“PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The following service components are for DFCS clients who will be referred by DFCS. DFCS Social Workers will complete a referral form to enroll their clients in DV Services. The DFCS Program Monitor will coordinate the referral process for enrollment in DV services. Clients receiving DV services represent a diverse population including, but not limited to, Caucasian, Latino/Hispanic, African American, Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian. Vendors must demonstrate cultural competence for the delivery of the services outlined below. Cultural competent practice improves access and quality of service for individuals of diverse populations. The Program Model will include the following:
I. Closed Curriculum-based Therapeutic Domestic Violence Victims Support Groups Fundamental elements required include, but are not limited to:
a. Therapist must be Licensed ;
b. Closed curriculum-based therapeutic support group;
c. Evidence based curriculum is desirable (see section VI below for definitions);
d. Gender specific capacity;
e. Provided in multiple languages; priority English and Spanish;
f. Group size; maximum 8 – minimum 4; and
g. Provide a minimum of ten (10) 15-week groups during contract period.
h. Ensuring no break in contracted support group schedule when a facilitator is sick, on vacation or otherwise unable to provide group facilitation.
II. Trauma Based Therapy and Crisis Counseling Services Therapy and counseling services must be provided by a licensed therapist and be available in multiple languages. Services include, but are not limited to:
a. Provide individual therapy for DFCS clients who do not have current Victim of Crime Claims,
b. Provide individual crisis counseling for DFCS clients who are victims of domestic violence,
c. Provide general domestic violence counseling on an as needed basis,
d. Provide psychotherapy on an as needed basis.
III. Court Support
a. Direct Client Services: At a minimum, the vendor must provide assurance for the following elements and must be provided by a licensed staff person (Master level or above).
i. Provide general support during court appearance;
ii. Provide emotional support;
iii. Provide general information on court procedures and process;
iv. Provide silent support in court when requested by client;
v. Provide restraining order support; and
vi. Provide assistance with connecting to legal resources outside of Juvenile Dependency Court when appropriate.
b. Support Services: At a minimum, the vendor must provide assurance for the following elements and must be provided by a licensed staff person (Master level or above).
i. Participate in Dependency Court hearings, Mediations, and/or Team Decision Making (TDM);
ii. Participate in staffing, trainings, and meetings as requested from DFCS;
iii. Participate in Juvenile Dependency Court, including domestic violence related involvement in Dependency Drug Treatment Court and Family Wellness Court for Infants and Toddlers;
iv. Provide client specific consultation with: County Counsel, District Attorney, Parent Attorney, Mediator, Judicial Officer, and the Social Worker regarding domestic violence issues and/or concerns as it relates to the court;
v. Liaison with District Attorneys, Probation Officers and Law Enforcement for concurrent criminal cases in which the client’s perpetrator is being charged with domestic violence;
vi. Work with Deputies and court system to ensure or enhance victim emotional and physical safety; and
vii. Conduct court ordered domestic violence assessments.
IV. Consultation for DFCS Social Workers and Others At a minimum, the Vendor should have the knowledge of Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA), DV restraining orders, and Family Court and Criminal Court DV proceedings and services to provide the following:
a. Consultation on needs, lethality, risk, and safety concerns,
b. Information on viable DV community resources,
c. Support and consultation to DFCS social workers as requested.
V. Experience and Qualifications
a. Experience:
i. Vendors must have a minimum of 5 years’ experience supporting their expertise and knowledge in dealing with victims of domestic violence in a therapeutic environment, preferably with families and children in Santa Clara County, who are receiving services from DFCS.
b. Staff and Subcontractor Qualifications: Providers must possess an L.C.S.W. or L.M.F.T. Vendors must show that their staff/subcontractors have the:
i. Ability to work with both partners (each enrolled in different workshops/classes) of a couple where there has been violence;
ii. Knowledge of the dynamics of violence including different types of violence;
iii. Knowledge of the impact of exposure to intimate partner violence on children; iv. Knowledge of the developmental needs of children;
v. Knowledge of the Child Welfare System;
vi. Necessary experience in screening and assessing for child abuse &
vii. neglect;
viii. Understanding that violence is not solely gender-based;
ix. Understanding of the potential lethality of co-occurrence issues such as, mental illness, drugs/alcohol use and intimate partner violence;
x. Experience offering workshops/classes, or comparable classes, in the past (the prior workshops/classes could have had different titles);
xi. Willingness to develop and implement a safety plan, including collaborating with local law enforcement to guard the safety of clients and program staff;
xii. Understanding of multiple court divisions and the possible impact of court on the lives of families; and
xiii. Ability to keep data, submit invoices, prepare and submit parent progress reports, DV Assessments, and any additional reports required by DFCS, in a timely manner.
VI. Evidence-Based Curriculum Level Programmatic Characteristics (for all levels): The program can articulate a theory of change that has clearly identified outcomes and describes the activities that are related to those outcomes.
Level One: Emerging Programs and Practices Research and Evaluation Characteristics: There is no clinical or empirical evidence or theoretical basis indicating that the practice constitutes a substantial risk of harm to those receiving it compared to its likely benefits. There is no form of control or comparison group study to support the program. Program and practices have been evaluated using less rigorous evaluation designs, such as pre and post tests.
Level Two: Promising Programs and Practices Research & Evaluation Characteristics: At least one study has been completed utilizing some form of control, comparison group or other comparable methodology. A formal, independent report has been produced which documents the program’s positive outcomes. The contractor or another group is committed to and is actively working on building stronger evidence through ongoing evaluation and continuous quality improvement activities.
Level Three: Supported Programs and Practices Research & Evaluation Characteristics: The research supporting the efficacy of the program in producing positive outcomes associated with reducing the risk of and increasing the protective factors associated with the prevention of child abuse or neglect meets the following criteria: At least two rigorous randomized controlled trials or other comparable methodology conducted in a highly controlled setting have found the practice to be superior to an appropriate comparison practice. The practice is generally accepted in child welfare departments as appropriate for use with children and their parents/caregivers receiving child abuse prevention or family support services.
Level Four: Well Supported Programs and Practices Research & Evaluation Characteristics: Outcome measures are reliable and valid, and are administered consistently and accurately across all participants. The program has been evaluated in multiple sites with at least two rigorous randomized controlled trials or comparable methodology and has found the practice to be superior to an appropriate comparison practice. The program randomized controlled trials, or other comparable methodology, and has been reported in published peer-reviewed literature. If multiple outcomes studies have been conducted, the overall weight of the evidence supports the effectiveness of the practice.”
Excerpted from County of Santa Clara “Solicitation RFP-SSA-FY17-0062”