Title
Health and Human Services Agency, Social Services Division, recommending the Board consider the following:
1) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Memorandum of Understanding 125-M1510 between the County of El Dorado and El Dorado County Office of Education, Court Appointed Special Advocates of El Dorado County, City of Placerville Police Department, and City of South Lake Tahoe Police Department, outlining the roles and responsibilities for the Foster Youth and Human Trafficking Task Force, for the perpetual term commencing upon execution and with no remuneration to any participating Task Force Member Agency or Task Force individual representative; and
2) Authorize the Purchasing Agent, or their designee, to execute further documents relating to Memorandum of Understanding 125-M1510, including amendments thereto, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
FUNDING: There is no Funding associated with this Memorandum of Understanding.
Body
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost
There is no Net County Cost associated with this agenda item.
Background
Welfare and Institutions Code 18961.7 permits counties to develop multidisciplinary teams to allow provider agencies to share confidential information in order to investigate reports of suspected child abuse or neglect. Welfare and Institutions Code 18961.7(2) defines "provider agency" as any governmental or other agency that has one of its purposes to prevent, identify, manage, or treat child abuse or neglect.
The provider agencies to this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) includes the County of El Dorado Departments of Health and Human Services Agency, Sheriff's Office, Probation Department, District Attorney's Office, Public Defender's Office, and County Counsel. Partner agencies to this MOU include El Dorado County Office of Education, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), known locally as Child Advocates of El Dorado County, City of Placerville Police Department, and City of South Lake Tahoe Police Department. MOU 125-M1510 collectively refers to the provider agencies as the "Foster Youth and Human Trafficking (FYHT) Task Force Member Agencies." Each FYHT Member Agency provides services for the identification, investigation, and prevention of the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), domestic minor sex trafficking, and human trafficking.
The California Child Welfare Council, Commercially Sexually Exploited Children Work Group reported that human trafficking is a $32 billion dollar global industry, involving over 100,000 children in the United States. Further, the Child Welfare Council notes that children who are victims of commercial sexual exploitation frequently have prior involvement with the child welfare system, including Child Protective Services or placement in the foster care system. Additionally, communities located near major freeways tend to attract commercial sex predators. In El Dorado County, since 2013, there have been 8 identified cases of commercially sexually exploited children.
MOU 125-M1510 outlines the roles and responsibilities of the FYHT Task Force Member Agencies and creates a secure and confidential forum where members can openly discuss, identify, and collaborate to solve problems for CSEC and youth in El Dorado County. The FYHT Task Force will initially focus on children and youth in foster care or youth who are receiving probation services. Future Task Force efforts may include prevention and intervention services for children and youth from the community at large.
Reason for Recommendation
Approval of MOU 125-M1510 will ensure specified El Dorado County Departments and partner agencies will be able to share confidential information in order to provide services for the identification, investigation, and prevention of commercial sexual exploitation of children, domestic minor sex trafficking, and human trafficking. Approval of MOU 125-M1510 will ensure all partner agencies can participate in a coordinated, multi-agency collaboration.
Failure to approve MOU 125-M1510 will prevent El Dorado County Departments and partner agencies from effectively collaborating to identify, prevent, and solve problems for commercially sexually exploited children and youth.
Clerk of the Board Follow Up Actions
1. Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of the Chair on two (2) original Memorandum of Understanding 125-M1510.
2. Clerk of the Board to forward one (1) fully executed Memorandum of Understanding to HHSA at 3057 Briw Road.
Contact
Don Ashton, M.P.A., Director
Concurrences
County Counsel and Risk Management