REPORT TO SHASTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

BOARD MEETING DATE:  September  11, 2018
CATEGORY:  Consent - Health and Human Services-8.

SUBJECT:

Amendment with J. Reid McKellar, PH.D

Supervisorial District No. :  All

DEPARTMENT CONTACT:  Dianna L. Wagner, Branch Director, Children’s Services (530) 225-5705

STAFF REPORT APPROVED BY:  Dianna L. Wagner, Branch Director

RECOMMENDATION

Approve and authorize the Chairman to sign an amendment effective date of signing to the agreement with J. Reid McKellar, PH.D., Inc. to provide psychological evaluations and assessments to add in-person and telephone consultation services and increase maximum compensation by $24,700 (for a new total not to exceed $174,700), and retain the term July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018, with two automatic one-year renewals.

SUMMARY

J. Reid McKellar, PH. D, Inc. provides Individual Psychological Evaluations, Adoption Psychological Evaluations, Psychotherapy, Parent/Child Bonding Assessments and Sibling Assessments for youth and parents as ordered by the juvenile courts, and case consultation.  The proposed amendment would add services and increase compensation.

DISCUSSION

As a licensed Psychologist, Dr. McKellar administers psychological tests, conducts structured interviews, and reviews available records and documentation in order to evaluate for the presence of psychological disorders or personality characteristics that may have an impact upon an individual's behavior with respect to his/her parenting skills.

Dr. McKellar has provided thorough and timely reports for the last five years. His clinical expertise and experience with child psychology is critical to meeting the needs of specialty mental health children clients.

Dr. McKellar has agreed to provide case consultation on complex cases to identified Health and Human Services Agency - Children’s Services Branch staff.

ALTERNATIVES

The Board may choose not to approve the recommendation or provide alternate direction to staff.

OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT

County Counsel has approved the amendment as to form.  Risk Management approved the amendment.  The recommendation has been reviewed by the County Administrative Office.

FINANCING

The department’s Fiscal Year 2018-19 Adopted Budget includes sufficient appropriation authority for the activities described in this amendment.  These services provided per the amendment are funded through the Mental Health allocation (BU 410), which requires a County share of cost met largely through Realignment. There is no additional General Fund impact with approval of the recommendation.