Amendment 1 to?RFP JUV-27-TS-SW-001 Youth Centered Planning Meetings RFP

Iowa Judicial Branch
1111 East Court Avenue | Des Moines, IA 50319
R P
EQUEST FOR ROPOSAL
RFP COVER SHEET
Administrative Information:
RFP JUV-27-TS-SW-001
Title of RFP: Youth Centered Planning Meetings
Number: AMD 1
Agency: Iowa Judicial Branch (IJB)
Number of years of the 1 year Number of possible annual 5 additional 1-year terms
initial terms of the renewals: exercisable by the IJB in
Contract: its sole discretion
Anticipated Initial
June 30, 2027
July 1, 2026 Ending:
Contract Term Beginning:
Anticipated Maximum Annual Contract Budget: $1,000,000.00
Issuing Officer:
Angi Hillers
Angi.hillers@iowacourts.gov
1111 E Court Ave
Des Moines, IA 50319
Date/Time(Central time):
PROCUREMENT TIMETABLE-Event or Action:
Agency Posts Notice of RFP on TSB website March 16, 2026
Agency Issues RFP March 18, 2026
Letters of Intent to Bid: This is a mandatory requirement March 25, 2026
2:00 PM
RFP written questions, requests for clarification, and suggested changes from March 27, 2026
Respondents due: 2:00 PM
The IJB's written response to RFP questions, requests for clarifications and April 9, 2026
suggested changes due: (will be available on bidding website)
Proposals Due Date: April 22, 2026
Proposals Due Time: 2:00 PM
Anticipated Date to issue Notice of Intent to Award: May 20, 2026
Anticipated Date to execute Contract:
July 1, 2026
Relevant Websites: Web-address:
Internet website where Addenda to https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/rfp/
this RFP will be posted: https://bidopportunities.iowa.gov/

RFP JUV-27-TS-SW-001
AMD 1
Internet website where General
https://www.iowacourts.gov/static/media/cms/General_Terms_fo
Terms for Juvenile Court Services
r_JCS_Services_Cont_1257FB3D72AAA.pdf
(JCS) Services Contracts are located:
Electronic Copies of Proposals Required to be Submitted to the Issuing Officer.
Firm Proposal Terms 120 Days
Per Section 3.2.11 of the RFP, the minimum Number of Days following the
deadline for submitting proposals that the Respondent guarantees all proposal
terms, including price, will remain firm:
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1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 PURPOSE
The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to solicit proposals from Responsible Respondents to
provide the goods and/or services identified on the RFP cover sheet and further described in Section 4 of
this RFP to the IJB, as identified on the RFP cover sheet. The IJB intends to award a Contract beginning and
ending on the dates listed on the RFP cover sheet, and the IJB, in its sole discretion, may extend the
Contract(s) for up to the number of annual extensions identified on the RFP cover sheet.
IJB is seeking proposals for one vendor to cover the entire State of Iowa, including all JCS Districts; this
may be achieved with the successful vendor subcontracting with other providers.
1.2 DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this RFP and the resulting Contract, the following terms are defined.
"Agency" means the agency identified on the RFP cover sheet that is issuing the RFP.
"Bid Proposal" or "Proposal" means Respondent's proposal submitted in response to the RFP.
"Contract" means the Contract(s) entered into with Respondent(s) as described in section 6.
"Contractor" means the awarded business/person to provide the contractual services agreed upon.
"General Terms" and "General Terms and Conditions" shall mean the General Terms for Juvenile Court
Services service contracts as linked on the RFP cover page.
"IJB" shall mean the Iowa Judicial Branch.
"Invoice" means a Contractor's claim for payment. At the IJB's discretion, claims must be submitted on
an original invoice from the Contractor and on a claim, form accepted by the IJB, such as a General
Accounting Expenditure (GAX) form.
"Juvenile Court Officer" or "JCO" means a person appointed as a juvenile court officer under section
602.7202 of the Iowa Code and also includes a chief juvenile court officer appointed under section
602.1217 of the Iowa Code.
"Juvenile Court Services" or "JCS", for the purposes of this RFP, means a unit of the Iowa Judicial Branch
in which juveniles adjudicated by the Iowa Juvenile Court as delinquent and Youth at risk of entering the
court system receive services as directed by the Chief Juvenile Court Officer or designee.
"Respondent" means the company, organization or other business entity submitting a proposal in
response to this RFP.
