Psychiatry Services at Sacramento County's Youth Detention Facility Open Enrollment

Sacramento County Department of Health Services (DHS), Behavioral Health Services (BHS), is conducting an Open Enrollment to identify qualified individuals and organizations to provide psychiatric services for youth and young adults detained within Sacramento County’s Youth Detention Facility (YDF).

The purpose of this Open Enrollment is to identify and contract with qualified psychiatrists to support County obligations under Title 15 of the California Code of Regulations, commencing with Article 8, Section 1400, Responsibility for Health Care Services (see Attachment A, Title 15 Minimum Standards for Juvenile Facilities).

Psychiatry services under this Open Enrollment may include psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, and treatment; prescribing of psychotropic medications; medication evaluation, management, and monitoring; and consultation with YDF health and program staff. Services must be delivered safely, in a clinically appropriate manner, and in coordination with YDF multidisciplinary staff. Dispensing and administration of medications remains the responsibility of YDF health staff.  

Qualified providers are licensed physicians (M.D. or D.O.) who hold a current, active California medical license with board certification in psychiatry, and who are authorized to practice within the full scope of psychiatric medicine, including diagnosis and prescribing. Providers must be Board-Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, or board-eligible in child and adolescent psychiatry and actively pursuing board certification resulting in board-certification within 1 year of eligibility. Providers may contract individually or through a qualifying medical group or organization. All providers must adhere to applicable California laws, regulations, and professional standards of care.  Contractors are required to comply with all regulatory requirements, facility policies and procedures, and expectations for coordination with YDF leadership and oversight entities.

Applicants must meet all stated Minimum Qualifications (MQs) to be eligible for contract consideration with DHS. Contracts may be executed on a rolling basis based on County need and must be fully executed before the delivery of services or submission of invoices. Approval through this Open Enrollment does not guarantee referral volume or funding. County funding is limited to reimbursement for approved direct service costs only. This Open Enrollment will remain posted through July 1, 2028; however, the County reserves the right to close the posting earlier if the program capacity is reached.

Background

Pursuant to Title 15 of the California Code of Regulations (see Attachment A, Title 15 Minimum Standards for Juvenile Facilities), local detention facilities are required to provide access to behavioral/mental health services, which encompass crisis intervention, management of acute psychiatric episodes, stabilization to prevent psychiatric deterioration, medication support, and evaluations by licensed clinicians when indicated. These minimum standards are established and enforced by the Board of State and Community Corrections and are intended to ensure the safety, welfare, and appropriate treatment of individuals in detention.

Title 15 also requires that all youth receive an initial behavioral health screening at intake to identify urgent mental health needs, including suicide risk and acute psychiatric symptoms. Youth identified as having potential psychiatric needs must be referred for further evaluations by licensed behavioral/mental health clinicians, psychologist, or psychiatrist, as appropriate. Facilities must ensure timely access to psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, and treatment services, including medication evaluation and ongoing medication management when clinically indicated.

YDF is responsible for implementing systems and processes to ensure compliance with Title 15, including timely identification and referral of youth with behavioral health needs, facilitating access to psychiatric services, and maintaining a safe and secure environment for service delivery. BHS is responsible for the clinical oversight and administration of psychiatric services, ensuring the quality and appropriateness of care, coordinating treatment planning and crisis response.

These requirements establish the framework within which psychiatric services must be delivered and inform BHS’ need to engage qualified providers and organizations through this Open Enrollment process.

Project Details

• Reference ID: 2026-DOI-0035
• Department: Health Services
• Department Head: Tim Lutz (Director)

Evaluation Criteria

• Minimum Qualifications —

  Applicants must meet all of the following minimum qualifications to submit an application in response to this Open Enrollment.

  1. Be a California Board-Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, or Board-eligible and actively pursuing Board certification resulting in Board-certification within 1 year of eligibility.
  2. Have two (2) or more years of experience providing psychiatric services to children or youth.
  3. Comply with any Sacramento County corrective action plans, as verified by the County.
  4. Be willing to work in a locked juvenile detention facility and able to successfully pass a livescan background check.
  5. Be willing to provide after-hours on-call phone coverage.
• Funding and Payment Terms —

  YDF Psychiatric Services Annual Pool Total: $540,000*

  *Funding amount is an estimate only and subject to County approval, contract negotiations, and availability of funds. This amount is a shared pool of funding to be used for all contracted providers that successfully apply through this Open Enrollment.

  The County anticipates making multiple awards under this Open Enrollment. Individual contract maximums, service capacity, and funding allocations will be established during post-award negotiations. No Applicant is guaranteed a minimum funding level or service volume.

  Funding Restrictions and Controls

  All funding administered under this Open Enrollment is subject to applicable County policy and state and federal requirements. Certain funds used by the County to support this program may be subject to restrictions on eligible populations, services, or cost categories. Applicants shall comply with all funding requirements and reporting expectations as directed by the County through contract terms, invoicing instructions, and/or written guidance.

  Sacramento County retains sole discretion to determine funding assignment, allocation methodologies, and any future adjustments necessary to maintain compliance or respond to system needs.

