County committee advances $9.8 million package to support at‑risk children and families

Cuyahoga County’s Health and Human Services and Aging Committee on April 30 advanced a multiyear contract package designed to fund community‑based services for at‑risk children and families.

Marcos Cortez of the county’s Health and Human Services (Children & Family Services) said the master agreement arises from an RFP that closed Dec. 16 and that the county received 70 proposals. "This is a master agreement with various agent agencies to provide community based services for our at risk children and families," he said, and added that the county had added an additional vendor to the previously funded programs after the second procurement round.

The clerk read Resolution 20250163 into the record, describing awards on requisition 15297 not to exceed $9,825,469.20 for providers listed on the agenda for the period April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2027. The committee heard a brief provider presentation from Heather Brissett, who identified herself as vice president of community wellness and chief program officer at Meredith Taylor Human Services Systems (as stated in her remarks). Brissett described services intended to keep children safe and support caregivers, saying the programs help "caregivers, birth parents, foster parents, and other kinship caregivers provide a safe, stable, and nurturing environment for children and youth." She told the committee the programs include school partnerships, referrals and outreach, and a range of family supports.

Committee members questioned how the collaboratives coordinate with schools and how families are referred. Brissett said schools are part of the collaborative and can refer families; she described monthly coordination with school representatives and outreach via presentations and flyers. On barriers families face, Brissett said housing instability — particularly security deposits and first‑month rent — along with employment instability and childcare interruptions are primary drivers of need.

Members asked about a newly listed provider, Beach Brook, and whether relocation had disrupted services. Cortez said Beach Brook is being added as a new provider and "wasn't providing anything up until this point;" he said their effective date in the contract is April 1. Committee members also noted an apparent discrepancy in the agenda listing for Beach Brook’s award amount; Cortez said he would verify whether the figure on the agenda reflects a single‑year or a two‑year total.

After discussion, the chair moved to advance R2025‑0163 to the full Council under second‑reading suspension; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

Next steps: the resolution will be considered by the full Cuyahoga County Council under second‑reading suspension. The county staff said they will provide a ZIP‑code map of collaborative service areas and will verify the Beach Brook contract amount for the record.