Contract Request Template (Contracts; IGAs; Leases)
Date Submitted: 9-19-2022
Requesting Agency: Denver Sheriff’s Department
Division:
Subject Matter Expert Name: Dr. Nikki Johnson
Email Address: Nikki.johnson2@denvergov.org <mailto:Nikki.johnson2@denvergov.org>
Phone Number:
Item Title & Description:
(Do not delete the following instructions)
These appear on the Council meeting agenda. Initially, the requesting agency will enter a 2-3 sentence description. Upon bill filling, the City Attorney’s Office should enter the title above the description (the title should be in bold font).
Both the title and description must be entered between the red “title” and “body” below. Do not at any time delete the red “title” or “body” markers from this template.
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A resolution approving and providing for the execution of a proposed Grant Agreement between the City and County of Denver and the Caring for Denver Foundation concerning the “Case Management and MAT Coordination” program and the funding therefor.
Approves a grant agreement with Caring for Denver Foundation for $1,054,837 and through 7-31-2025 to continue funding three case management positions working to connect individuals who are incarcerated to services and jail-based programs, as well as the addition of two positions for coordination of all Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) services in both of Denver’s jails (SHERF-202264486). The last regularly scheduled Council meeting within the 30-day review period is on 10-24-2022. The Committee approved filing this item at its meeting on 9-21-2022.
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Affected Council District(s) or citywide? Citywide
Contract Control Number: SHERF-202264486
Vendor/Contractor Name (including any “DBA”): Caring for Denver Foundation
Type and Scope of services to be performed:
Additional Information/General Description
With the current funding, the Denver Sheriff Department will continue staffing the three case management positions currently supported by Caring for Denver Funds. The staff members provide case management services to incarcerated individuals not eligible for other jail-based programs, and when appropriate, they facilitate referrals to other jail-based programs. This program broadens the scope of case management services available to individuals incarcerated in DSD-facilities. They also provide individualized support based on the client’s expressed needs and challenges, including referrals to jail-based classes (such as substance misuse classes, GED tutoring, and anger management classes), facilitating journal-based work on topics identified together with the client, facilitating identification of and referral to community-based resources, assisting clients with applications and paperwork needed to access community-based resources, scheduling community-based intake appointments, and developing reentry plans with participating clients.
The case managers will also provide support based on housing locations within the jails. Through a combination of written self-referrals from interested participants, referrals from other jail staff (both civilian and sworn), and face-to-face connections made through time spent in the housing units, these case managers develop and maintain caseloads of incarcerated individuals interested in additional support. Two of the case management positions provide housing-based case management services, primarily to men housed in the Downtown Detention Center (DDC). These two positions have allowed the DSD to greatly expand services offered to men housed in the DSD, regardless of their assessment scores, status in the criminal justice process, or other eligibility criteria that may prevent their participation in other jail-based programs. The third case management position is focused on women’s housing units at the Denver County Jail (COJL). The creation of this position, thanks to current Caring for Denver funds, has expanded the DSD Programs Team’s ability to serve incarcerated women. This case manager has also developed an expertise in gender-responsive resources for women clients.
Although MAT services are currently offered in both DSD facilities, the DSD is currently partnering with Denver Health to expand MAT programming. This includes the distribution of harm reduction release bags; the development of MAT housing units where individuals on MAT maintenance or induction can live in the same space, participate in programming, and meet with visiting community providers; and certifying the jail to induct methadone (currently, can only maintain methadone and induct naltrexone/suboxone/vivitrol). In addition, House Bill 22-1326 Fentanyl Accountability and Prevention will require DSD to implement and offer screening, treatment and continuity of care to all incarcerated individuals with a substance use disorder by July 1, 2023. These efforts will require a significant amount of work to coordinate, and their continuation and/or success is dependent on DSD staffing.
Here are the job duties of the two MAT Coordinators:
• Supporting Denver Health staff and DSD sworn staff to coordinate the J2C unit(s) and MAT for individuals in DSD facilities, including managing the logistics of patient movement
• Supporting data sharing between DSD and Denver Health
• Coordinating MAT dose scheduling and patient locating with nursing staff
• Continuing and improving upon the harm reduction release bag project
• Identifying and bringing community providers into the jail for prelease connections
• Managing budgets and securing continued funds for MAT programming
• Supporting continuity of care for individuals releasing to community providers
• Collecting and entering data on DSD/Denver Health MAT programming
• Serving as a liaison with the Court for patient referral and Earned Time Credit (ETC) calculations
• Other duties as needed
Scope of work:
In-custody case management services provide support with developing individualized plans for jail-based interventions, as well as individualized re-entry plans. These plans include connections to community-based substance misuse and mental health treatment. Jail-based staff are uniquely positioned to provide clients with programming during their incarceration and to facilitate direct connection to community resources upon release. In addition, the three additional case manager positions are needed to support the current Programs team with offering high-quality services to a high-needs jail population.
The two MAT Coordinator positions will be vital in the implementation of House Bill 22-1326 regarding Fentanyl Accountability and Prevention, which establishes requirements for continuity of care, including care coordination and community treatment referrals for individuals receiving substance use treatment in the jails, and providing antagonists, a prescription to medication and education to all opiate users upon release from the jail.
In addition, we are in the midst of a nationwide opioid crisis and want to do everything we can to address this crisis. Individuals releasing from jail and prison are at an extremely high risk of overdose upon release, specifically two weeks upon release, ranging from 40 to 129 times more likely to die from overdose than the general public. Jail-based connections to MAT, along with the provision of Narcan at release, help reduce the incidence of overdose and help save the lives of individuals releasing from DSD custody. This project is an important investment because it will expand the reach of evidence-based treatment interventions and facilitate connections to community-based MAT treatment.
MAT has a recovery success rates of 60% or higher, compared to the 5-15% success rates for opioid detoxifications and other medication-free therapies. This project will help interrupt the cycle of incarceration for people who struggle with mental health and/or substance misuse and are involved in the justice-system, by providing individualized and needs-based case management and MAT options that will help address drivers of criminal justice involvement.
PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION:
• The case management component of this program is already underway. The previous Caring for Denver grant funds the positions through the end of 2022. With the additional Caring for Denver funding, instead of releasing these positions at the end of the year the DSD can continue these three case management positions from January 2023 through August 2025.
• Planning for the MAT coordinator portion of the grant was officially launched when we received notification of award on July 25. The DSD hopes to being the hiring process as soon as the grant is approved.
Location (if applicable): Citywide
WBE/MBE/DBE goals that were applied, if applicable (construction, design, Airport concession contracts): N/A
Are WBE/MBE/DBE goals met (if applicable)? N/A
Is the contract new/a renewal/extension or amendment?
New
Was this contractor selected by competitive process or sole source?
N/A grant
For New contracts
Term of initial contract: 08/01/2022 - 07/31/2025
Options for Renewal:
How many renewals (i.e. up to 2 renewals)?
Term of any renewals (i.e. 1 year each):
Cost of initial contract term:
$1,054,837
Cost of any renewals:
Total contract value council is approving if all renewals exercised:
For Amendments/Renewals Extensions:
Is this a change to cost/pricing; length of term; terms unrelated to time or price (List all that apply)?
If length changing
What was the length of the term of the original contract?
What is the length of the extension/renewal?
What is the revised total term of the contract?
If cost changing
What was the original value of the entire contract prior to this proposed change?
What is the value of the proposed change?
What is the new/revised total value including change?
If terms changing
Describe the change and the reason for it (i.e. compliance with state law, different way of doing business etc.)