  Payment Rate

  Compensation under this Open Enrollment will be as follows:

  • On-site psychiatric services shall be compensated at an hourly rate of $250.
  • Overnight on-call phone coverage shall be compensated at $150 per night.
• Required Services —

  Successful Applicant(s) shall provide psychiatric services to youth and young adults detained at the YDF to support the behavioral health needs of youth and in compliance with Title 15 of the California Code of Regulations, commencing with § 1400, which requires the provision of behavioral and mental health services within juvenile facilities.

  Services shall be delivered onsite at the YDF and may also include participation in facility-based planning meetings or other collaborative activities with County partners, as appropriate.

  Youth and young adults will be referred for psychiatric evaluation and treatment by YDF health clinic staff or BHS mental health staff.

  Successful Applicant(s) shall:

  • Coordinate with YDF medical and mental health staff, the facility pharmacy, Sacramento County Probation Department (Probation), outpatient providers, Substance Use Prevention and Treatment providers, Managed Care Plans, and other County-authorized partners involved in care coordination and service delivery.
  • Conduct psychiatric evaluation, including psychiatric assessments and mental status assessments for youth exhibiting symptoms such as severe depression, suicidal ideation, irrational, violent, or self-destructive behavior. This may include the use of structured assessment tools.
  • Complete initial psychiatric evaluations for youth not previously seen in YDF.
  • Complete comprehensive psychiatric evaluations at least annually, as applicable.
  • Manage psychotropic medications, ensuring continuity of medication regimens initiated in the community when clinically indicated.
  • Order and review laboratory tests in coordination with the YDF health clinic.
  • Provide initial and periodic medication support services.
  • Ensure uninterrupted medication plans in pre-release or transfer planning, including authorization for medication transfers.
  • Provide crisis intervention and manage acute psychiatric episodes during scheduled on-site hours.
  • Provide overnight on-call phone availability for psychiatric consultation, including medication and crisis management. Crisis management consultation includes providing clinical guidance during mental health crises, assisting with crisis intervention, assessing or directing the assessment of acute psychiatric symptoms, and advising on emergent medication or stabilization needs. On-call coverage is compensated at the per-night rate established by the County.
  • Promote the stabilization and well-being of individuals experiencing mental health needs and support them in maintaining their mental health while in a secure detention environment.
  • Re-evaluate and determine the need for continuation of psychotropic medications.
  • Participate in transition planning to ensure continuation of behavioral health treatment following release or transfer.
  • Complete all documentation in the County's electronic health record consistent with County-approved utilization review standards for every encounter with youth, parents or guardians, and any other individuals or agencies involved in the youth's or young adult's treatment.
  • When available, attend YDF Special Needs Unit meetings.
  • Participate in multidisciplinary and collaborative planning meetings with BHS mental health staff, Probation personnel, and other partners.
• Contracting Eligibility and Terms —

  Applicant must meet all MQs listed in Section 3.1 - Minimum Qualifications to be eligible for contracting. Upon meeting all MQs, an applicant may request a behavioral health contract with BHS to provide and be reimbursed for psychiatric services delivered to youth and young adults at the YDF. All contracts begin upon execution of the contract and continue through June 30th of the current fiscal year. No services, billing, or claiming may occur without an executed contract.

Submission Requirements

• Applicant Legal Name and Physical Address (required) —
  1. Legal Name of Business
  2. Physical Street Address, City, State, & Zip Code
  3. Mailing Address (if different from physical address)
• Point of Contact Name and Title (required) —

  Enter the name and title of the person to contact regarding this Open Enrollment.

• Point of Contact Email Address (required)
• Name of Authorized Signer (required)
• This Applicant certifies that it meets all MQs described in Section 3.1 - Minimum Qualifications. (required) —

  By selecting “Yes,” the Applicant certifies that they have reviewed the Minimum Qualifications, meet all applicable minimum requirements, and can provide supporting documentation upon request by Sacramento County.

• Exhibit A - Board Certification or Board Eligibility (required) —

  Applicant must upload documentation verifying that the proposed psychiatrist is a Board-Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist or Board-eligible and actively pursuing Board Certification. Required documentation may include:

  • Copy of current American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) Board-Certification certificate
  • Official ABPN Board-Eligibility letter or documentation showing active enrollment in the Board exam process
  • Curriculum Vitae (VC) clearly listing education, residency, fellowship in Psychiatry, and certification status
  • Certificate of completion of Psychiatry fellowship
  • Documentation of continuing medical education coursework related to child or adolescent psychiatry
  • Evidence of any additional specialty training or credentials relevant to child and adolescent mental health
• Exhibit B - Evidence of Experience Providing Psychiatric Services to Children or Youth (required) —

  Applicant must upload documentation demonstrating that the psychiatrist has two (2) or more years of experience providing psychiatric services to children or youth. Examples of acceptable documentation include:

  • Detailed CV outlining pediatric/child/youth psychiatric experience
  • Letters of reference or verification of employment from prior employers or contracting entities confirming relevant experience
  • Work history summaries, including position titles, service settings (e.g., outpatient, inpatient, juvenile detention), and dates of service
  • Clinical practice logs or summaries demonstrating direct psychiatric service hours provided to child/youth populations
  • Copies of relevant licenses (e.g., California Medical License) that include issue dates supporting the experience timeline
• Attachments (required) —

  Will you need attachments?