service providers with which your organization collaborates.

(Questions 8-11 do not apply to this service model.)

APPENDIX G Evaluation Sheet for Part B: Service Model Response, Youth Support – Educational & Vocational is amended as follows:

Service Model-Specific

Score: 30 Points

7. For Youth Support - Educational & Vocational: Based on the ages and developmental levels of the youth you are proposing to serve, please describe the techniques your organization will use to promote youth’s engagement with and success in school, and the type of vocational exploration that will be offered, as developmentally appropriate.

(Questions 8-11 do not apply to this service model.)

9. DCF S&S25 RFR Section 2.2 Service Model Descriptions, Evidence-Based – Brief Strategic Family Therapy® (pgs. 69 – 71)

Service Model Evidence-Based – Brief Strategic Family Therapy®

Description Family therapy that uses a structured family systems approach to build skills in family functioning that will help families reduce family conflict and clusters of problematic youth behaviors, such as substance use, bullying behaviors, aggressive behaviors, and delinquency.

Rate Unit Hourly for delivery of BSFT®

Consistent with the University of Miami BSFT® Institute, delivery of services can begin prior to completion of BSFT® licensure. See Section 4.6 Evidence-Based Practices Cost Reimbursement Supplements for a description of the supplemental funding DCF will provide to cover all three stages in the process for becoming and maintaining status as a BSFT® provider:

1. Pre-qualification and Site Readiness Stage: Review by the University of Miami BSFT® Institute to determine eligibility to become a licensed BSFT® provider

2. Training and Licensure Stage: Three years of training, supervision, fidelity assessments by University of Miami BSFT®

3. Maintenance of BSFT® Site Licensing: Ongoing, annual site licensing fee paid to University of Miami BSFT®

Who will be Referred? Families caring for children in their homes.

Eligibility characteristics are families with children ages 6-17 who display, or are at high risk for displaying:

• Substance use

• Conduct problems

• Delinquency.

When in the Life of the Case?

Primarily for parents who need assistance to keep their children safe at home without the need for out-of-home placement but may also include caregivers who need assistance with achieving an enduring reunification after their child returns home from an out-of-home placement.

Content of Service Providers must earn and maintain licensure from the University of Miami BSFT® Institute and follow the manualized practice trained by the Institute.

Fidelity Requirements Providers must participate in the fidelity assessments conducted by the University of Miami BSFT® Institute and maintain licensure as a BSFT® provider.

The Department will require BSFT® providers to submit documentation of their BSFT® licensure and fidelity status to the Department no less frequently than annually and to notify the Department if there are changes to their licensure status. In the event a provider loses licensure, DCF will suspend the contract until licensure is reinstated.

Location of Service The expectation is for sessions to take place in-person where the family is living. Sessions may take place in community-based locations if both of the following occur:

• The family prefers for the sessions to occur in a community-based location rather than their home, and

• Transportation is not a barrier to participation due to the family having access to transportation or the provider providing transportation.

Expected Frequency In-person with parent/caregiver and child no less than once per week.

The expected duration is 16 weeks, but duration may vary based on the individualized needs of the family.

Staffing A BSFT® program is a group of 4 therapists, with one of the therapists serving as the BSFT® supervisor and carrying a reduced caseload to accommodate supervisory responsibilities and fidelity monitoring.

Staffing requirements for therapists and supervisors are established by the University of Miami BSFT® Institute and are described in Appendix C:

BSFT® Scope of Work.

Frequency and Medium of Written Updates to

DCF

Providers will send a weekly email, or other approved method, to the social worker on the case, the supervisor on the case, and an identified Area Lead Agency staff person.

Referral Response Providers will respond no later than three business days from referral receipt to either accept or decline the referral.

DCF S&S25 RFR Section 2.2 Service Model Descriptions, Evidence-Based – Brief Strategic Family Therapy® pages 69 – 71 are amended as follows:

Description Family therapy that uses a structured family systems approach to build skills in family functioning that will help families reduce family conflict and clusters of problematic youth behaviors, such as substance use, bullying behaviors, aggressive behaviors, and delinquency.

Rate Unit Hourly for delivery of BSFT®

See Section 4.6 Evidence-Based Practices Cost Reimbursement Supplements for a description of the supplemental funding DCF will provide to cover all three stages in the process for becoming and maintaining status as a BSFT® provider, which may be provided by either the University of Miami BSFT® Institute or the Family Therapy Training Institute of Miami:

1. Pre-qualification and Site Readiness Stage: Determination of eligibility to become a licensed BSFT® provider.

2. Training and Licensure Stage: Three years of training, supervision, fidelity assessments.

3. Maintenance of BSFT® Site Licensing: Ongoing, annual site licensing fees.

Who will be Referred? Families caring for children in their homes.

Eligibility characteristics are families with children ages 6-17 who display, or are at high risk for displaying:

• Substance use

• Conduct problems

• Delinquency.

When in the Life of the Case?

Primarily for parents who need assistance to keep their children safe at home without the need for out-of-home placement but may also include caregivers who need assistance with achieving an enduring reunification after their child returns home from an out-of-home placement.

