Public Health and Social Services

Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Thurston/Mason Counties Developmental Disabilities Program

2016 - 2017 Request for Proposal

Developmental Disabilities Community Project Grants Thurston and Mason Counties

October 2015

1 Section 1: General Information

Release Date: October 7, 2015 Proposal Contact: Kim Jensen, Developmental Disabilities Program Specialist Phone: 360.867.2518 Email: [email protected] Due Date: Friday, October 30, 2015 Summary of Expected This RFP is seeking proposals for supporting individuals with developmental Results: disabilities and their families in our local community. Our purpose is to carry out the stated mission by supporting innovative solutions and funding needed services fostering community involvement in alignment with the goals and objectives of the Thurston Thrives initiative. Timeline for Selection: RFP Release Date October 7, 2015 Proposal Due Date October 30, 2015 Proposal Review/Evaluation Period November 2 - 20, 2015 Contract Award Notification December 9, 2015 Contract Start Date January 01, 2016 RFP Exhibits and Exhibits Attachments Attachments A: Proposal Coversheet 1: Budget B: Proposal Narrative 2: Salary Spending Plan 3: Sample Contract

Respondent Eligibility Respondents must demonstrate capacity and readiness to deliver the services proposed within the RFP timeframe. If the Respondent cannot show readiness, the Respondent will not be considered for funding under this RFP. To be eligible for consideration under this contracts, Respondents must: 1. Demonstrate the ability to provide the service to people with developmental disabilities and their families, as described in the proposal. 2. Demonstrate an understanding of the County Guidelines. 3. Demonstrate the potential to provide services that are consistent with the goals and objectives of Thurston Thrives. Proposal Materials To obtain a copy of all RFP materials, please contact the RFP Contact listed above or download all materials from http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/health/ssdd/RFP.html

2 Section 2: County Overview

Thurston/Mason Developmental Disabilities

The mission of the Thurston/Mason Developmental Disabilities (DD) Program is to work with people with developmental disabilities, families, and the community to promote everyone's well being, rights, choices, and opportunities in living as valued, contributing, and integrated members of our community. The DD program uses State DSHS grant funds and local property tax revenues (Millage) to carry out this mission. The DSHS contracts with the Developmental Disabilities Administration and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation emphasize employment services for adults with developmental disabilities. Millage funds are used to pay for services that cannot be paid for under the DSHS contracts.

State statute (RCW 71A.20) provides funds for the coordination and provision of community services for persons with developmental disabilities by directing the county governing authority of each county in the state to budget and levy a tax to be used for the benefit of people with developmental disabilities and their families. Successful proposals will be funded primarily these County funds.

Thurston Thrives

Thurston Thrives is a project aimed at bringing together community partners of Thurston County around the work we share. The main focuses of the project are to ensure that our county is thriving through collaboration of public health and social services that we bring to our community, to honor those who make Thurston County a healthy and safe place to live, and to align efforts to make an even bigger difference in the health of our community. The purpose is to engage our leaders across the board to move forward an action agenda we can all believe in to improve health for all Thurston County residents. As of now, ten Thurston Thrives Action Teams have developed preliminary strategies to advance our community’s health. The ten teams include Food, Economy, Housing, Community Design, Education, Child and Youth Resilience, Environment, Community Resilience, Clinical and Emergency Care, and Public Safety and Justice. What is crucial about these ten different strategies is they offer community directed goals and objectives and outcomes to improve our overall community health. For the purpose of this RFP the Developmental Disabilities Program is focusing on the following strategies as they relate to people with developmental disabilities and these Thurston Thrives Action Teams:

Child and Youth Resilience Community Resilience Clinical and Emergency Care Make Community Connections Better engage with & support Expand access to and rural & special needs participation in self‐ communities management programs Economy Education Housing Provide assistance to emerging Implement Practices to engage Support people to know where

3 employees students to go for help

Section 3: Request for Proposal Overview

A Request for Proposal is an opportunity to submit proposals for consideration of funding. This RFP asks for ideas for supporting individuals with developmental disabilities and their families in our local community. Our purpose is to carry out the stated mission by supporting innovative solutions and funding needed services fostering community involvement in alignment with the goals and objectives of the Thurston/Mason Developmental Disabilities (DD) Program and Thurston Thrives.

Request for Proposal process Included are a set of questions, budget forms, and background information designed to give the RFP Review Committee the information needed to understand and evaluate the merits of each proposal. Each question needs to be clearly answered, the budget is to be completed accurately, and the proposal must be submitted by the deadline to be considered for funding.

