WESTMORELAND COUNTY BH/DS PROGRAM REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) REQUEST FOR ENHANCED SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM SERVING WESTMORELAND COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA Instructions: All completed RFPs must be submitted to the address below: Westmoreland County BH/DS Program 40 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Greensburg, PA 15601 Attention: Austin Breegle, Administrator Five (5) original proposals must be received by 4:00 PM on Monday, June 29, 2015. Late proposals will not be considered. Faxed or e-mailed submissions will not be considered. All pages of the proposal must be numbered. Please submit the following information: Agency Name Address Telephone Email Fax Contact Person Submitted by: (Please Print Name & Title) Signature Date 1
Westmoreland County BH/DS Program has identified the need to increase the availability and access to Enhanced Supportive Housing Services for Westmoreland County residents. Background In working with individuals and service providers in the community, Westmoreland County BH/DS Program has identified the need to develop an Enhanced Supportive Housing Program to expand and enhance our existing housing continuum and service options. The Enhanced Supportive Housing Program will be included in the Westmoreland County Housing Continuum. All referrals will adhere to the Westmoreland County Housing Referral process. The Enhanced Supportive Housing Program is an enhanced level of service requiring the provider to provide a high level of services. Residents may move through the levels of the continuum based on need; for instance, transitioning to independent living or referral to the Full Care CRR (Community Residential Rehabilitation). Below is the Continuum of most supportive to least supportive: Jail/Forensic Facilities Torrance State Hospital (TSH) Community Acute Hospitalization Long-term structured residence (LTSR) Skilled nursing facility providing psychiatric services and support for SMI Enhanced Supportive Housing Program Community Residential Rehabilitation Services (CRR) Partial Care CRR Specialized/Enhanced Personal Care Boarding Homes Shared Housing Safe Harbor Fairweather Lodge (FWL) Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Personal Care Home Domiciliary Care Home with family members Independent Living with housing supports and services Independent Living All services provided for this level of care must adhere to all respective federal, state and local standards and regulations. TARGET POPULATION: This Enhanced Supportive Housing Program will serve adults, 18 years of age or older, with serious mental illness, co-occurring disorders and other special populations who have been identified as benefiting from an enhanced supportive housing setting. The 2
priority population will be those individuals currently residing in a higher level of mental health residential setting such as Torrance State Hospital discharges and diversions, as well as those requiring assistance transitioning through Westmoreland County s Housing Options Continuum. The Enhanced Supportive Housing Program will also serve individuals who struggle with maintaining their recovery outside of a structured, residential psychiatric setting. These individuals face difficulties in managing their illness and maintaining their recovery in the community, often experiencing multiple community and state hospital readmissions. Often, adhering to a medication regimen is challenging and leads to destabilization in the community necessitating a hospital admission to restart and/or adjust medication. The Enhance Supportive Housing Program will be: 1. Safe and secure 2. Affordable to consumers 3. Permanent, as long as the consumer pays the rent and honors the conditions of the lease. SERVICE OBJECTIVES: The Enhanced Supportive Housing Program will serve approximately six (6) individuals promoting services that are personal choice focused, empowering, community integrating with the use of natural supports and services in the resident s individual recovery. The Enhanced Supportive Housing Program will be consistent with the concept that a permanent home with individualized supports assists persons in their recovery process to maintain housing and be productive members of their communities. This is not time limited service. Individuals will be assisted in selecting services and developing a Residential Service Plan that meets their needs, as well as being involved in program planning and policy making to ensure that the program is responsive to their needs. The Enhanced Supportive Housing Program will serve six (6) individuals with a maximum of three (3) individuals per residence with single room occupancy. The Enhanced Supportive Housing Program will provide a clean, well maintained, safe, home-like environment. The residence will be comfortably furnished bedrooms, as well as fully furnished communal living areas providing a home-like setting. Phones and a computer with internet access will be made available on site for use by the residents. Activities will be planned and organized both in the home and community with input from the residents. Staff will partner and collaborate with linkages in the community to organize these opportunities. Community supports may be utilized to enhance the person s recovery, such as but not limited to the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team, Representative Payee, Targeted Case Management (TCM), Peer Specialist, and Drop-In Centers. While at the Enhanced Supportive Housing Program other community services may be accessed to enhance the individual s recovery. These could include physical and dental care, case 3
