Interoffice Memorandum
DATE: August 20, 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 and Homelessness Division
PHONE: 407-836-3187
SUBJECT: Approval of Agreement Y27-2200 for Functional Family Therapy Services for the Mental Health and Homelessness Division
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approval of Agreement Y27-2200 for Functional Family Therapy Services, with Bay Area Youth Services, Inc. dba BAYS Florida, in the total contract award amount of $668,181.60 for a one-year term. Further request Board authorization for the Procurement Division to renew this contract for four additional one-year terms [(Community and Family Services Department Mental Health and Homelessness Division) Procurement Division]
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PROCUREMENT:
This agreement supports functional family therapy (FFT) services, which is an effective, short-term, evidence-based family counseling service designed for youth ages 10 through 18 years old who are at risk or have been referred to the program for behavioral or emotional problems. FFT works with a young person’s whole family and extrafamilial influences to facilitate growth and development. The performance period is October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
FUNDING:
Funding is available in account number 0001-62-2504-8611.
APPROVALS:
The Mental Health and Homelessness Division concurs with this recommendation.
REMARKS:
In accordance with the Code of Ordinances, Part I, Chapter 17, Article 111, Section 17-286 - Application and exclusions, agreements between the Board and non-profit entities are excluded from competitive procurement requirements.
In August 2013, the Youth Mental Health Commission (YMHC) began to examine the youth mental health system of care in Orange County. After meeting for over a year, the Commission produced a detailed report on the state of youth mental health services in Orange County and recommendations for improvement. One of the top recommendations focused on transforming the mental health service delivery system through training and certifying clinicians in evidence-based practices. The Clinical Subcommittee of the YMHC, recommended Functional Family Therapy as an intervention for implementation. The specific target population for this intervention are Orange County youth between the ages of 10 and 18 who are experiencing moderate to severe emotional and behavioral health challenges and who are also at risk or involved with multiple systems such as Department of Children and Families, Department of Juvenile Justice and inpatient psychiatric hospitals. Functional Family Therapy is considered an intensive outpatient treatment with success in preventing youth from out of home placements, and it is an innovation that will provide improved outcomes with a challenging population. Families will indicate a positive change in family functioning as measured on the Family Functioning Therapist Outcome Measurement Tool. Youth will report more positive mental health functioning as indicated in pre and post outcome measures. Adults and youth successfully discharged will live in a stable housing environment.
The Mental Health and Homelessness Issues Division compared the program budget with Contract Y19-1104 for Multi Systemic Therapy Psychiatric Program for Mental Health and Homeless Issues, which is an evidence-based practice with a comparable budget of $630,000. To ensure there is no gap in services for youth and families in need, the County seeks to continue funding this team at the current contract operational budget within the permissible expense categories listed in the scope of services.
As a result of this funding agreement, the Youth Mental Health Commission will be able to sustain this valuable evidence-based practice to the menu of diverse services that Orange County is committed to providing to Orange County youth and families with serious behavioral health needs.