Title
Receive updates from the Departments of Social Services and Health on activities related to:
a. Monterey County’s Road-Map to Strengthen Child Well-Being
b. Homeless Services Update
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Health and Human Services Committee (HHS) of the Board of Supervisors:
Receive updates from the Departments of Social Services and Health on activities related to:
a. Monterey County’s Road-Map to Strengthen Child Well-Being
b. Homeless Services Update
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Monterey County’s Road-Map to Strengthen Child Well-Being
On February 16, 2016 California Department of Social Services issued findings and recommendations based on a county request to review a critical incident related to recent child fatalities. This site visit led to recommendations and suggestions to improve child welfare practice in specific areas, particularly in Screening, Intake, and Emergency Response. Monterey County developed the Corrective Action Plan as a response to those recommendations and has moved forward to improve regulatory compliance, safety planning and intake and screening processes.
Key strategic action areas being addressed include:
Ø Conduct refresher training and ongoing reviews to support critical decision
points and improved practice.
Ø Create, implement and train on a warrant process for Child Welfare
Ø Transition existing Safety Planning Documentation to a State approved template
within CWS/CMS that is specific, measurable, assignable, realistic and time
related.
Ø Improve Intake and Child Abuse Hotline operations
Ø Improve Emergency Response investigations and procedures
Ø Workload and appropriate staffing.
As reported at the April 21, 2016 Health and Human Services Committee, The Department of Social Services has partnered with the nationally recognized American Public Human Services Association to embark on a collaborative effort with the community and other child welfare stakeholders (local, state and national) to develop a “Road Map to Child Well-Being.” This project is focused on coordinating community wide efforts to address violence and promote child safety based on innovative best practice models and policies recommended by the Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities which released their findings on March 17, 2016.
The project began in April 2016 with initial planning, contract development, and recruitment of an Executive Advisory Team consisting of leaders from local, state, and nationwide stakeholders. The Kick-Off for the Executive Advisory Team was held June 29 and June 30, 2016 at the Steinbeck Center here in Salinas, California.
Through a facilitated process, the Executive Advisory Team received an overview of the Commission to End Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities Report; established local facilitators to sustain the project; began work on a vision statement; identified the need for three (3) taskforces to further develop the Roadmap; and began to craft Charters for each of the Taskforces. Over the following months, Executive Advisory Team Members identified participants to serve on the taskforces, which were defined to address Community Engagement; Data and Information Sharing; and Collaborative/Coordinated Service Delivery.
On September 27, 2016, the taskforces met for the first time to begin the Assessment Phase of the Roadmap to Well-Being, which is now in process. The Executive Advisory Team met on September 28, 2016 to finalize a vision statement; the taskforce charters/goals; and to review/contemplate/respond to additional questions that may have arisen out of the taskforce meetings the day prior.
Over the next several months, the taskforces will be engaged in an assessment process to inform the development of a system wide plan to improve Child Well-Being, currently targeted to be developed by the end of April 2017.
Homeless Services Update
The County has executed agreements with the City of Salinas and Community Homeless
Solutions. The Resource Management Agency signed a lease with the Transportation Agency
Monterey County for the warming shelter site. The Warming Shelter will open on
November 1, 2016. The Chinatown Health Services Center providing restrooms and shower
facilities are scheduled to open October 2016. An oral update on these two items will be
provided at the meeting.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
No other agency was involved in development of this report.
FINANCING:
There is no impact to the County General Fund from this report.
Approved by: Elliott Robinson, Director, x4434