Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign an agreement with Community Human Services (CHS) for $215,000 to support the Family-to-Family Initiative throughout Monterey County for the period July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017; and
b. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign up to (3) amendments to this agreement where the total amendments do not exceed 10% of the original contract amount, and do not significantly change the scope of work.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign an agreement with Community Human Services (CHS) for $215,000 to support the Family-to-Family Initiative throughout Monterey County for the period July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017; and
b. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign up to (3) amendments to this agreement where the total amendments do not exceed 10% of the original contract amount, and do not significantly change the scope of work.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The agreement with CHS is to provide the Department of Social Services, Family and Children’s Services with assistance in supporting ongoing efforts with Family-to-Family (F2F) throughout Monterey County.
Family to Family Initiative is a long standing, nationwide child welfare and foster care reform initiative that provides principals, goals, strategies and tools to help States and local child welfare agencies achieve better outcomes for children and families through the expansion of family and community involvement in child protection. The four core strategies of F2F are recruitment, development and support of resource families, building community partnerships, team decision-making meetings, and self evaluation.
F2F community effort is integral to the evolution of Resource Family Approval (RFA) in establishing a foster care network that is more neighborhood-based, culturally sensitive, and located primarily in the communities in which the children live.
Resource Family Approval (RFA) was authorized through Senate Bill 1013 (Chapter 35, Statutes of 2012) and requires the State Department of Social Services, 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 upgrades and unifies approval standards for all caregivers by replacing and streamlining the existing multiple processes for licensed foster family homes, approving relative and non-relative extended family members as foster care providers, and approving adoptive homes. RFA prepares families to better meet the needs of vulnerable children in the foster care system and allows seamless transition to permanency. RFA implementation will be required for all counties on January 1, 2017. Monterey County was selected as an early implementation county and began implementation on March 1, 2016.
CHS has worked to remove barriers and support the overall number of caregivers, and continues to provide services focused on retention efforts to ensure children can stay in Monterey County.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Auditor-Controller and Purchasing have reviewed and approved this agreement. County Counsel has approved the agreement as to form.
FINANCING:
This agreement is funded by Realignment revenues. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues for SOC005 are included in the FY 2016-17 Adopted Budget. Approval of this action has no impact on the County General Fund contributions.
Prepared by: Karen Clampitt, Management Analyst II, x 8596
Approved by: Elliott Robinson, Director Social Services, xx4430
Attachment: Community Human Services Agreement 2016/17
Proposed agreement is on file with Clerk of the Board as an attachment to this Board Report