Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign a two year agreement with Seneca Family Ties for $1,077,810 to operate the Family Ties Program which provides services and supports to relative and near-kin caregivers within Monterey County for the period July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2019, and
b. Authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign up to three (3) amendments to this agreement where the total amendments do not exceed 10% ($107,810) 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 a two year agreement with Seneca Family Ties for $1,077,810 to operate the Family Ties Program which provides services and supports to relative and near-kin caregivers within Monterey County for the period July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2019, and
b. Authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign up to three (3) amendments to this agreement where the total amendments do not exceed 10% ($107,810) of the original contract amount, and do not significantly change the scope of work.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Monterey County Department of Social Services, through its Family and Children’s Services branch, provides services for children who have been victims, or are at high risk, of abuse, neglect or exploitation. Many of these children reside with relative or near-kin caregivers who provide for their full-time care. Seneca Family of Agencies operates the Family Ties Program that provides services to relative and near-kin caregivers, including adult support groups, advocacy, childcare for meetings/trainings, recreation activities, case management, legal assistance to support families attaining permanence outside of the Child Welfare system, transportation for medical/training services, information and referral, and family emergency fund assistance. Although some care-giving families participating in the Family Ties program do receive formal DSS benefits, it is estimated that close to 60% of relatives caring for a child(ren) would have no additional supports specific to their care-giving role without the Family Ties Program.
Since July of 2016, fifty-eight (58) new families with a total of one hundred and five (105) children have received case management services and supports through Family Ties, an additional eighty-two (82) families, continue to receive less intensive, ongoing non-case management supports. An additional fifty-eight (58) families have been supported in obtaining temporary or general legal guardianship status for relative children, allowing for permanence to be established without the need to formally enter the child welfare system.
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 fully funded with Social Services Realignment funds. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues for SOCOO5 are included in the FY 2017- 2018 Recommended Budget and are anticipated to be available for the life of the Agreement and will be budgeted for in future fiscal years. Approval of this action has no impact on the County General Fund.
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 children who have been victims, or are at high risk, of abuse or neglect. This Agreement also helps the most vulnerable families in the County to obtain the services and supports they need to take care of their children.
Check the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives:
__Economic Development
__Administration
X_Health & Human Services
__Infrastructure
__Public Safety
Prepared by: Ginger Pierce, MAIII x8784
Approved by: Elliott Robinson, Director of Social Services, x4430
Attachments: Seneca Family Ties 2017-2019
Proposed agreement is on file with Clerk of the Board as an attachment to this Board Report