Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services or designee to sign an agreement with Wayfinder Family Services for family finding and engagement services to child welfare and probation youth and kinship support services in Monterey County for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 in the amount of $724,064; and
b. Authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services or designee to sign up to three amendments to this Agreement where the total amendments do not exceed 10% ($72,406) of the amended contract amount, do not significantly change the scope of work, and do not exceed the maximum aggregate amount of $796,470.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services or designee to sign an agreement with Wayfinder Family Services for family finding and engagement services to child welfare and probation youth and kinship support services in Monterey County for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 in the amount of $724,064; and
b. Authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services or designee to sign up to three amendments to this Agreement where the total amendments do not exceed 10% ($72,406) of the amended contract amount, do not significantly change the scope of work, and do not exceed the maximum aggregate amount of $796,470.
SUMMARY:
The Wayfinder Family Services Family Finding and Engagement Program is designed to help create lifelong connections and appropriate placement options for every youth served. Wayfinder’s Kinship Support Services Program is a kinship navigation service that supports grandparents, extended family members, or close family friends who step up and fill an important gap for children in Monterey County so they avoid the trauma of separation from their birth family, enabling them to heal and thrive.
DISCUSSION:
The purpose of this agreement is to provide family finding and engagement services to Monterey County child welfare and probation youth who need a network of support or a permanent home and to provide supportive services to kinship resource parents who are caring for foster youth in Monterey County. The goals of these services are to increase the number of relatives and kin who are involved in a foster child’s life and to ensure kinship caregivers have the support they need to provide permanency to youth in foster care. It is anticipated that the Family Finders will be able to serve 14-18 youth at a time for about 6-8 months, and the Kinship Navigator will be able to provide case management to 7-10 caregivers annually with ongoing support groups and trainings for all kinship caregivers in Monterey County.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT/COMMITTEE ACTIONS:
The Office of County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Agreements as to form, as has the Auditor-Controller’s Office as to financial provisions.
FINANCING:
This agreement is funded with Excellence in Family Finding and Engagement Support Probation Allocation, Home-Based Flexible Family Supports Allocation, CalWORKs Fraud Recovery Incentive funds and Social Services Realignment funds. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues for SOC005 are included in the FY 2026-27 Recommended Budget.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS:
This agreement correlates to the Well-Being and Quality of Life Strategic Plan Goal adopted by the Board of Supervisors by providing family finding and kinship support for families receiving child welfare services to ensure families remain connected in Monterey County.
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Plan Goals:
_X__Well-Being and Quality of Life
____ Sustainable Infrastructure for the Present and Future
____ Safe and Resilient Communities
____ Diverse and Thriving Economy
____ Dynamic Organization and Employer of Choice
____ Administrative
Prepared by: Chelsea Chacon, Management Analyst III, Ext. 8596
Approved by: Roderick W. Franks, Director, x4430
Attachments: Agreement
The proposed agreement is on file with Clerk of the Board as an attachment to this Board Report.