Title
Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA), in conjunction with the County Probation Department, recommending the Board:
Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 030-2025, which approves and authorizes the following:
1) Approves the County’s 2022 System Improvement Plan (SIP) (attachment C), developed by Child Welfare Services in conjunction with the County Probation Department, Juvenile Services (Probation), and other community partners, covering the five-year period of April 17, 2022, through April 16, 2027, which outlines the County’s plan to improve outcomes for children, youth, and families and includes specific strategies, timeframes, and outcome measures in the areas of safety, permanency, and child and family well-being;
2) Approves and authorizes Chair to sign the Notice of Intent (attachment D) that designates HHSA as the Public Agency that will administer the following programs through contracts with public or non-profit agencies: Child Abuse Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment (CAPIT), Promoting Safe and Stable Families, and Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP); and
3) Approves and authorizes the Chair to sign the California - Child and Family Services Review Signature Sheet (attachment E) which identifies the HHSA Director (as the County Child Welfare Agency Director) and Chief Probation Officer as the County’s leads in SIP administration and identifies HHSA as the Public Agency designated to administer the funding related to CAPIT and CBCAP programs.
FUNDING: Combined Federal and State Funding: Child Abuse Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment funded by 2011 Realignment funding; federally funded Promoting Safe and Stable Families and Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
In January 2004, the implementation of California Assembly Bill 636 (Chapter 678, 2001) brought a new Child Welfare Services Outcome and Accountability System to California. This Outcomes and Accountability System, also known as the California Child and Family Services Review (C-CFSR), focuses primarily on measuring outcomes in the areas of safety, permanency, and child and family well-being. The C-CFSR includes several processes in which all California counties must participate, including the SIP.
In accordance with AB 636, all California counties are required to submit a SIP every five years, which is designed to improve the outcomes for children in the Child Welfare System. The SIP is the County’s developed five-year document, effective April 17, 2022, through April 16, 2027, and its purpose is as follows:
a) Serves as the County’s commitment to specific measurable improvements in performance outcomes and prevention strategies relative to improving outcomes for children, youth, and families;
b) Provides the framework for how HHSA and Probation will provide services and programs for children and families engaged in the Child Welfare System; and
c) Authorizes the programs and spending through the Office of Child Abuse Prevention, ultimately trying to prevent entry into the Child Welfare System.
Pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code (W&IC) Section 18961 et. seq., the services outlined in the SIP must be provided by public or non-profit agencies. As the Public Agency designated to administer contracts for CAPIT, PSSF, and CBCAP, HHSA intends to enter into contracts with various public and non-profit agencies in order to fulfill this requirement. These local services/supports include counseling services for those impacted by domestic violence, respite services for struggling families, and assistance for families to navigate the court process when pursuing guardianship of a child.
The CAPIT program is supported through discretionary funding from 2011 realignment. The services are provided to children at risk of abuse and/or neglect. Priority services are given to isolated families, particularly those with children five years of age or younger.
PSSF is supported through federal funding that requires a minimum of twenty percent of PSSF funds to be spent on each of the following four categories: family support services, family preservation services, time-limited reunification services, and adoption promotion and support services.
CBCAP is supported through federal funding that assists local agencies in strengthening child abuse and neglect prevention and intervention services.
HHSA, working in conjunction with the Probation Department, Juvenile Services and other community partners, drafted the 2022 SIP, which covers the period of April 17, 2022, through April 16, 2027. There were many delays in finalizing the SIP due to residual issues from COVID-19. All County Information Notice (ACIN) I-34-20 provided counties with a 90-day calendar extension to C-CFSR reporting requirements. Additionally, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) granted the County with an extension to the SIP due dates due to the impact of COVID-19 on the C-CFSR process statewide. In December 2024, CDSS reviewed and approved the County’s SIP. To finalize the SIP and remain in compliance with AB 636, HHSA and the Probation Department recommend the Board approve the SIP.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to approve this recommendation, HHSA and Probation will not be able to meet the goals and outcomes outlined in the SIP. Disapproval of this item will result in HHSA not being able to contract with public or non-profit agencies to provide the services outlined in the SIP.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
04/11/2017, 17-0326, 04/11/17 HHSA System Improvement Plan
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Approved by County Counsel.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact associated with this agenda item.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS:
1) Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of Chair on one (1) adopted Resolution attached to a certified minute order of the agenda item.
2) Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of Chair on one (1) “Notice of Intent.”
3) Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of Chair on one (1) “California - Child and Family Services Review Signature Sheet.”
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
N/A
CONTACT:
Olivia Byron-Cooper, MPH, Director, Health and Human Services Agency
Brian Richart, Chief Probation Officer