Title
Receive a report from the Department of Social Services on the programs and staffing of Family and Children's Services.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Health, Housing, and Human Services Committee of the Board of Supervisors:
Receive a report from the Department of Social Services on the programs and services provided by Family and Children's Services generated from data provided to the State along with current staffing data.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Monterey County Family and Children's Services (FCS) offers child protective services, foster care services, and adoption services to children and young adults in Monterey County. The mission of FCS is to prevent the occurrence of child abuse and neglect. Service goals strive to keep children and youth safe and within protection of a permanent family.
In October 2022, FCS received 475 reports of child abuse and neglect, and 151 of those reports were assigned to the Emergency Response (ER) Unit for an in-person investigation. There was one family who was offered voluntary family maintenance services in order to prevent the removal of their children, and there were seven petitions filed in dependency court. In other words, seven children entered foster care in Monterey County in October 2022. For the children in foster care, there were two children who reunified with their parent(s), one child was adopted, and there was one foster youth who chose to stay in extended foster care after 18 years old.
In the past month, there were five social workers who were re-assigned to the ER Unit to meet the demand of required in-person investigations. 26% of the total social worker/social work supervisor positions are vacant.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Monterey County Department of Social Services partners with Behavioral Health, the Probation Department, and various local non-profit organizations to ensure the safety and well-being of children, youth, and families in Monterey County.
FINANC...
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