Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director or designee of the Department of Social Services to sign a no cost Memorandum of Understanding with California Department of Social Services (CDSS) for Data Sharing between the two entities for the purposes of administering Community Benefit programs for the period of June 30, 2025, until terminated with 30 calendar days’ written notice by either party; and
b. Authorize the Director or designee of the Department of Social Services to sign up to three amendments to the Agreement that do not encompass payment of significantly change the scope of work.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Director or designee of the Department of Social Services to sign a no cost Memorandum of Understanding with California Department of Social Services (CDSS) for Data Sharing between the two entities for the purposes of administering Community Benefit programs for the period of June 30, 2025, until terminated with 30 calendar days’ written notice by either party; and
b. Authorize the Director or designee of the Department of Social Services to sign up to three amendments to the Agreement that do not encompass payment of significantly change the scope of work.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Through this Agreement, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) shall facilitate the linkage of County of Monterey Department of Social Services’ (DSS) customer records to the Employment Development Department (EDD) base wage administrative files. The process requires CDSS to transmit client records to EDD, EDD then performs the matching and makes the matched records available to CDSS for access and subsequent distribution to DSS.
Matching customer data with quarterly wages will provide DSS with robust employment and earnings data that can be tracked over time for customers of California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs), CalFresh Employment & Training, and General Assistance programs. Monterey County data does not currently provide any information on employment or earnings of DSS customers, and EDD quarterly base wage files are the only accessible source for tracking the earned income of customers after receiving services from DSS.
This data will enable DSS to measure the effectiveness of program efforts and influence programmatic design and resource allocation decisions by developing caseload forecasts to adapt employment services programs to respond to labor market trends.
DSS and CDSS shall request and use the EDD’s confidential information only for the purpose of conducting internal research, budget development, performance monitoring and program evaluation pursuant to the Welfare and Institutions Code Sections 10533, 10540.5, 10541, 10606.1, 10609.4, 10850, 11322.63, 11525, 15204.6 and, and Section 1095(ai) of the California Unemployment Insurance Code (CUIC), and Sections of 7 United States Code (USC) 2020(e) (16) and (17), 42 USC Section 611, 42 USC Section 677 of the Social Security Act.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Office of County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Agreements as to form.
FINANCING:
This is a non-financial agreement; the recommended actions have no budgetary impact.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This amendment correlates to the Economic Development Strategic Initiative adopted by the Board of Supervisors by providing information to help CalWORKs and Employment Services administer benefits in an efficient manner and providing visibility to CDSS about the effectiveness of the program.
Check the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives:
X Economic Development
__Administration
__Health & Human Services
__Infrastructure
__Public Safety
Prepared by: Juan Plascencia, Departmental Information Systems Manager I, x7036
Approved by: Roderick Franks, Director, x4430
Attachments: Agreement
The proposed agreement is on file with Clerk of the Board as an attachment to this Board Report.