Interoffice Memorandum
DATE: February 21, 2025
TO: Mayor Jerry L. Demings and County Commissioners
FROM: Carrie Mathes, CFCM, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, C.P.M., Manager II, Procurement Division
CONTACT: Isabelle Klier-Graham, Manager, Mental Health and Homelessness Division
PHONE: 407-836-1593
SUBJECT: Approval of Contract Y25-2219, Orange County MATCH Program Counseling and Case Management Services
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approval of Contract Y25-2219, Orange County MATCH Program Counseling and Case Management Services, with Hope Center for Children and Families, Inc., in the estimated contract award amount of $545,000 for one year term contract. Further request Board authorization for the Procurement Division to renew the contract for two additional one-year terms. ([Community and Family Services Department Mental Health and Homelessness Division] Procurement Division)
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PROCUREMENT:
This contract provides a dedicated team of clinicians who will serve Orange County youth and families utilizing MATCH, an evidence-based clinical treatment used to treat children experiencing symptoms related to anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and disruptive conduct, including the conduct problems associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other mental health diagnoses. The performance period is upon contract execution through March 31, 2026.
FUNDING:
Funding is available on account numbers 0001-062-2519-8610 ($500,000) and 0001-062-2501-8610 ($45,000).
APPROVALS:
The Mental Health and Homelessness Division concurs with this request.
REMARKS:
In accordance with the Code of Ordinances, Part 1, Chapter 17, Article III, Section 17-286 - Application and exclusions, agreements between the Board and nonprofit organizations are excluded from competitive procurement requirements.
The pending agreement directs the provision of the Orange County MATCH Program, an evidence-based, outcome-driven counseling program for children, youth, and their families. The Citizen’s Commission for Children and their Advisory Board has approved the funding for this program, which has been granted to the Mental Health and Homelessness Division to benefit Orange County families' behavioral and mental health needs.
Vendor/Agency History (Relationship with Orange County): Hope Center for Children and Families is the not-for-profit arm of Positive Behavioral Solutions (PBS). PBS has been a partner of Orange County since participating in the 2019 Mental Health and Homelessness Division-funded MATCH Learning Collaborative facilitated by the Judge Baker Center for Children. Since their initial training with Orange County, PBS has sustained MATCH and has proven to be an effective independent provider of MATCH.
Hope Center for Children and Families is a nonprofit organization established on May 1, 2023, by Michael Veal, MBA, and Tracy Ramos, LMHC. The organization’s mission is to provide comprehensive and compassionate counseling, support, and case management services to children and families with a variety of needs, as well as veterans who have experienced past complex trauma. As a non-profit organization, the goal is to make resources accessible to promote healing, resilience, and empowerment, enabling individuals to thrive and reach their full potential within our communities.
Program Overview: The Hope Center for Children and Families will utilize MATCH to serve Orange County participants by providing evidence-based clinical services to children experiencing symptoms related to anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and disruptive conduct, including the conduct problems associated with ADHD and other mental health diagnoses.
Staff projects Hope Center for Children and Families, Inc. will serve 75 to 100 clients annually. Each participant will receive services for an average of one hour per week for up to 12 months. Participants’ total service hours will be based on their individual needs.
Brief Introduction to MATCH - The Modular Approach to Therapy for Children with Anxiety, Depression, Traumatic Stress, and Conduct Problems (MATCH; Chorpita & Weisz, 2009) is a treatment protocol for children aged 6-17. MATCH is designed for multiple disorders encompassing anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and disruptive conduct, including the conduct problems associated with ADHD.
Program Goals. The primary goal of services is to give youth and families a specific set of tools to help manage mental and behavioral health problems, using MATCH and supplemental case management to address needs that are not met through therapeutic contacts. Services will:
• Decrease the severity of mental health symptoms and behaviors.
• Increase family functioning by addressing underlying relationship issues.
• Increase the participants' life skills to enhance their well-being.
Program Services: MATCH therapy for youth ages 6-17 experiencing symptoms related to anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and disruptive conduct, including the conduct problems associated with ADHD and other mental health diagnoses.
Program Access: Residents can access services by contacting the program directly to self-refer or be referred by Orange County Public Schools, Baker Act Receiving Hospitals, community-based organizations, or local community members. Program access is not limited to or impacted by the district in which a family may reside.
Relation to Orange County Mayoral Initiatives: The dedicated Orange County MATCH Program was born out of the increased need for behavioral and mental health programs that were identified in the Central Florida Collaborative’s 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment and the Orange County Mental and Behavioral Health System of Care Community Analysis (2022).