Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director or designee of the Department of Social Services to sign a no cost agreement with the California Department of Social Services to establish responsibilities for the provision and receipt of legal consultation and legal representation for administrative appeals associated with the Resource Family Approval Program; retroactive to July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027; and
b. Authorize the Director or designee of the Department of Social Services to sign up to three amendments to Agreement as long as they do not encompass payment or significantly change the terms of this Agreement.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Director or designee of the Department of Social Services to sign a no cost agreement with the California Department of Social Services to establish responsibilities for the provision and receipt of legal consultation and legal representation for administrative appeals associated with the Resource Family Approval Program; retroactive to July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027; and
b. Authorize the Director or designee of the Department of Social Services to sign up to three amendments to Agreement as long as they do not encompass payment or significantly change the terms of this Agreement.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Resource Family Approval (RFA) was authorized through Senate Bill 1013 (Chapter 35, Statutes of 2012) and requires the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), in consultation with the county welfare agencies, foster parent associations, and other interested community parties, to implement a unified, family friendly and child-centered resource family approval process. RFA replaces and streamlines the prior processes for licensing foster family homes, approving relative and nonrelative extended family members as foster care providers, and approving adoptive homes.
Through this Agreement, CDSS Legal Division shall act as the sole lega...
Click here for full text