Parent Partner, Native Liaison Navigator, and Shared Leadership Advisory Group

The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to define the County’s minimum requirements, solicit proposals, and gain adequate information by which the County may evaluate the services offered by Proposers that fall within the scope of services as described in this RFP. The County of Solano, Department of Health and Social Services (H&SS), Child Welfare Services (CWS), hereinafter referred to as the “County,” intends to secure a contract with a qualified proposer to provide Peer mentoring services through a Parent Partner model to assist parents who are engaged in the Court Family Maintenance and the Family Reunification process. About the Parent Partner Model According to research conducted at UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare, “The Parent Partner program is one of a number of recent innovations in child welfare that draws upon the strengths of families. The Parent Partner program seeks to enlist as support, mothers and fathers who have experienced child removal services and reunification. These individuals are trained and supported to provide direct services to parent clients seeking reunification with their children. The program design intention is for Parent Partners to serve as mentors, guides, and advocates for current parent clients. Parent Partners can be flexible in the roles they play and in responding to a range of needs that parent clients might present. The principal goal of their work, however, is to help parent clients gain awareness of their rights and responsibilities, and to assist parents toward reunification with their children. Because of their unique experience as former clients of the child welfare system, Parent Partners offer a perspective to parents that differs from that of social workers and other allied professionals. Program Goals The Child Welfare Services Parent Partner program has two important goals; 1) parents’ voices will be represented in stakeholder meetings to facilitate changes within our system and inform our ongoing practice, and 2) parents will receive support upon the opening of their case and during their initial Child and Family Team Meeting by a former system involved parent who can assist with education of the child welfare process and engagement in creating Case Plans with parents. Solano County Child Welfare Services is focused on the importance of achieving timely reunification for youth and believe that a Parent Partner Program supports this focus. Commitment to Restorative Child Welfare Additionally, Solano County Child Welfare Services is committed to being a Restorative Child Welfare system which seeks to support all parents and specifically fathers in developing and maintaining responsible, safe, and committed relationships with their children. Solano County is dedicated to fostering a father friendly culture. We recognize and honor the critical role that fathers play in healthy development of their children. Reference: 1 Anthony, E.K., Berrick, J.D., Cohen, E., Wilder, E., (July 2009). Partnering with Parents Promising Approaches to Improve Reunification Outcomes for Children in Foster Care. Executive Summary, UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare.