Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director of Social Services to execute a state agreement with the California Health and Human Services Agency to reimburse staffing/travel cost provided to the Child Welfare System Migration Project for the period of February 1, 2022 or upon execution by the state, whichever is later, to January 31, 2025; and
b. Authorize the Director of Social Services to sign up to three (3) amendments to this agreement as long as the amendments do not encompass costs or significantly change the scope of work.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Director of Social Services to execute a state agreement with the California Health and Human Services Agency to reimburse staffing provided to the Child Welfare System Migration Project for the period of February 1, 2022 or upon execution by the state, whichever is later, to January 31, 2025; and
b. Authorize the Director of Social Services to sign up to three (3) amendments to this agreement as long as the amendments do not encompass costs or significantly change the scope of work.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
This agreement will allow for the assignment of a full-time Business Technology Analyst lV (BTA lV) within the Department of Social Services, to work on the state Child Welfare System Migration Project. This project will develop a system to replace the outdated Child Welfare System-Case Management System (CWS/CMS). All 58 counties in California are working together under the Child Welfare Services-California Automated Response and Engagement System (CWS-CARES) Project to build an automated child welfare system that incorporates mobile and web-based technology to support evolving child welfare programs, business processes and legislated improvements focused on protecting the safety of children and families.
To be successful, the CWS-CARES Project requires knowledgeable experts from the counties to assist in the planning, development, execution, and data conversion of the existing system statewide. Through a statewide competitive recruitment process, a BTA IV from the Monterey County Department of Social Services was selected to work on this project. This individual will remain a county employee and will be allocated to work full-time on the project. The salary, benefits, travel and per diem will be fully reimbursed by the state. Implementation is scheduled to be completed by 2025.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has approved the Agreement as to form.
FINANCING:
This state agreement will provide reimbursement to the County for the cost of one full-time BTA IV and all travel costs that the employee incurs related to this project. Monthly invoices will be submitted to the project for reimbursement. Because this is a long-term project, the Department will be moving forward to back-fill the position in the next few months via the Budget Committee and then to the full Board by increasing a position count, appropriations, and revenues in Budget Unit 001-5010-SOC005-8262.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This action correlates to the Administration Strategic Initiative adopted by the Board of Supervisors by allowing the Department to support the delivery of appropriate and consistent services to children in the child welfare system.
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
__Economic Development
X Administration
__Health & Human Services
__Infrastructure
__Public Safety
Prepared by: Becky Cromer, Finance Manager lll, x4404
Approved by: Lori Medina, Social Services Director, x4430
Attachment: Agreement
Proposed Agreement is on file with the Clerk of the Board as an attachment to this Board Report.