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September 12, 2023
ITEM TITLE
Agreement: Approve an Agreement with Focus Psychological Services, Inc. to Provide Psychological Services to the Fire and Police Departments
Report Number: 2023-0219
Location: No specific geographic location
Department: Fire & Police
Environmental Notice : The activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) no environmental review is required.
Recommended Action
Adopt a resolution approving an agreement with Focus Psychological Services Inc. to provide psychological services to the Fire and Police Departments.
SUMMARY
With the inherent stress and trauma that comes with first responder work, the Fire and Police Departments propose contracting with Focus Psychological Services Inc. for confidential staff counseling services. The Chula Vista Fire D epartment is currently contracted with Focus for these services. With the proposed agreement, services will now be provided to both Police and Fire.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Director of Development Services has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines because it will not result in a physical change in the environment; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines, the activity is not subject to CEQA.
Thus, no environmental review is required.
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BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
During its regular meeting on April 14, 2021, the Measure A Citizens’ Oversight Committee (COC) approved amendments to the Public Safety Expenditure Plan to fund counseling services for the Fire Department.
During its regular meeting on January 12, 2023, the COC approved amendments to the Public Safety Expenditure Plan to fund counseling services for the Police Department.
DISCUSSION
The mental health and fortitude of public safety employees i s important to being effective servants when seconds are critical, and when decisions can potentially have life-altering consequences. For first responders to perform, they rely on mental fortitude and resilience. This reliance causes cumulative stress, which can lead to negative thoughts, poor performance, tumultuous personal relationships, and sometimes mental health crises. The protective shield of mental fortitude and resilience can also be a double -edged sword. It can add to the stigma that seeking mental health treatment is a sign of weakness and even viewed as jeopardizing their career.
Although psychological services are currently available to City employees, there is limited access to practitioners who are culturally competent and understand the rigors of th e first responder profession .
Culturally skilled mental healthcare providers are invaluable for several reasons. They build trust amongst employees to use these psychological services proactively rather than reactively in response to a crisis or critical incident and hopefully eliminate the stigma associated with seeking treatment.
With the inherent stress and trauma that comes with first responder work, the Fire and Police Departments propose providing confidential counseling services to its staff with Focus Psychological Services. They are well respected in the San Diego first responder community and offer psychological service s to many first responder agencies in San Diego County. Their demonstrated experience to the first responder community and skilled qualifications make them a unique service provider. The Chula Vista Fire Department is currently contracted with Focus for psychological services. The proposed contract will now include both the Police and Fire Departments.
The City has worked together satisfactorily with Focus Psychological Services for several years on other projects, and this Agreement was negotiated on the basis of Consultant’s demonstrated competence and qualifications for the services to be provided, pursuant to Chula Vista Municipal Code section 2.56.110 (A) (1). I n order to procure these services , Focus Psychological Services was chosen based on their unique qualifications, including their vast support of other agencies in San Diego County and Southern California; on this basis, Consultant was awarded the contract on a “single/sole source” basis under the authority of Chula Vista Municipal Code sections 2.56.110 (H) (3) and 2.56.070 (B) (4).
Focus Psychological Services offers confidential counseling services for a wide range of life problems.
Services include:
Individual Counseling
Marriage Counseling
Child/Adolescent Counseling
Family/Stepfamily Counseling
Post Traumatic Incident Counseling
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Habit Control
Alcohol/Substance Abuse Counseling
Stress Management
Anger Management
Treatment of Depression, Anxiety
Grief Resolution / Bereavement
Divorce Counseling
Services that are beyond the scope of Focus Psychological Services offerings may be available through other sources such as the employee’s city-provided private medical insurance plans. If an employee needs a higher level of care, there would be a colla borative process between Focus and the Police & Fire Departments to identify additional resources for the employee (such as a treatment facility, additional mental or emotional wellness services, or workers compensation program).
Therapists at Focus Psychological Services are trained in a variety of therapeutic modalities, including EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), psychodynamic, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), family systems, as well as others.
Eligible clients may utilize Focus Psychological Services for any counseling problem, whether or not it is job- related. All counseling services are strictly confidential. In order to maintain services that are strictly confidential and are also perceived by employees as confidential, no record of the specific employees that use the services shall be released to the City of Chula Vista. Employees are afforded unlimited visits unless it exceeds the scope of their care.
Focus professionals are available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week to respond to critical incidents. Critical incident interventions assist in the healing and recovery from exposure to a psychologically traumatizing event. Critical incident interventions prevent delayed stress reactions, which may appear weeks, months, or even years after the incident. These reactions can seriously affect job performance and personal relations.
The agreement with Focus Psychological Services covers an initial term of September 12, 2023 to June 30, 2024, and may be extended for four (4) additional one-year terms, up to June 30, 2028.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site-specific and consequently, the 500-foot rule found in California Code of Regulations Title 2, section 18702.2(a)(11), is not applicable to this decision for purposes of determining a disqualifying real property-related financial conflict of interest under the Political Reform Act (Cal. Gov't Code § 87100, et seq.).
Staff is not independently aware, and has not been informed by any City Council member, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision maker conflict of interest in this matter.
CURRENT-YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
The annual cost of psychological services for the Fire Department is $24,000, and the annual cost for the Police Department is $19,200. These costs are already included in the Fiscal Year 2023/24 Adopted Budget for Measure A.
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ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
The table below outlines contract amounts, if the optional extensions are exercised. These costs will be included in subsequent budgets as part of the annual budget adoption process.
FY 2024/2025 FY 2025/2026 FY 2026/2027 FY 2027/2028
Fire Department $25,200 $26,460 $27,783 $29,172
Police Department $20,160 $21,168 $22,226 $23,337
Annual Contract Cost $45,360 $47,628 $50,009 $52,509
ATTACHMENTS
1. Agreement with Focus Psychological Services Inc. to provide psychological services to the Fire and Police Departments
Staff Contact: Fire Chief Harry Muns
Police Chief Roxana Kennedy