Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director or Assistant Director of the Department of Social Services to sign an Interagency Agreement between Monterey County Probation Department, Monterey County Office of Education Foster Youth Services, and participating Monterey County School Districts for $150,000 to provide transportation for foster youth to their School of Origin upon execution of this Agreement to June 30, 2026; and
b. Authorize the Director or Assistant Director of the Department of Social Services to sign up to three (3) future amendments to this Agreement where the total amendments do not exceed 10% ($15,000) of the original contract amount, do not significantly change the scope of work, and do not exceed the maximum aggregate amount of $165,000.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Director or Assistant Director of the Department of Social Services to sign an Interagency Agreement between Monterey County Probation Department, Monterey County Office of Education Foster Youth Services, and participating Monterey County School Districts for $150,000 to provide transportation for foster youth to their School of Origin upon execution of this Agreement to June 30, 2026; and
b. Authorize the Director or Assistant Director of the Department of Social Services to sign up to three (3) future amendments to this Agreement where the total amendments do not exceed 10% ($15,000) of the original contract amount, do not significantly change the scope of work, and do not cause the full Agreement to exceed the maximum aggregate amount of $165,000.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) governs the cooperation agreement between Monterey County Department of Social Services, Monterey County Probation Department, Monterey County Office of Education (MCOE), and participating Monterey County School Districts to provide transportation to maintain foster youths in their School of Origin when it is in their best interest to do so.
The “Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)” (Public Law 114-95) requires that local education agencies (LEA) collaborate with child welfare agencies to develop and implement clear written procedures for how transportation will be provided, arranged, and funded to ensure children in foster care are properly transported to their school of origin. When there are transportation costs that are incurred outside of those that the LEA would otherwise have to expend, the ESSA allows the LEA to provide transportation if they are reimbursed by the child welfare agency, if they agree to pay the cost, or if they agree to share the cost with the child welfare agency. This MOU outlines the agreement between the child welfare agency and LEA to share the cost in Monterey County 50/50.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Office of County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Agreement as to form, as has the Auditor-Controller’s Office as to financial provisions.
FINANCING:
This Agreement and the Department of Social Services’ share of cost shall be funded with Title IV-E Funding. When costs occur outside of the local education agencies (LEA), MCOE will share in the cost of the transportation for the foster youth and only seek reimbursement for 50% of the cost. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in Social Services SOC005 in the FY 2023-24 Adopted Budget.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This agreement correlates to the Health & Human Services Strategic Initiative 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 keep children in out of home care in their schools of origin.
Check the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives:
X Economic Development
Administration
X Health & Human Services
Infrastructure
Public Safety
Prepared by: Edward Juarez-Lefevre, Management Analyst III, x3525
Approved by: Lori A. Medina, Director, x4430
Attachments: Agreement
The proposed Agreement is on file with the Clerk of the Board as an attachment to this Board report.