management, outpatient mental health services, and psychiatric rehabilitation. There will be appropriate linkages with a pharmacy for medications. There must also be available and accessible options for appropriate treatment and rehabilitation opportunities for the residents, and linkages for appropriate vocational and educational options. Enhanced Supportive Housing Program staff must be available to assist a resident in obtaining additional support and treatment services. Every individual will have a Residential Service Plan based on the client s psychological evaluation which is a functional assessment of the client s strengths and needs in the major areas related to independence in residential and community functioning and address residents: Self-Care skills Healthcare, including medication management Housekeeping skills Ability to meet nutritional needs Mobility Money management skills Interpersonal skills Vocational/educational pursuits Use of leisure time Community participation such as social networking and utilization of services and resources. Every Residential Service Plan will have a Crisis Plan component developed. Natural supports including, but not limited to family, peers/friends, and spiritual advisor will be enlisted with the individual s permission to assist in development of any recovery and/or crisis services. These natural supports will be valued and respected as important to the support of the individual in their recovery process. Individuals will also have the opportunity to create a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP). All staff will have a knowledge base of each individual s Crisis Plan and/or WRAP and will follow and implement the plans to the best of their ability dependent on situations presented. Rent and all related living costs will be determined based on a Tenant/Landlord Agreement as defined by the provider in the budget area of the Request for Proposal. The tenant typically would pay no more than 30%-50% of household income towards rent, with the ideal rate being in the 30% range. Discharge planning must be considered upon admittance into the program. The Enhanced Supportive Housing Program staff, the individual and other community systems as indicated will identify post-discharge goals and aftercare resources/supports and ensure that all necessary linkages are in place prior to discharge. Westmoreland County BH/DS Program will be available for cooperation/collaboration and any technical assistance throughout the development and implementation of the program as well as ongoing support. The Westmoreland County BH/DS Program will monitor the program based on the Westmoreland County BH/DS Monitoring Guidelines; 4
therefore the program must adhere to all monitoring standards. Further, critical incident reporting will be required as directed by Westmoreland County BH/DS Program policy. Staffing: The Enhanced Supportive Housing Program will be staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 365 days a year. Enhanced staffing and services will be made available to the individual, dependent on their needs and their desire to accept and participate in additional services. The suggested minimum Enhanced Supportive Housing Program will include: 1. Director: Part time position for a qualified professional. The Director will have a Bachelor s Level Degree with a specialty in the Human Service Field. The Director is an integral part of the Supportive Housing team ensuring that quality direct care is provided, supervision of staff is on-going and consistent, and that programming and activities are developed and implemented to meet individual needs in the program. 2. Program Coordinator: There will be a minimum of ONE (1) FTE position for Program Coordinator. The Program Coordinator will provide direct care to individuals. They will have a minimum of a Bachelor s Degree in the Human Service Field. The Program Coordinator will be responsible for the development of a recovery oriented Residential Service Plan for each resident. They will also be an integral part in the planning and development of social and recreational activities schedule in the home as well as becoming a partner and collaborating with resources for outside community activities. Program Coordinator will also be responsible for coordinating transportation for any medical, dental, mental health, social or recreational appointments outside of the home. 3. Resident Program Workers: These enhanced staff will be direct care workers who facilitate daily living skills 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for 365 days a year. They will assist individuals with complex needs in choosing social and recreational activities. They will have a minimum of a high school diploma with 4 years experience in the Human Services Field, with preferably a Bachelor s Degree in the Human Service Field. Training: 1. Within 30 days of employment at the Enhanced Supportive Housing Program, each staff person must receive an orientation that includes the following: Overview of Mental Illness Overview of Westmoreland County Mental Health Services Drug and Alcohol Mental Health First Aid Psychotropic medications by a qualified instructor Consumer rights 5
