Children's Residential Intensive Services Program (ChRIS)

San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health is requesting proposals on RFQ 25-99 for the Children's Residential Intensive Services Program (ChRIS), a structured residential intensive mental health services program for children and youth, with proposals due October 8, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. local time and questions due September 24, 2026 at noon. Eligible proposers must hold a current provisional or active Structured Therapeutic Residential Treatment Placement (STRTP) license and national accreditation from the Council on Accreditation (COA), Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), or The Joint Commission (TJC) at proposal submission.

ChRIS delivers Specialty Mental Health Services integrated with 24/7 residential care at the provider's facility, utilizing the Integrated Core Practice Model and trauma-informed practices. Services include assessment, therapy, rehabilitation, plan development, medication support services, crisis intervention, targeted case management, linkage and consultation, and intensive care coordination. The program targets Medi-Cal youth from San Bernardino County, Probation, Children and Family Services, and other counties who meet Seriously Emotionally Disturbed (SED) criteria, with potential specializations for pregnant or parenting youth, sexually exploited youth, youth with co-occurring disorders, LGBTQ+ youth, and younger children with severe behavioral or mental health needs. Proposers may operate multiple STRTP sites under a single proposal with no minimum or maximum bed requirements specified.

The contract term runs January 1, 2027 through June 30, 2031, totaling four years and six months. The estimated annual budget is $21.2 million, or $95.4 million over the contract period, funded through Medi-Cal Federal Financial Participation and 2011 Realignment funds. ChRIS is designated a Category 2 program reimbursed at 75 percent of corresponding Department of Health Care Services payment rates on a Fee-for-Service basis. No maximum annual allocation per provider or bed is predetermined; final allocations will be negotiated with the Program Manager based on the proposed service delivery model and anticipated San Bernardino County youth served. The County makes no guarantee of minimum or maximum participant referrals. Contractors bill monthly in arrears via electronic funds transfer.

Proposers must register in San Bernardino County's electronic procurement (ePro) system prior to submission and maintain current Medi-Cal certification. Insurance requirements include workers' compensation of $250,000; commercial and general liability of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate; automobile liability of $2 million; professional liability of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate; abuse and molestation coverage of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate; and cyber liability of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate.

Evaluation uses a best-value approach weighted 65 percent on program components and 35 percent on financial components, with final approval by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. All current contracts expire December 31, 2026, requiring existing contractors to resubmit proposals to continue service delivery.