"Responsible Respondent" means a Respondent that has the capability, as determined in the sole
discretion of the IJB, in all material respects to perform the scope of work and specifications of the
Contract. In determining whether a Respondent is a Responsible Respondent, the IJB may consider various
factors including, but not limited to, the Respondent's competence and qualifications to provide the goods
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or services requested, the Respondent's integrity and reliability, the past performance of the Respondent
and the best interest of the IJB and the State.
"Responsive Proposal" means a Proposal that complies, in the sole discretion of the IJB, with the material
provisions of this RFP.
"RFP" means this Request for Proposals and any attachments, exhibits, schedules or addenda hereto.
"State" means the State of Iowa, the IJB, and all state agencies, boards, and commissions, and any political
subdivisions making purchases from the Contract as permitted by this RFP.
"Vendor" means anyone who provides goods or services to another entity.
1.2.1 Additional Definitions specific to this RFP:
"Action Changes Things Plan" or "ACT Plan" means a youth-led, individualized transition/reentry plan
that identifies a youth's current progress and defines the youth's SMART goals in the eight transition
domains - (1) education, (2) employment, (3) health, (4) housing, (5) supportive relationships, (6) self-
sufficiency, (7) civic engagement and responsibility, and (8) interpersonal skills and behaviors. The plan
also identifies the actions and supports needed to achieve the youth's goals and a time frame for goal
completion.
"Active Case" means a Youth engaged in the Youth Centered Planning Meeting services after initial
contact has been made by the contractor, meaning they had at least one event in accordance with the
requirements outlined in the Contract.
"Aftercare" means Re-integrative services that prepare Out-of-Home placed youth for reentry into the
community by establishing the necessary collaborative arrangements with the community to ensure the
delivery of prescribed services and supervision.
"Case Permanency Plan" means A plan that identifies the goals, needs, strengths, problems, services,
time frames for meeting goals and for delivery of the services to the youth and parent, which is
developed by Juvenile Court Services, designed to achieve placement for intervention and public safety
in the least restrictive and most family-like setting available.
"Case Manager" means the staff person providing all categories of case management services
regardless of the entity providing the service or the program in which the member is enrolled.
"Casey Life Skills Assessment" or "CLSA" means a suite of comprehensive assessments, learning plans,
and learning resources that can be utilized at no charge to help engage young people in Foster Care
whereby they can gain the life skills they need to exit care. The tools are strengths-based and were built
and refined with user input and research. The assessments consist of statements about life skills
domains deemed critical by Youth and caregivers for successful adult living.
"Collaboration" means when communities, agencies, and local organizations provide comprehensive
services based on common goals and shared resources instead of focusing on individual agendas. This
also means communities, agencies and local organizations address problems that lie beyond any single
agency or organization's purview, yet concern them all, to establish common goals by pooling resources,
planning, implementing, and evaluating new services and procedures, and delegating individual
responsibility for the outcomes of their efforts.
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"Concurrent Planning" means to work toward the return of the youth to the parents while, at the same
time, developing another permanent plan for the child.
"Criminogenic Risk Factors" means criminogenic needs are dynamic risk factors such as antisocial
attitudes and behaviors, anti-social peers, and aggression that have been established through research
to be predictive of involvement in delinquent activity, and which are also amenable to change.
"Family" means the social unit consisting of the Child and relations of the Child, including, but not
limited to, biological or adoptive parent, stepparent, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, and
grandparent.
"Fictive Kin" means an individual who is unrelated by either birth or marriage but who has an
emotionally significant relationship with another individual who would take on the characteristics of a
family relationship.
"Foster Care" means twenty four-hour substitute care for a child who is placed away from their parents
or guardians, with placement and care responsibility held by the department or juvenile court services.
"Health and Human Services (HHS) Transition Planning Specialist" or "(TPS)" means HHS employees
who are available to JCOs to provide training on the components of transition planning, community
resources available, and to consult with regarding experienced difficulties for youth to successfully
transition from foster care into young adulthood.
"Iowa Delinquency Assessment" or "IDA" means a risk assessment tool that allows the JCO to
determine the level of risk that a juvenile presents to re-offend, as well as identifying potential risk and
protective factors that can be used to help juveniles improve behavior.
"Kinship Caregiver" means a person to whom a child is related by blood, marriage, or adoption, or a
person who has a significant, committed, positive relationship with the child, who is caring for a child in
foster care, pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 232.