Content of Service Providers must earn and maintain licensure from either the University of Miami BSFT® Institute or the Family Therapy Training Institute of Miami and follow the manualized practice trained by those organizations.

Fidelity Requirements Providers must participate in the fidelity assessments conducted by either the University of Miami BSFT® Institute or the Family Therapy Training Institute of Miami and maintain licensure as a BSFT® provider.

The Department will require BSFT® providers to submit documentation of their BSFT® licensure and fidelity status to the Department no less frequently than annually and to notify the Department if there are changes to their licensure status. In the event a provider loses licensure, DCF will suspend the contract until licensure is reinstated.

Location of Service The expectation is for sessions to take place in-person where the family is living. Sessions may take place in community-based locations if both of the following occur:

• The family prefers for the sessions to occur in a community-based location rather than their home, and

• Transportation is not a barrier to participation due to the family having access to transportation or the provider providing transportation.

Expected Frequency In-person with parent/caregiver and child no less than once per week.

The expected duration is 16 weeks, but duration may vary based on the individualized needs of the family.

Staffing A BSFT® program is a group of 4 therapists, with one of the therapists serving as the BSFT® supervisor and carrying a reduced caseload to accommodate supervisory responsibilities and fidelity monitoring.

Staffing requirements for therapists and supervisors are established by the University of Miami BSFT® Institute and the Family Therapy Training Institute of Miami. See a description in Appendix C: BSFT® Scope of Work.

Frequency and Medium of Written Updates to

DCF

Providers will send a weekly email, or other approved method, to the social worker on the case, the supervisor on the case, and an identified Area Lead Agency staff person.

Referral Response Providers will respond no later than three business days from referral receipt to either accept or decline the referral.

10. DCF S&S25 RFR Section 4.6 Evidence-Based Practices Cost Reimbursement Supplements

Brief Strategic Family Therapy® (BSFT®) The Department – on a case-by-case basis, at its sole discretion, and subject to appropriation – shall compensate providers for costs associated with obtaining BSFT® licensure of selected providers.

Licensure will be obtained through the University of Miami BSFT® Training Institute or another organization approved by the Department to issue licensure for BSFT®. Only costs related to training and licensure will be covered, including:

• Readiness assessment fee

• Three years of training toward licensure

• Annual fee to maintain licensure

To be eligible to begin delivering BSFT®, providers selected by the Department must first pass the University of Miami BSFT® Training Institute’s readiness assessment. Under the supervision of the University of Miami BSFT® Training Institute, providers that pass the readiness assessment will then begin to deliver services while simultaneously participating in the University of Miami BSFT® Training Institute’s three-year licensure process.

For the Department to cover the costs associated with BSFT®, providers of BSFT® must follow the Department’s requirements, including but not limited to:

• remaining in good standing with the University of Miami BSFT® Training Institute by completing all trainings and fidelity requirements,

• maintaining licensure beyond the three-year licensing process, and

• completion of any requested paperwork documenting participation in activities related to readiness assessment, training toward licensure, and maintenance of licensure.

DCF S&S25 RFR Section 4.6 Evidence-Based Practices Cost Reimbursement Supplements is amended as follows:

Brief Strategic Family Therapy® (BSFT®) The Department – on a case-by-case basis, at its sole discretion, and subject to appropriation – shall compensate providers for costs associated with obtaining BSFT® licensure of selected providers.

Licensure will be obtained through organizations approved by the Department to issue licensure for BSFT®. Only costs related to training and licensure will be covered, including:

• Readiness assessment fee

• Three years of training toward licensure

• Annual fee to maintain licensure

To be eligible to begin delivering BSFT®, providers selected by the Department must first pass readiness assessments administered by Department-approved licensure organizations. Under the supervision of a Department-approved licensure organization, providers that pass the readiness assessment will then begin to deliver services while simultaneously participating in the training and licensure process.

For the Department to cover the costs associated with BSFT®, providers of BSFT® must follow the Department’s requirements, including but not limited to:

• remaining in good standing with the Department-approved licensure organization by completing all trainings and fidelity requirements,

• maintaining licensure beyond the three-year licensing process, and

• completion of any requested paperwork documenting participation in activities related to readiness assessment, training toward licensure, and maintenance of licensure.

11. DCF S&S25 RFR Section 3.12 Procurement Calendar

Response(s) Due: July 12, 2024 at 2:00 PM Anticipated Review of Responses: Response review may start as early as August 2024 and will continue until completion.

Anticipated Notification of Selection Decisions: Notifications may start as early as November 2024.

Anticipated Negotiations: Negotiations may start as early as December 2024.

Anticipated Execution of Contracts: Execution of contracts may start as early as January 2025.

Anticipated Start Date of Contracts: No earlier than February 1, 2025.

DCF S&S25 RFR Section 3.12 Procurement Calendar is amended as follows:

Response(s) Due: August 16, 2024 at 2:00 PM Anticipated Review of Responses: Response review may start as early as September 2024 and will continue until completion.

Anticipated Notification of Selection Decisions: Notifications may start as early as December 2024.

Anticipated Negotiations: Negotiations may start as early as January 2025.

Anticipated Execution of Contracts: Execution of contracts may start as early as February 2025.

Anticipated Start Date of Contracts: No earlier than March 1, 2025.