Counties may provide specific services, contract with a public or private agency, or a combination of both. Nothing contained in this article shall prevent a county from developing a consortium model which involves a number of providers performing specific functions. If a county decides to contract out a portion or all of the community support program functions, priority shall be given to providers, public or private, that have demonstrated an ability and desire to the county to work with the population intended to be served and which possess the management skills needed to perform the functions they propose to

perform.