"Out-of-Home Placement" encompasses the placements and services provided to youth when they
must be removed from their homes because of child safety concerns because of serious parent-child
conflict, or to treat serious physical or behavioral health conditions, which cannot be addressed within
the family. Out-of-home placements include detention, shelter, family foster care, QRTP, PMIC, State
Training School, hospitalization, and relative care placements.
"Out-of-State Placement" means placements and services provided to youth in another state when they
must be removed from their homes because of child safety concerns because of serious parent-child
conflict, or to treat serious physical or behavioral health conditions, which cannot be addressed within
the continuum of services in Iowa.
"Permanency" means legal and stable living arrangements for children in foster care, achieved through
Permanency Hearings held within 12 months of removal, aiming for return home, adoption,
guardianship, or long-term foster care, ensuring a child has a lasting, safe family connection and stable
environment, often involving a formal plan like Concurrent Planning to prepare for various outcomes.
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"Problematic Sexualized Behavior" or "PSB" means deviations from normative or typical sexual
behavior resulting in a complaint.
"Qualified Residential Treatment Program" or "QRTP" means a program within a Foster Group Care
Services State-licensed and Accredited Out-of-Home care facility that provides continuous, 24-hour care
and supportive services to Children in a residential, nonfamily home setting.
"Reentry" means a process that culminates in a youth's return to the community from an Out-of-Home
Placement in a way that promotes the greatest likelihood of sustainable success.
"Reentry Navigator" means effort to support the reintegration of Youth into the community after
leaving Out-of-Home care. Reentry Navigators aim to provide guidance, structure, and support to ensure
that Youth receive the necessary support for successful reentry specifically around education and
employment.
"Reintegration/Reunification" means the process in which a Youth exits or discharges from a placement
to home or another community or home-like setting.
"Reintegration Planning" means a component of the Youth's Out-of-Home Placement service plan
developed by the Contractor together with the Youth, the Youth's JCO, and the Youth's Family after
admission to Out-of-Home Placement to initiate thinking about exit and discharge to assure a successful
move home or to the next living arrangement and to assure the continuity of Clinical and support
services. Reintegration Planning begins no later than the Youth's QRTP Service Planning Conference.
"Self-Sufficiency" means sustaining a safe and stable living environment and having resources to
support that living environment. Indicators of Self-Sufficiency may include but are not
limited to: demonstration of attainability and sustainability of active education and/or employment
plans; knowledge and access to personal and community resources, including self-care; adequate
and appropriate physical and mental health care; and demonstration of basic life skills.
"State Training School" or "STS" means a secure and highly structured Out-of-Home Placement facility,
which provides a continuum of supervision and rehabilitation services to males adjudicated delinquent.
"Supervised Apartment Living Foster Care" or "(SAL)" means the least restrictive foster care placement
in Iowa. Youth either live in a cluster site living arrangement (where up to six youth can live in the same
building and are supervised 24/7) or in a scattered-site living arrangement (where a youth is placed in
their own living arrangement, such as an apartment, and have access to contractor staff 24/7). The living
arrangement must provide the youth with an environment in which the youth can experience living in the
community with less supervision than other types of foster care placements.
"Transition Plan" means a plan for services which, based upon an assessment of the child's needs, would
assist the child in preparing for the transition to adulthood.
"Transition and Reentry Application" or "T&R Web Application" means an online application developed
to ensure timely and accurate documentation of the placement, transition, and reentry process, including
Youth Centered Planning Meetings (YCPM), Coordinated Care Access Tracking (CCAT), and Length of Stay
(LOS) reviews.
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"Transition Information Packet" or "TIP" means a comprehensive resource for youth preparing to enter
adulthood. TIP contains information on Education, Employment, Money Management, Housing, Health,
and Transportation.
"Transition Planning" means a set of practices or activities that support the goal of successful reentry.
"Transition and Reentry Program Manager " or "T&R Program Manager" refers to the Iowa Judicial
Branch appointee responsible for creating and training JCS and their providers on evidence-based services
focused on facilitating a smooth transition for Youth back into their local community and/or returning
home from Out-of-Home Placement.
"Youth" means individuals ranging in age from 12-18 who are under the supervision of JCS.
