Interoffice Memorandum
DATE: March 11, 2026
TO: Mayor Jerry L. Demings and County Commissioners
FROM: Carrie Mathes, FNIGP, CFCM, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, C.P.M., Manager II, Procurement Division
CONTACT: Isabelle Klier-Graham, Manager, Mental Health & Homelessness Division
PHONE: 407-836-3187
SUBJECT: Approval of Amendment No. 6, Contract Y23-151, The Management of the Youth Mental Health Management Network Consortium and the Provision of Mental Health Support Services
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approval of Amendment No. 6, Contract Y23-151, The Management of the Youth Mental Health Management Network Consortium and the Provision of Mental Health Support Services, with RISE Community Solutions, Inc., in the amount of $300,000, for a revised estimated contract amount of $1,029,656.81. ([Community and Family Services Department Mental Health and Homelessness Division] Procurement Division)
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PROCUREMENT:
This amendment will increase the estimated contract amount and replace Exhibit B-5, Budget, with Exhibit B-6. The additional funds will be used to facilitate the expansion of support services for young children, and their caregivers, in need of early intervention and developmental support.
FUNDING:
Funds are available in account numbers 0001-062-2507-8610, 001-062-2519-8610 and 0001-062-2501 -8610.
APPROVALS:
The Mental Health and Homelessness Division concurs with this recommendation.
REMARKS:
The budget increase will enable RISE Community Solutions, Inc. (RISE) to expand peer support services for young children in need of early intervention and developmental support, as well as their caregivers. Currently, a critical gap exists for parents seeking community and guidance. RISE will scale operations to ensure families have timely access to peer support, support groups, and parent education.
The contract provides family peer support services (support, education, and advocacy) to caregivers of children experiencing emotional, behavioral, mental health, or social-emotional difficulties enrolled in the program titled “Breakthrough”. Approximately 116 families receive support services annually. With the increased funding, it is anticipated that 75 to 100 additional families will be served.
Breakthrough prioritizes referrals from Orange County families and community partners seeking support for youth at risk of Baker Act or recently discharged from a Baker Act due to an unmet mental or behavioral health issue.
By expanding services to the community, RISE will be contributing to widely known data that indicates:
• Increased early intervention leads to better long-term outcomes for children with developmental needs, including higher school readiness, stronger social skills, and reduced need for intensive services later in life. (<https://idrpp.usu.edu/files/policy/what-is-EI-why-important-for-web.pdf>)
• Stronger caregiver support correlates with reduced stress and improved parenting confidence, which in turn supports healthier family functioning and child well-being. (<https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36404703/>)
• Access to peer support and education fosters community connections, reducing caregiver isolation and building networks that can improve resource navigation and resilience. (<https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/programs_campaigns/brss_tacs/family-parent-caregiver-support-behavioral-health-2017.pdf>)
Together, these effects can contribute to lower rates of emergency service use, better educational outcomes, and overall stronger community health.
Vendor/Agency History: RISE has worked with Orange County since early 2014. The organization leadership's contributions, along with many others, led to the development and implementation of the Youth Mental Health Management Network Consortium and later the Youth Mental Health Pilot Project called Breakthrough.
The Youth Mental Health Management Network Consortium (“Management Network”) was formalized in November 2017. In December 2017, RISE was selected as the Managing Partner for the Management Network. RISE made significant contributions to the development and operation of the Youth Mental Health Pilot Project called Breakthrough, which launched in April 2018.
RISE has been a reliable partner and contributor to youth mental health work since the inception of the Management Network and Youth Mental Health Pilot Project called Breakthrough.
Role Definitions:
Youth Mental Health Management Network Consortium is a group of partners providing technical and subject matter expertise to the Youth Mental Health Commission. The Management Network Consortium members' role is to ensure that Breakthrough and other mental health programs under the Youth Mental Health Commission conform to the needs and best interests of affected families and children within Orange County.
As the Managing Partner in the Management Network, RISE holds significant responsibilities. They manage the consortium's contributions, disburse funds for participant service needs, and oversee the providers serving families participating with Breakthrough or related mental health programs under the Youth Mental Health Commission.
