TITLE
Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. RFP HE-23-235 and award a contract to 1736 Family Crisis Center, of Los Angeles, CA, for the comprehensive services and programming that addresses the promotion of mental health support and reduction of substance use for Long Beach youth, in a total annual amount not to exceed $120,000, for a period of one year, with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods at the discretion of the City Manager; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary subsequent amendments. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested to enter into a contract with 1736 Family Crisis Center for providing key activities for Long Beach youth to improve mental health and reduce substance use among residents in grades 6-12 that directly correlate to data and zip codes 90804, 90806, 90810, and 90813. 1736 Family Crisis Center will provide individual and group therapy sessions and will implement activities, events, and workshops at service area schools.
The Request for Proposals (RFP) was advertised in the Long Beach Press-Telegram on May 6, 2023, and 265 potential proposers specializing in youth mental health and substance use prevention were notified of the RFP opportunity. Of those proposers, 14 downloaded the RFP via the City of Long Beach (City) electronic bid system. The RFP document was made available from the Purchasing Division, located on the sixth floor of City Hall, and the Division’s website at www.longbeach.gov/purchasing <http://www.longbeach.gov/purchasing>. An RFP announcement was also included in the Purchasing Division’s weekly update of Open Bid Opportunities, which is sent to 44 local, minority-owned, and women-owned business groups. There were three proposals received on June 8, 2023. Of those three proposers, none were Minority-owned Business Enterprises (MBEs), none were Women-owned Business Enterprises (WBEs), one was a certified Small Business Enterprise (SBE), and one was a Long Beach vendor (Local). The selection committee determined that 1736 Family Crisis Center, of Los Angeles, CA (Local), was the most qualified firm to provide the services.
After a thorough review and evaluation process, the selection committee selected 1736 Family Crisis Center of Los Angeles, CA. 1736 Family Crisis Center is currently operating in Long Beach and provides a 60-plus-bed transitional shelter for individuals and families affected by domestic violence as part of the Long Beach Continuum of Care. This location also supports outpatient therapy and counseling services for former shelter client families, including children and youth.
Local Business Outreach
To align with the City’s outreach goal, Long Beach businesses are encouraged to submit proposals for City contracts. The Purchasing Division also assists businesses with registering on the Long Beach Buys database to download RFP specifications. Through outreach, 114 Long Beach vendors were notified to submit proposals, of which 5 downloaded the proposal, 3 submitted a proposal, and 1 proposal received was from a local vendor. The Purchasing Division is committed to continuing to perform outreach to local vendors to expand the bidder pool.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Anita Lakhani and Budget Analysis Officer Greg Sorensen on September 18, 2023, and by Purchasing Agent Michelle Wilson on September 8, 2023.
EQUITY LENS
The City has incorporated the Equity Toolkit in this recommendation, as requested by the City Council on April 21, 2020. The services derived from this contract were completed in accordance with procurement procedures.
The Health Department conducted data analysis to identify the zip codes of Long Beach with the highest prevalence of substance use in youth. The experiences of Emergency Room (ER) Visits and hospitalizations or deaths related to substance use and mental health in youth have been concentrated inequitably in regions of East, Central, and West Long Beach. When breaking down the substance that leads to ER visits and hospitalizations, 36.2 percent of the ER visits and 42.1 percent of the hospitalizations are due to Cannabinoids. Additionally, 35.8 percent of ER visits and 15.8 percent of hospitalizations are due to alcohol.
Between 2018 and 2020, there were 265 ER visits and 19 hospitalizations due to mental health and behavioral disorders related to substance use among youth ages 10 to 19 in Long Beach. The zip codes of 90804, 90806, and 90813 had the highest rates of ER visits with over 40 visits per 10,000 youth aged 10 to 19. Specifically, zip code 90804 had the highest age-adjusted rate for ER visits among youth due to substance use, with 62.9 ER visits per 10,000 youth, which is nearly double the rate for Long Beach (35.6) but lower than both Los Angeles County (64.6) and California (74.9). Additionally, zip code 90810 had the highest rate of hospitalization, with 4.5 hospitalizations per 10,000 youth aged 10 to 19, which is over twice the rate for Long Beach (2.0), and higher than both Los Angeles County (3.6) and California (4.4).
Across three different age groups (10-14, 15-17, 18-19), youth are most likely to visit the ER and be hospitalized due to cannabinoids. When analyzing each diagnosis individually, compared to other age groups, youth aged 10 to 14 years have the highest rate of tobacco use; youth aged 15 to 17 years have the highest rates for alcohol, cannabinoids, sedatives or hypnotics, and multiple drugs and other psychoactive substances; youth aged 18 to 19 years have the highest rates for opioids, cocaine, and other stimulants.
Most youth who either visit the ER or are hospitalized due to mental health issues related to substance use, identified as White and Hispanic/Latino; however, youth identified as American Indian/Alaska Native and Black/African American had the highest age-adjusted rate for ER visits in Long Beach between 2018 and 2020 due to mental health issues related to substance use. Moreover, Black or African American youth have the highest age-adjusted hospitalization rate at 8.9 hospitalizations per 10,000 youth, which is more than four times the rate for Long Beach (2.0).
Services under this contract will invest in the four high-need communities through a set of key mental health and substance use prevention activities in 90804, 90806, 90810, and 90813, to mitigate substance use and improve the mental health of youth in grades 6-12.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action to adopt Specifications No. RFP HE-23-235 and award a contract concurrently is requested on October 3, 2023, to ensure the contract is in place expeditiously.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total annual amount of the contract will not exceed $120,000. Sufficient funds are currently budgeted in the General Fund Group in the Health and Human Services Department, offset by unspent one-time funds to support the Youth Substance Use and Mental Health Support. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
KELLY COLOPY
DIRECTOR
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER