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Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board:
1) Accept the one-time Family First Transition Act (FFTA) Transition Grant funding allocation, administered by the California Department of Social Services, for the term of award through September 30, 2025, in the estimated amount of $139,929;
2) Authorize the Board Chair to execute the attached Letter of Intent, required to be submitted to the California Department of Social Services by March 10, 2022, in order to accept this FFTA Transition Grant one-time funding allocation; and
3) Authorize the HHSA Director, or designee, to execute and administer any subsequent administrative documents relating to said award, including any amendment(s), that do not increase the funding allocation or term, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management, and required fiscal and programmatic reports.
FUNDING: 100% Title IV-E federal funding enacted under the Family First Prevention Services Act through Public Law 115-123.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
On December 20, 2019, the federal government enacted the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) through Public Law 115-123, which authorized new optional title IV-E funding, including funding for the Family First Transition Act (FFTA) Transition Grant. The State of California, through the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) received $49.1 million in federal funding under the FFTA Transition Grant. The funds are intended to provide time-limited prevention services for mental health, substance abuse, and in-home parent skill-based programs for children or youth who are candidates for foster care and pregnant or parenting youth in foster care. These services are also intended for the parents or kin caregivers of those children and youth to assist with the implementation of the FFPSA. The funding is available to be expended through December 30, 2025.
On December 22, 2021 the County of El Dorado (County) Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) received a Notice of Funding for the FFTA Transition Grant funding allocation, via an All County Letter (ACL) addressed to county child welfare agencies and tribes that currently have a Title IV-E agreement with the State. CDSS is carrying out the distribution of funds to all 58 Counties to be used towards planning for child abuse prevention activities and community-based prevention programs to strengthen communities and the well-being of children, families, and communities. The one-time, non-competitive FFTA allocation for the County is estimated to be $132,929, requires no match funding, and the State has a planned expenditure period upon award through September 30, 2025.
This funding will be used in the County to expand child welfare preventative services to: (1) create a comprehensive child abuse and neglect prevention plan; (2) build and sustain local capacity for prevention and early intervention services to support children, youth and families; and (3) evaluate evidence-based practices related to substance abuse, mental health, and intimate partner violence in the community, with the desired outcomes to keep families intact and encourage cross-system collaboration to prevent children from entering into foster care. In partnership with the Child Abuse Prevention Council, HHSA Protective Services has started a community wide prevention planning team with the goal of preventing child abuse; the FFTA Transition Grant funding will be utilized to support this process.
The initial deadline for counties to return the Letter of Intent (LOI) to the CDSS to accept this funding was December 31, 2021, however, in order to obtain Board approval, the County has been given an extended deadline, and is required to sign and return the attached LOI to the CDSS no later than March 10, 2022 to accept said funding.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to accept said funding or authorize the Board Chair to sign the Letter of Intent, the County will not receive the estimated $132,929 in funds to support families at-risk of entry into the child welfare system. These funds would then be reallocated to other California Counties.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel approved the FFTA Transition Grant Letter of Intent.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Federal funded FFTA Transition Grant funds do not have a match requirement. There is no impact to the County General Fund and this funding will be included in the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Budget request.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of Board Chair on Letter of Intent (LOI) and email signed LOI to HHSA Grants Unit at hhsa-eldoradoco-grants@edcgov.us by or before March 10, 2022.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
County Strategic Goal: “Healthy Communities, Improved Health, Well-being, and Self-sufficiency of El Dorado County communities, residents, and visitors.”
CONTACT
Don Semon, Director