Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign a no cost agreement with the California Department of Social Services, retroactive to July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2024, to establish responsibilities for the provision of legal services for Resource Family Program administrative appeals; and
b. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign up to three (3) amendments to this agreement as long as they do not encompass payment or significantly change the scope of services.
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 no cost agreement with the California Department of Social Services, retroactive to July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2024, to establish responsibilities for the provision of legal services for Resource Family Program administrative appeals; and
b. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign up to three (3) amendments to this agreement as long as they do not encompass payment or significantly change the scope of services.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Resource families are caregivers who provide out-of-home care for children in foster care. 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 legal representative on behalf of the County in the provision of legal consultations and legal representation on appeals to an RFA Notice of Action. Specifically, the CDSS Legal Division shall represent the County for denial or recission of resource family approval, denial or recission of a criminal records exemption, or exclusion of an individual. CDSS shall appear on behalf of Monterey County at all proceedings related to such actions that are heard by the State Hearings Division or the Office of Administrative Hearings.
This agreement was delayed in being brought to your Board due to late receipt of the agreement from CDSS.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has approved the agreement as to form.
FINANCING:
This is a no cost agreement. There is no impact to 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 and legal representation by CDSS for appeals.
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
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Prepared by: Rene Kausin, MA ll, x4737
Approved by: Lori A. Medina, Director, x4430
Attachment: Agreement
Proposed agreement is on file with the Clerk of the Board as an attachment to this Board report.