"YCPM Facilitator" means a trained professional who guides voluntary, Youth-led planning meetings in
alignment with standards set by JCS. The YCPM Facilitator role is to create a safe, empowering space
where Youth transitioning from Out-of-Home Placements can build meaningful, healthy, connections
with community members. The YCPM Facilitator ensures the Youth's voice drives the process and
supports them in identifying both formal and informal supports that will help shape a strong,
personalized Transition Plan for their successful return to home, school, and community.
"Youth Centered Planning Meeting" or "YCPM" provides the JCS youth centered process that promotes
self-determination by engaging youth in planning for their future. With the assistance of the youth's
support system, the youth identifies his or her goals for the future and the supports and resources needed
to be successful in eight (8) domains: education, employment, housing, health, supportive relationships,
civic engagement/responsibility, self-sufficiency, and interpersonal skills/behaviors.
1.3 OVERVIEW OF THE RFP PROCESS
The RFP process is for the IJB's benefit and is intended to provide the IJB with competitive information to
assist in the selection process. It is not intended to be comprehensive. Each Respondent is responsible for
determining all factors necessary for submission of a comprehensive Proposal.
Respondent should review Attachment 3, Form 22 Request for Confidentiality, for more information if its
Proposal contains confidential information. Any Proposal marked "Confidential" or "Proprietary" on every
page may be disqualified.
Respondents will be required to submit their Proposals electronically via email to the Issuing Officer.
1.4 BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Early intervention and follow-up programs/graduated sanctions services are services to be provided to
youth adjudicated delinquent and to youth who have been referred to juvenile court services (JCS) for a
delinquency violation or who have exhibited behaviors that put them at risk of a juvenile delinquency
referral. The Youth Centered Planning Meeting services are directed to enhance personal adjustment to
help Youth as they Transition into productive adulthood and to prevent or reduce delinquent acts, Out-
of-Home Placement, and recidivism.
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IJB is seeking proposals for one vendor to provide Youth Centered Planning Meetings (YCPMs) to cover
the entire State of Iowa, including all JCS Districts; this may be achieved with the successful vendor
subcontracting with other providers.
There are instances where Youth that are under the supervision of JCS have exhausted community-
based services to meet their immediate and long-term needs to be successful in their home, school, and
community. When this occurs, the assigned JCO will obtain a court order for the Youth to be placed
including but not limited to Out-of-Home facility such as a Qualified Residential Treatment Facility
(QRTP), the Iowa State Training School (STS), Foster Care, Supervised Apartment Living (SAL), a Kinship
Caregiver, or substance abuse residential programming.
Reintegration or reunification begins on the Youth's first day of admission to an Out-of-Home
Placement. This allows Youth and their Family to begin identifying and strengthening relationships with
formal and informal support and develop a transition plan for successful Reintegration back to their
home, community, and school.
Youth Centered Planning Meetings (YCPMs) uplift a Youth's voice to share their dreams and partner with
them on developing goals including identifying who can assist the Youth in meeting their goals. Although
the YCPM practice began with a targeted clientele of individuals 16 years of age or older Transitioning
out of placement, state laws for Transition Planning now required that all Youth 14 years of age
complete a Transition Plan. YCPMs assist with the development of the Transition plan. Historically, each
Judicial District JCS was responsible for their own execution of YCPM services.
Various levels of Youth engagement in this process are expected based on developmental age, mental
health status, interests, and other factors. YCPMs are to be conducted in accordance with JCS
guidelines. Training will be provided both initially, for Respondent not currently trained in JCS YCPM
guidelines, and throughout the duration of any resulting Contract(s). The Respondent will be required to
travel as necessary to meet with referred Youth placed in QRTP, the STS, other residential locations in
Iowa, and out of state as needed. Respondents must consider these travel costs in their budget.
Problematic Sexualized Behavior
Youth with Problematic Sexualized Behavior (PSB) often require longer, highly structured treatment due
to the complexity of their therapeutic needs and level of support necessary to promote long term safety,
healthy relationships, and successful reintegration/reunification into their communities. Their treatment
focuses not only on accountability and behavioral change, but also on building regulation skills,
addressing trauma, strengthening prosocial connections, and supporting safe Family and community
involvement. Because of these unique characteristics, Youth with PSB typically remain in placement for
an extended period and benefit from a more gradual, developmentally responsive Youth Centered
Planning process with scheduled check-in's throughout their treatment journey. Therefore, the YCPM
process timeframe will be slightly adjusted and will also include additional check-in meetings.