Confidentiality Overview of the Mental Health Procedures Act The consumer perspective The family perspective Recovery Model and philosophy Crisis Intervention 1. There shall be a minimum of an additional 15 hours of training for each staff person annually. 2. A training plan shall be developed for each staff person to ensure that topics listed below are covered either annually or every two (2) years as noted below. Annual Training shall include: 1. OSHA 2. Fire Safety 3. Psychotropic medication by a qualified instructor 4. Crisis Intervention 5. Consumer Rights Every two (2) years training shall include 1. CPR/Fist Aid (as required for certification) 2. Recovery Model and Philosophy 3. MISA 4. HIV/AIDS 5. Behavior Management 6. Intellectual Disabilities 7. Confidentiality 3. Additional training opportunities should be offered and available to all staff based on the individual training plan. The Westmoreland County BH/DS Program has requested higher standards to include: training for staff within the first 30 days of beginning work at the Enhanced Supportive Housing Program; an additional 15 hours of training annually; medication policies and procedures developed and reviewed by a psychiatric nurse or psychiatrist who will include medication monitoring by staff; medication count procedures, quality control and medication storage policies; onsite organized and voluntary activities that are offered on a regular basis. Appropriate linkages with a pharmacy for medications must also be in place. All applicants must meet the following minimum qualifications to be considered for this procurement process: MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS o Be a Pennsylvania licensed provider of mental health treatment services serving Westmoreland County residents; 6
o Be knowledgeable in providing residential services to individuals with serious and persistent mental illness; o Must be able and willing to serve residents in Westmoreland County; o Be committed as an organization to the concepts of recovery and resiliency, and peer support. Additional Preferred Qualifications: o Provider has experience in providing residential services, preferably enhanced; o Provider has existing collaborative relationships with local physical health, emergency services and other human service agencies and support resources for this population; o Provider is experienced in providing mental health services to individuals with co-occurring disorders (e.g. mental health, intellectual disabilities and substance abuse and persons involved with the criminal justice system); o Provider is located within a close proximity to public transportation; o Provider has existing collaborative relationships with primary care physicians in Westmoreland County. It is Westmoreland County BH/DS Program intent to solicit proposals with the intention of executing a contract. This notwithstanding, any proposal shall be submitted with the following expressed understanding: This Request for Proposals is not subject to the competitive bidding process and any contract entered into as a result of any proposal will not be based on the concept of the lowest cost applicant ; Westmoreland County BH/DS Program has the right to reject any and all proposals at any time during the process; Westmoreland County BH/DS Program may modify the selection process or the scope of the project or the required responses at any time; All costs of developing proposals and any subsequent expenses relating to contract negotiations are entirely the responsibility of the applicant and may not be charged to Westmoreland County BH/DS Program. Proposal Review: Westmoreland County BH/DS Program reserves the right to reject any and all proposals received as a result of this RFP, and to negotiate separately with competing applicants. If all proposals are unacceptable, the Westmoreland County BH/DS Program reserves the right to reject the proposals and to issue a new RFP. Selection / Rejection Procedure: Applicants whose proposals are selected or rejected by Westmoreland County BH/DS Program will be notified in writing. 7
Upon Award: The accepted reimbursement rate for this service will be provided for these services; There is no commitment by the partners on anything beyond what is directly stated in this RFP. The award resulting from this RFP does not ensure that the need in the community is sufficient to support the development and/or sustainability of this service. If your agency meets the minimum qualifications listed above, please respond to this Request for Proposal (RFP) by following the directions below. Directions: 1. Be sure your agency meets all the above minimum qualifications prior to completing your response; 2. Respond to the questions in the sequence that they appear in the RFP and as completely as possible; 3. There is no page limit to responses and all responses must be typed using 12 pt. font; 4. Additional supporting or requested documentation should be attached as Appendices. 8
