Title
a. Approve and authorize the California Child and Family Services Review (C-CFSR) System Improvement Plan (SIP), for the term of September 9, 2024 through September 9, 2029 and;
b. Authorize the Director or designee of the Department of Social Services to sign the System Improvement Plan and any amendments and progress reports and;
c. Authorize the Chair of the Board to sign the System Improvement and Notice of Intent.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the California Child and Family Services Review (C-CFSR) System Improvement Plan (SIP), for the term of September 9, 2024 through September 9, 2029 and;
b. Authorize the Director or designee of the Department of Social Services to sign the System Improvement Plan and any amendments and progress reports and;
c. Authorize the Chair of the Board to sign the System Improvement and Notice of Intent.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Assembly Bill 636 established the Child Welfare Outcomes and Accountability System. The goal of this system is to improve outcomes for children and families served through Child Welfare Agencies. This outcomes and accountability system includes a cyclical review process, the California Child and Family Services Review (C-CFSR), the purpose of which is to identify and analyze the current system and implement strategies for improvement over a 5-year period. These strategies and improvement goals are documented in the System Improvement Plan (SIP), which has been drafted and finalized in partnership with the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) during the first year of the 5-year period (September 2024-December 2029) and has now been approved for submission.
The 5-year SIP identifies areas of focus as the County's Child Welfare and Juvenile Probation agencies strive to continuously assure high quality service to children and families. The identified strategies address the following systemic factors:
• Permanency, Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), Visitation, and Family Finding services.
The SIP will be reviewed annually with strategy and improvement progress tracked through data outcomes and strategy milestones. Each year's progress will be documented in an annual SIP Progress report and submitted to CDSS until each strategy's implementation is complete at the end of the 5-year period.
Incorporated into this process is the California State Office of Child Abuse Prevention (OCAP), which also requires annual reporting within the 5-year C-CFSR cycle, measuring the effectiveness of various programs. The Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC) of Monterey County administers the Child Abuse Prevention Intervention and Treatment (CAPIT) program, as well as the Community Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP). The Department of Social Services administers the Promoting Safe and Stable Family (PSSF) program.
By authorizing the SIP, the County Board of Supervisors approves and acknowledges the efforts of Child Welfare and Juvenile Probation to improve outcomes and service to children and families, and the 5-year plan for systems improvement overall.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has approved the agreement as to Form.
FINANCING:
Approval of this action will ensure that Monterey County continues to receive designated CBCAP and PSSF funding.
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 better
communicate with the community about public assistance and branch services. These programs provide services which enhance the lives of foster youth and low-income households.
Check the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives:
__Economic Development
_X_Administration
_X_Health & Human Services
__Infrastructure
__Public Safety
Prepared by: Edward Juarez-Lefevre, MA III, x3525
Approved by: Roderick Franks, Director, x4430
Attachments: System Improvement Plan 2024-2025
System Improvement Plan Signature Page
Notice of Intent
The SIP is on file with Clerk of the Board as an attachment to this Board Report.