Youth requiring Out-of-State Placement
Youth who have been assessed as high-risk, high need and require a level of care that cannot meet their
therapeutic needs in an in-state facility may be required to be placed Out-of-State to receive the
appropriate services. By facilitating the YCPM at detention, it allows for in person attendance from
Family, JCO, providers and informal/formal supports as well as eases any anxiety for the Youth, by giving
them information, and a clear and supportive roadmap for their successful return to Iowa. Lastly, it
ensures that the Youth know they have a team committed to helping them return home successfully.
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The following best practices related to Transition and Reentry are effective in achieving successful
reintegration/reunification of the Youth back into their home, school, and community.
A. Comprehensive assessment: Conduct thorough assessments to identify the individual needs,
strengths, and challenges of each Youth. This should include but are not limited to evaluations
of mental health, educational needs, family dynamics, and social skills such as the IDA, Casey
Life Skills, safety planning tools, and domain and benchmark self-assessment.
B. Individualized Reentry/Transition plans: Develop tailored reentry/transition plans that address
the specific circumstances of each Youth. These plans should include but are not limited to goals
for education, employment, mental health support and family engagement.
C. Family Involvement: Engage families in the Reentry process by providing support and resources
to help them understand and assist their Youth. Family involvement is crucial for emotional
support and stability.
D. Educational Support: Ensure Youth have access to educational resources and support upon
reentry. This may include but not limited to enrollment in school, tutoring, and alternative
education programs that cater to a Youth's learning needs.
E. Community Engagement: Foster connections with community organizations and resources that
can provide ongoing support to include but not limited to job training programs, recreational
activities, and mental health services.
F. Collaboration among Stakeholders: Promote collaboration among various stakeholders,
including but not limited to community organizations and agencies, schools, and families to
create a cohesive support network for the Youth.
G. Continuous Monitoring and Support: Implement systems for ongoing monitoring of Youth
progress and providing continuous support to address any emerging challenges. Regular check-
ins can help maintain accountability and encourage positive behavior.
The competency of a YCPM Facilitator will be determined by demonstrated knowledge and skills related
to transitioning Youth resources and eligibility. All YCPM Facilitators will facilitate YCPMs in accordance
with established statewide YCPM process, as set by the JCS T&R Program Manager.
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2 ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
2.1 ISSUING OFFICER
The Issuing Officer identified in the RFP cover sheet is the sole point of contact regarding the RFP
from the date of issuance until a Notice of Intent to Award the Contract is issued.
2.2 RESTRICTION ON COMMUNICATION
From the issue date of this RFP until a Notice of Intent to Award the Contract is issued, Respondents
may contact only the Issuing Officer. The Issuing Officer will respond only to written questions
regarding the procurement process. Questions related to the interpretation of this RFP must be
submitted as provided in Section 2. Oral questions related to the interpretation of this RFP will not
be accepted. Respondents may be disqualified if they contact any State employee other than the
Issuing Officer about the RFP except that Respondents may contact the State Targeted Small
Business Office on issues related to the preference for Targeted Small Businesses.
2.3 DOWNLOADING THE RFP FROM THE INTERNET
The RFP document and any addenda to the RFP will be posted at https://www.
iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/rfp/ , https://bidopportunities.iowa.gov/.
The Respondent is advised to check the website periodically for Addenda to this RFP, particularly if
the Respondent downloaded the RFP from the Internet as the Respondent may not automatically
receive addenda. It is the Respondent's sole responsibility to check daily for addenda to posted
documents.
2.4 PROCUREMENT TIMETABLE
The dates provided in the procurement timetable on the RFP cover sheet are provided for
informational and planning purposes. The IJB reserves the right to change the dates. If the IJB
changes any of the deadlines for Respondent submissions, the IJB will issue an addendum to the
RFP.
2.5 QUESTIONS, REQUESTS FOR CLARIFICATION, AND SUGGESTED CHANGES
Respondents are invited to submit written questions and requests for clarifications regarding the
RFP. The questions or requests for clarifications must be in writing and received by the Issuing
Officer before the date and time listed on the RFP cover sheet. Oral questions will not be permitted.
If the questions or requests for clarifications pertain to a specific section of the RFP, Respondent
shall reference the page and section number(s). The IJB will post written responses to questions,
requests for clarifications, or suggestions received from Respondents on or before the date listed
on the RFP cover sheet to the website(s) referenced on the RFP cover sheet. The IJB's written
responses will become an addendum to the RFP.
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