Request for Proposal Please provide the following information regarding your interest in, or ability to develop and operate Enhanced Supportive Housing services for adult HealthChoices and County Base funded residents of Westmoreland County. I. Agency Organizational Structure, Background and Experience 1. Please provide a brief overview of the agency, its history, mission, and experience serving this target population. Please describe in detail the agency s background, experience and present activity, as well as the philosophy of the organization which will enable it to successfully provide the proposed service to this target population in the following areas: a. At the administrative level (5 pts) b. At the direct service level (10 pts) 1. Describe your agency s experience in collaborating and coordinating with the multiple adult social service systems in Westmoreland County. (5 pts) II. Programmatic Information 2. Describe the agency s statement of purpose in providing residential services. Outline how these services would fit into the agency s mission and articulate the agency s goals and objectives in meeting the needs of individuals identified as benefiting from these services; specifically articulate the agency s goals and objective in meeting the needs of adults through the provision of enhanced supportive housing services. Describe any of the agency s unique characteristics that would directly benefit this target population. (10 pts) 3. Please describe in detail the agency s organizational capacity and background and experience in providing residential services, as well as the philosophy of the organization which will enable it to successfully provide the proposed services to this target population. (10 pts) 4. Describe in detail the target population to be served at an Enhanced Supportive Housing Program. Include information detailing the agency s experience in treating high risk and special populations. Also include a statement of nondiscrimination, and include a statement that the agency agrees to service all diagnostic categories. (10 pts) 5. Describe the agency s projected Enhanced Supportive Housing Program s staffing structure (e.g. number of administrative staff, direct treatment staff, clerical support staff and all other staff related to the delivery of this service), and the job responsibilities of each program staff member. (10 pts) 9
6. Attach an organizational chart depicting the structure of this program. Also attach an organizational chart depicting where this program fits into the agency s overall organizational structure. (5 pts) 7. Describe in detail the program components of the Enhanced Supportive Housing including criteria for admission, referral and intake process, discharge process, 24-hour availability. (10 pts) 8. Describe how the agency expects to work with the residents in the planning processes for any individual crisis, service or support plans. What will be the agency s review and updating process for these plans? What mechanism will be used to ensure that the resident, family members and other agencies, if relevant, will be included in this planning process? (10 pts) 9. Describe how your agency plans to assist in the coordination of care with primary care physicians and behavioral health agencies for residents. (5 pts) 10. Describe the agency s commitment to obtaining relevant required training to Enhanced Supportive Housing staff and for ensuring that future staff development and training opportunities will also be made available. This initial staff orientation and ongoing training should include information on mental health and support services. (5 pts) 11. Describe the role cultural competency plays in the delivery of the proposed services and throughout your agency. Outline specific activities that may be included in the proposed program which will address and improve cultural relevance of the program for participants. Explain how cultural differences could be integrated into the program and in what capacity can cultural competency serve as the mechanism for addressing behavioral health disparities in the program and in the agency. (5 pts) 12. Describe the agency s potential plan for continuous quality monitoring and improvement. Outline what outcome measures could be in place that would demonstrate the effectiveness of the program. (10 pts) Outcome measures should be based on resiliency-oriented principles such as: Improving quality of life Individual and family satisfaction Reduce Inpatient Hospitalizations Improving community and educational integration Participation in meaningful activities and social relationships Discharge Choice Peer and Community supports 13. Describe your agency s commitment to the concepts of recovery and resiliency. Explain how you intend to ensure ongoing program focus on the concepts of 10
recovery and resiliency; including how individuals will be involved in the planning and implementation process. Describe agency s plan to acknowledge partnership with peer specialist service and mission. (10 pts) 14. Please provide a detailed budget. The budget breakdown should reflect direct and support personnel, operational and administrative oversight costs. Also include any one time start-up. Please outline rent and all other living expenses based on cost for provider and cost per resident. (20 pts) 15. Provide any other information the organization would like to offer, such as letters of recommendation, to support the proposal. (5 pts) End of RFP Total points - 145 11