Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign an agreement with Hartnell College for $1,446,574 to provide Foster care training and recruitment services to eligible Monterey County employees, local community partners and current and prospective caregivers retroactive to July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2019; and
b. Authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign up to three (3) amendments to this Agreement, where the total amendments do not exceed 10% ($144,657) of the original contract amount, and do not significantly change the scope of work.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign an agreement with Hartnell College for $1,446,574 to provide training and recruitment services to eligible Monterey County employees, local community partners and current and prospective caregivers retroactive to July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2019; and
b. Authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign up to three (3) amendments to this Agreement, where the total amendments do not exceed 10% ($144,657) of the original contract amount, and do not significantly change the scope of work.
SUMMARY:DISCUSSION:
The Department of Social Services (DSS), Family and Children’s Services (FCS) Branch, is the local child welfare agency. DSS contracts with Hartnell College to provide 1) training for current and prospective foster, relative and non-related extended family member caregivers, adoptive parents, foster youth, County employees and local partnering agency employees; and 2) support for foster home recruitment activities. The Department receives annual Title IV-E federal and state reimbursement to provide these services.
In FY 2015-2016, 961.50 training hours were provided and the unduplicated number of participants was 857. In FY2016-2017, to date, 1,023 hours have been provided with 923 unduplicated participants.
This Agreement was delayed in being brought forward for Board consideration prior to the term start date due to Contractor’s delay in returning agreement to County.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Auditor-Controller and Purchasing have reviewed and approved this Agreement. County Counsel has approved the Agreement as to form.
FINANCING:
This Agreement is funded by Title IV-E Federal and State revenues for Foster Care trainings and recruitment activities. The County’s match will be provided by Hartnell College through in-kind services. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues in SOC005 are included in the FY 2017-18 Adopted Budget and will be requested in future Fiscal Years. Approval of this action has no impact on the County General Fund.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This Agreement correlates to the Administration and Health & Human Services Strategic Initiatives adopted by the Board of Supervisors by allowing the Department to improve the quality of life for foster children by expanding the Department’s ability to recruit and prepare Resource Parents for parenting and supporting the children who join their families while maintaining compliance with the Continuum of Care Reform.
Check the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives:
___Economic Development
X_ Administration
X_ Health & Human Services
___Infrastructure
___Public Safety
Prepared by: Virginia Pierce, MAIII, x8784
Approved by: Elliott Robinson, Director, x4430
Attachments: Hartnell Foster Care Agreement 2017-19
Proposed agreement filed with Clerk of the Board as an attachment to this Board Report