Title
Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute an Agreement with Alameda Family Services for an Amount Not to Exceed $500,000 for One-Year, with an Option to Extend for an Additional Year for an Amount Not To Exceed $1,000,000 for Two-Years, to Provide for Mental Health Services Related to the City's Alternative Response to Calls for Mental Health Crisis Support Pilot Program. (City Manager 10021030)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In July of 2021, the City Council authorized the City Manager to initiate a pilot program focused on an alternative responses to individuals facing a mental health crisis. The Alameda Fire Department (AFD) is leading this effort, and needs to add a professional mental health clinician to the pilot program. While AFD staff would handle crisis management, the clinician would be responsible for follow-up care for clients in need of support and real-time consultation, including for AFD-assigned 5150 holds. A request for proposal (RFP) was posted by the City of Alameda (City) in early August (see Exhibit 1) - the response deadline was extended to August 26 to allow for additional questions to be clarified. The City received one proposal to participate as a partner with AFD. The proposal is from Alameda Family Services (AFS) (see Exhibit 2). The proposal contains several options. Based on staff's review and follow-up discussions with AFS leadership, staff is recommending that the City Council approve a combination of Option 1A and 1C at this time. That combination allows for 24/7 support from AFS for the pilot program.
BACKGROUND
The City, like many other cities around the state and country, is exploring a different way of responding to calls for service involving individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. In July of 2021, the City Council authorized the City Manager to initiate a pilot program, to be led by the AFD. The AFD has been in communication with va...
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