City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: City Manager
Meeting Date: September 29, 2025
Report #:2509-5211
TITLE
The City Schools Liaison Committee Recommends Approval of Professional Services Contract Number C26195844 with the JED Foundation for a Not-to-Exceed Amount of $149,000 for Technical Assistance, Evaluation, and Support Regarding Youth and Young Adult Mental Health Programs for a Period of Two Years; CEQA Status - Not a Project
RECOMMENDATION
The City Schools Liaison Committee recommends that the City Council approve and authorize the City Manager or their designee to execute the contract No. C26195844 with the JED Foundation to provide technical assistance, evaluation, and support regarding youth and young adult mental health programs for a term of two (2) years and a total not to exceed of $149,000.
BACKGROUND
The Jed Foundation (JED) is a nonprofit devoted to emotional health and suicide prevention for teens and young adults nationwide.
At the April 1, 2025 City Schools Liaison Committee, the Committee discussed a possible partnership with the JED Foundation. The Committee approved the following:
Refer the JED Foundation proposal and further refine the scope with stakeholders to the City Council for Council discussion and potential direction and for continued collaboration with the School District.
During the FY 2026 City budget discussions, the City Council expressed support for moving forward with an agreement with JED.
ANALYSIS
Since budget adoption, City staff and the City Council members of the City Schools Liaison Committee further refined the scope with the JED Foundation, resulting in the scope of services provided in Attachment A. A complete recommended agreement will be attached to this report
on September 25. The agreement refers to the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) for specific needs, which have been coordinated with PAUSD. The City Schools Liaison Committee reviewed and discussed the draft scope at the September 11 Committee meeting1. The Committee passed the following two (2) motions:
A: To recommend the JED proposal to the City Council for approval.
And (B) To refer to the [PAUSD] School Board the consideration of
1. Potential partnership between the JED foundation (and/or other third-party mental health consultants) and the school district;
2. Continued collaboration between the City and the school district, beyond the components currently in the JED proposal
Procurement Process
The JED Foundation has done work on this topic nationally and has a niche experience that can benefit Palo Alto and the services we are providing the community. There are other service providers with similar services but given City Council direction, timing, and expertise, an exemption to competitive solicitation pursuant to Palo Alto Municipal Code section 2.30.360(d) was approved by the City Manager. The contract amount is $149,000 over a 24-month term.
The tasks outlined in the contract include:
- Task 1: Provide Postvention Support - $31,350
oOpportunities for grief processing and community healing oGap Analysis and Postvention Guide
oCommunity-wide safe messaging
- Task 2: Strengthen Prevention Efforts - $33,100
oData analysis
oCommunication
oGap Analysis
oGuidance and education on lethal means reduction
oPolicy review/ development
- Task 3: Facilitate Youth Engagement - $21,300
oYouth focus group
oHigh School survey (public and private)
oPeer Task Force
oRoadmap of potential future activities
- Task 4: Advise on Palo Alto’s Citywide Campaign / Communications - $30,850 oEvaluate existing tools
1 September 11, 2025 City Schools Liaison Committee meeting, Item E:
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=17228 oPotential survey on youth access
oCurate a list of resources and tools
oAdvise on resources webpage
- Task 5: Trainings to Build Knowledge and Skills - $23,400 oProvide 6 workshops/ trainings for youth, educators, parents, staff The JED Foundation will work collaboratively with Project Safety Net (PSN) as well as PAUSD.
The specific actions related to PAUSD include:
•That PAUSD will be asked provide local schools' data related to mental health •As appropriate, PAUSD will be asked to share progress updates with PAUSD families •PAUSD review of JED high school survey tool and, if concurred by PAUSD, then PAUSD assistance in sharing the survey with PAUSD youth
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
The total not-to-exceed amount for this contract is $149,000, which includes $140,000 for services and $9,000 for travel for up to six (6) visits. This contract funding will be split over two (2) fiscal years (FY) with $79,000 of the services provided in FY 2026 and $70,000 in FY 2027.
The FY 2026 Adopted Budget includes the first-year contract costs in the General Fund Community Services Department budget for youth mental health. Funding in FY 2027 is subject to City Council approval as part of the annual budget process.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Staff received feedback on this proposal at both City School Liaison Committee meetings as well as feedback from the City Council members of the City Schools Liaison Committee between the two meetings (per the Committee recommendation).
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Approval of this contract is not a project under CEQA regulation 15061(b)(3).
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: DRAFT Scope of Work with JED Foundation (As shared with City Schools Liaison Committee; full contract will be late packet)
APPROVED BY:
Ed Shikada, City Manager