RIDLEY-THOMAS CALLS FOR REVIEW OF COUNTY ALCOHOL AND DRUG TREATMENT CONTRACTS

 

  NEWS

                                 Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas

                                                                  L.A. County Board of Supervisors, 2^nd District

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

June 16, 2009                                                                                                          Contact:   Aurelio Rojas         James Bolden

                                                                    213-974-2222              213-200-5314            

RIDLEY-THOMAS CALLS FOR REVIEW OF COUNTY

ALCOHOL AND DRUG TREATMENT CONTRACTS

 

 

LOS ANGELES – Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas today called for a review of County alcohol and drug program contracts to ensure fair and competitive bidding.

 

While adding his support for a request to renew provider contracts, the Supervisor insisted that none be extended for more than a year until a report is provided on the County’s efforts to create a fair and competitive bidding process.

 

The County currently administers over 650 contracts totaling $154 million with 260 agencies providing alcohol and drug prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery services.

 

The Supervisor said these programs provide critical services for vulnerable County residents, but many are facing severe cutbacks because of the state budget crisis.

 

 “As the recent media reports reinforce, it is critical that the County ensures that it carefully administers these programs and public funds to ensure accountability, efficiency, fairness and quality of care within our communities,” he said.

 

The Supervisor asked the County’s Chief Executive Officer to work with the Department of Public Health to provide a status report to the Board on its efforts to create a fair and competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process for all alcohol and drug treatment program contracts.

 

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