Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign an agreement with Seneca Family of Agencies for $183,210 to support the Resource Family Approval Program throughout Monterey County for the period of July 1, 2018 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% ($18,321) 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 Seneca Family of Agencies for $183,210 to support the Resource Family Approval Program throughout Monterey County for the period of July 1, 2018 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% ($18,321) of the original contract amount, and do not significantly change the scope of work.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The agreement with Seneca Family of Agencies is to provide the Department of Social Services - Family and Children’s Services with assistance in supporting our Resource Family Approval (RFA).
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 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. Monterey County began implementation on March 1, 2016.
Seneca Family of Agencies is a full-service agency providing assessment, training and support to Resource Families and continues to provide services focused on retention efforts to ensure children remain 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 Social Services Federal and State revenues. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues for SOC005 are included in the FY 2018-19 Requested Budget. 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 foster children by expanding capacity for timely completion of Resource Family Approvals in partnership with Seneca Family of Agencies.
Check the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives:
Economic Development
Administration
XHealth & Human Services
Infrastructure
__Public Safety
Prepared by: Ginger Pierce, MAIII x8784
Approved by: Elliott Robinson, Director x4430
Attachments: Seneca (RFA) Agreement
Original agreement is filed with Clerk of the Board as an attachment to this Board Report