Funding Priorities

The Developmental Disabilities Program seeks to fund services that meet the needs of people with developmental disabilities and their families in alignment with Thurston Thrives Strategies:

Child and Youth Resilience - Services that help families meet life’s challenges as they raise and care for their children with developmental disabilities. - Collaborative supports for families that include working with schools to help children and youth grow and transition into adulthood.

Community Resilience - Programs that help people with developmental disabilities get connected to others in the community to form friendships and engage in meaningful activity. - Services that support community members and organizations to promote the inclusive of people with developmental disabilities.

Clinical and Emergency Care - Expand access to and participation in self‐management programs for people with developmental disabilities and their families. - Services that support people with developmental disabilities to become more independent and live healthy community lives.

Economy

4 - Collaborative services that work with schools, businesses, and families to build skills and capacities needed for youth with developmental disabilities to become employed in meaning work. - Outreach and development services to employers to help prepare their workforce for the inclusion of young adults with developmental disabilities.

Education - Transition services that collaborate with schools to create vocationally relevant experiences that engage students with developmental disabilities so that they will stay active in school activities until graduation at 21. - Services that support school staff in the development of Individual Education Plans that engage students and families and help students with developmental disabilities gain independence and skills needed to succeed in the community as adults.

Housing - Programs that support to people with developmental disabilities to gain financial responsibility and learn money management skills. - Assistance to people with developmental disabilities so they can access community resources and maintain their household.

Proposal Selection and funding

A Review Committee made up of stakeholders will evaluate and make recommendations to the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners on all proposals. The Review Committee will consist of community members who do not have a conflict of interest, who are knowledgeable about the needs of people with developmental disabilities and their family members, and who are committed to furthering the mission of Thurston and Mason County Developmental Disabilities Program and Thurston Thrives. County staff will support the committee’s work, but will not select the proposals recommended for funding.

The Review Committee will review each proposal to assess how each proposal will further the County’s stated mission and Thurston Thrives, identify the level of need for the proposal’s services, consider if the proposal is well thought out and "do-able”, and evaluate if the anticipated benefit to the community is in line with the cost. To fully understand any proposal, the committee may request more information to be presented in writing or in person or may request an opportunity to interview an applicant. For proposals requesting a continuance of currently provided services, the committee will additionally take into consideration factors measuring current contract performance. The Review Committee may suggest alterations in a proposal. The Review Committee’s recommendations will be forwarded to the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners to decide which proposals will be funded and to approve contracts for the successful proposals.

Funding availability

The contracts are slated to begin on January 1, 2016 and end no later than December 31, 2017, a maximum of two years. Up to $312,000 will be available for Thurston County DD contracts and up to

5 $90,255 will be available for Mason County DD contracts. These amounts only apply to 2016 and 2017. Future funding is not guaranteed.

Up to $312,000 Thurston County funds available for the two year period 01/01/2016 to 12/31/2017. Up to $90,255 Mason County funds available for the two year period 01/01/2016 to 12/31/2017.

Typically there is not enough money to fund all submitted proposals. The County prefers to award several smaller grants rather than a few large awards.

Responding to the RFP and submitting a proposal

To be considered, responses to this "Request for Proposal" must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 30, 2015. Only emailed proposals will be accepted.

Submitting a proposal Write your organization’s name in the subject line and e-mail your application in PDF format to [email protected] and [email protected] no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 30, 2015. Applications received after this date cannot be considered.

Respondents must complete the following documents in submitted proposals to the County:

 Cover Sheet and Narrative Questions Budget Spending Plan for Salaries and Wages

You may provide additional information you think is important for the RFP review committee to fully understand your proposal. Limit your response to these questions and any additional information to no more than five (5) typed pages, not including the cover sheet or budget pages.

An electronic version of this RFP and the required documents can be obtained at: http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/health/ssdd/RFP.html

For questions regarding this RFP, contact: Kim Jensen at (360) 867-2518 or [email protected]

The Thurston/Mason County Developmental Disabilities Program reserves the right to modify, reject or negotiate any proposals submitted with the proposing organization prior to recommending funding of the proposal.

Note: The County requires all contractors to carry liability insurance, and all persons who have direct contact with people with developmental disabilities to undergo and clear a criminal background check. Other requirements for contractors are contained in the County Professional Services Agreement, which is attached. A professional services contract in substantially the form attached will be required

6 for all successful proposals.