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Southborough staff report drop in Interface referrals; commission to review contract options
Summary
Director Sarah Micas told the commission that Interface referral service recorded eight cases from July—December 2025; the commission budgeted $15,000 for the contract but asked staff to meet with Interface to clarify metrics and explore capped referral options before changing FY27 plans.
The Town of Southborough Department of Youth and Family Services reported a marked decline in use of Interface referral service, prompting the commission on March 10 to request further information about contract terms and metrics before making budget changes.
Director Sarah Micas presented an Interface report covering July 1—Dec. 31, 2025, saying, "we only had eight cases." She cautioned the figure can be ambiguous because Interface reports can count calls, matches or closed referrals differently, and said neighboring communities are seeing similar declines. The town currently pays $15,000 per year for an unlimited-referral contract.
Commissioners discussed alternatives, including a "gatekeeper" model that caps referrals for a lower fixed fee and would require staff to screen and approve referrals before they go to Interface. Members asked Sarah to meet with the town's Interface contact to clarify what the eight-case figure includes, what contract options and savings might look like, and whether there are penalties or ramp-up delays for dropping and rejoining a contract.
Several commissioners suggested that use might have fallen because residents now have more entry points for mental-health care (walk-in community behavioral health centers, state helplines, or telehealth) and because provider availability has shifted since the pandemic. Commissioners also recommended more active outreach about Interface's services, including mentioning it at the March 27 Nurture and Network event, to ensure residents know the resource exists.
Sarah said she would bring back contract terms and comparative data after meeting with Interface. For now the commission left the budgeted $15,000 in place for FY27 and asked staff to report again if usage or price projections change.
