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

Released: July 17, 2026 12:00 AM PDT Responses due (Please Respond By): July 1, 2028 5:00 PM PDT

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.

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.