Title
Receive a preliminary response regarding monitoring of Family and Children Programs and Services.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Receive a preliminary response regarding monitoring of Family and Children Programs and Services.
SUMMARY:
On August 23, 2022, Supervisors Luis Alejo and Wendy Root-Askew submitted a Board referral No. 2022.18 specifically requesting that:
- The HHHSC Roles and Responsibilities be amended to include "Review and make recommendations for the effective operations of Family and Children's services."
- The Dept of Social Services provide a regular consent agenda report to the HHHSC on the programs and services provided by Family and Children's Services, generated from data provided to the State, with a scheduled presentation on FCS occurring at least twice per year
- The Dept of Social Services provide a regular consent report to the HHHCS on the staffing of Family and Children's Services, including recruitment data.
- The Dept of Social Services provide a yearly report to the Board of Supervisors with a summary of annual programs and services for Family and Child Services and the System Improvement Plan submitted to the State.
DISCUSSION:
The Family & Children's Services (FCS) Branch of the Department of Social Services offers child protective services, foster care services, and adoption services to children and youth in Monterey County. FCS strives to keep all children and youth safe and strives to prevent the occurrence of child abuse and neglect. The California Department of Social Services provides formal oversight of FCS, with local programs administered by the County. The County is committed to protecting confidentiality of FCS cases while also ensuring full transparency and accountability of this exceptionally challenging work.
Other California counties have assigned specific committees with the responsibility to monitor and study the operations of Family and Children's Services to e...
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