The Youth Mental Health Management Network Pilot Project was developed in April 2018 to address the behavioral needs of a specific group of youth. It targets those between the ages of 13 and 16 who have had two or more inpatient hospitalizations within a 12 month period, with many of these readmissions occurring within 30 days of discharge.
Research and planning for the pilot project began in early 2014; the research was conducted by community stakeholders to create the framework for the Youth Mental Health Commission and later for the pilot project. In early 2014, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners (Board) heard recommendations and approved implementing the Pilot Project.
After receiving approval from the Board, the research and planning committees informally became the Management Network and entered into a formal agreement in November 2017 to become the Youth Mental Health (YMH) Management Network Consortium. The YMH Management Network Consortium was responsible for oversight of the Pilot Project. The Pilot Project called Breakthrough was launched in April 2018.
Major Program Goals. The primary goal of services is to provide hope, guidance, advocacy, and camaraderie for caregivers of children and youth in need of, or those receiving services from mental health, substance use, early intervention, and related service systems. As defined by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, services will:
1. Increase caregivers' sense of collaboration, awareness, and self-care practice.
2. Increase caregivers' ability to participate actively in their children's mental health care.
3. Increase caregivers’ engagement in support groups and education workshops.
4. Decrease caregivers' feelings of isolation and internalized blame.
5. Utilize strength-based coaching to help increase confidence and self-efficacy.
6. Ensure the utilization of youth and family voices and choices when determining early intervention, developmental support, mental health care and exploring recovery pathways.
Enrollment/Referral Criteria
The expanded Breakthrough program will serve children and youth in Orange County who meet the following criteria:
1. Ages 0-5: Children identified with a developmental delay, disability, and/or neurodivergent diagnosis whose caregivers require additional support and care navigation.
2. Ages 6-17: Youth at risk of psychiatric hospitalization, youth recently discharged, or in need of increased support due to unmet mental health needs.
3. Residency and Caregiver Requirement: All referred children and youth must reside in Orange County and be in the care of a permanent caregiver.
Referrals/how people know about the services:
Breakthrough primarily receives referrals from local psychiatric hospitals, including Central Florida Behavioral Health and University Behavioral Center. The program also accepts referrals from Orange County Public Schools, the Department of Children and Families, and self-referrals from families.
On September 12, 2023, the Board authorized the award of Contract Y23-151 to RISE Community Solutions, Inc. (formerly Embrace Family Solutions, Inc.) as the sole-source provider, per the Memorandum of Understanding establishing the Management Network, in the estimated contract amount of $439,006.77 for a one-year term. The Board further approved the Procurement Division renewing the contract for two additional one-year terms.
Previous contracts amendments are as follows:
Amendment No. 1: Replaced Exhibit B, Budget, with Exhibit B-2, and added Attachment 4, Job Description for Public Ally Apprentice. Additionally increased funding by $16,666.68, for a revised estimated contract amount of $455,673.45. This increase was processed under the authority of the Procurement Division.
Amendment No. 2: Renewed contract for the period of October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025; replaced Exhibit A, Scope of Services, Exhibit B-2, Budget, and Exhibit D, Monthly Personnel Timesheet, with Exhibit A-2, Exhibit B-3, and Exhibit D-2, respectively; added Anti-Human Trafficking provision language; and increased funding by $455,673.45 for a revised estimated contract amount of $729,656.81. This increase was approved by the Board on September 10, 2024.
Amendment No. 3: Renewed contract for the period of October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2026. No change to estimated contract amount.
Amendment No. 4: Replaced Amendment No. 3 in its entirety. This amendment renewed the contract for the period of October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2026, replaced Exhibit A-2 with Exhibit A-3, and replaced Exhibit B-3 with Exhibit B-4. No change to estimated contract amount.
Amendment No. 5: Replaced Exhibit A-3 with Exhibit A-4 and replaced Exhibit B-4 with Exhibit B-5. No change to estimated contract amount.