REPORT TO SHASTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

BOARD MEETING DATE:  May  16, 2017
CATEGORY:  Consent - Health and Human Services-4.

SUBJECT:

Renewal agreement with J. Reid McKellar, PH. D 

Supervisorial District No. :  All

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

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

RECOMMENDATION

Approve and authorize the Chairman to sign a renewal agreement with J. Reid McKellar, PH. D, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $150,000 for psychological evaluations and assessments for the period 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.

DISCUSSION

Dr. McKellar conducts psychological evaluations and submits written reports for consideration to the social worker and juvenile court judge.  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 the individual's behavior with respect to his/her parenting skills. 

In addition, Dr. McKellar conducts Parent/Child Bonding Assessments to determine the nature and quality of the child's relationship with birth and/or foster parents, often to address the question of who occupies the position of greatest centrality for the child's wellbeing. This is roughly equivalent to determining which adult(s) serve as the psychological parent to the child.

Children’s Services has conducted multiple competitive procurement cycles seeking additional providers with no responses.  Dr. McKellar is the only psychologist currently under contract.  Dr. McKellar has consistently provided high quality work in a timely manner and is highly regarded by the juvenile court and Children’s Services.

ALTERNATIVES

The Board may choose not to approve the recommendation and direct staff to conduct an additional competitive procurement process.

OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT

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

FINANCING

The department’s Fiscal Year 2017-18 Requested Budget includes sufficient appropriation authority for the activities described in this agreement.  These services are funded through the Child Welfare Services allocation (BU 501), which requires a County share of cost met largely through Realignment. There is no additional General Fund impact with approval of the recommendation.