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Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) in partnership with the County Probation Department recommending the Board:
1) Accept the one-time Family First Prevention Services (FFPS) Program Block Grant funding allocation from California Department of Social Services (CDSS) for the term of the award through June 30, 2024, in the estimated amounts of $558,471 for the HHSA Child Welfare Services’ allocation and $158,922 for the County Probation Department's allocation;
2) Authorize HHSA’s Assistant Director of Human Services, Director of Behavioral Health and the County Probation Department Deputy Chief Probation Officer to execute the attached Letter of Intent, required to be submitted to the CDSS by April 30, 2022 in order to receive the funding allocation and opt-in to the County FFPS Program; and
3) Authorize the HHSA Director, or designee, to execute and administer any subsequent administrative documents relating to said award, including amendment(s) that do not increase the total funding allocation beyond $820,393 or the term of the allocation, contingent upon County Counsel and Risk Management approval.
FUNDING: 100% State Family First Prevention Services (FFPS) Program Block Grant (State Block Grant) appropriated through The California Budget Act of 2021 in State General Funds. No matching funds are required. Acceptance of State Block Grant requires federal financial participation under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, enacted under the Family First Prevention Services Act through Public Law 115-123.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
On February 9, 2018, the federal government enacted the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) through Public Law 115-123, which created a prevention services program that allows states the option to access Title IV-E federal financial participation for the provision of specified evidence-based mental health, substance use, and in-home parent skill-based services to children at imminent risk of entry into foster care, their parents or kin caregivers, and pregnant or parenting youth in foster care.
In July of 2021, California’s Family First Prevention Services (FFPS) Program was established by Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) Section 16588 through 16589 as an opt-in program for County Child Welfare Agencies, County Probation Departments, and tribes with a State Title IV-E agreement to develop and implement Title IV-E prevention services as part of comprehensive early prevention and intervention services to address child well-being. The intent of the FFPS Program is for participating counties and tribes to increase the availability and early access to quality prevention services for children, parents, and kin caregivers to help children remain at home while simultaneously reducing the use of foster care placements.
On March 10, 2022, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) issued All County Letter (ACL) No. 22-23, informing counties of the requirements to opt-in to the FFPS Program as part of the continuum of comprehensive prevention services described in WIC Section 16588(c). The letter describes the intended purpose of each funding source, provides a list of allowable activities, and explains the requirements and approval processes for the Comprehensive Prevention Plan (CPP) that opt-in counties must develop and submit to the CDSS by January 31, 2023. The ACL is attached to this item as Attachment A.
On March 11, 2022, CDSS issued County Fiscal Letter No. 21/22-84 describing the Fiscal Year 2021-22 FFPS Program State Block Grant (SBG) General Fund (GF) allocations available. The California Budget Act of 2021 appropriated $222.4 million in State General Funds (GF) for the Fiscal Year 2021-22 FFPS Program SBG GF allocation. Of this amount, $199.0 million is available as a SBG to counties and tribes that have entered into a Title IV-E agreement with the State, for the term upon submission of the Letter of Intent through June 30, 2024. The County Fiscal Letter is attached to this item as Attachment B.
County Child Welfare Departments (CWDs) and County Probation Departments (CPDs) that opt in to the FFPS Program can use the funds for services that support a comprehensive approach to prevention including services not yet eligible for Title IV-E funding. A total of approximately $171.0 million for the FFPS Program SBG was distributed to CWDs, with the El Dorado County CWD allocation estimated at $558,471. A total of $27.0 million was distributed to CPDs, with the El Dorado County CPD allocation estimated at $158,922, for a total combined County allocation estimated at $717,393, with a term effective upon submission of the County’s Letter of Intent to the CDSS through June 30, 2024. The County funding allocation is subject to increase if other counties do not accept the funding already allocated to them by the CDSS for FFPS, therefore, to allow for the County to receive this redistributed funding allocation increase, HHSA in partnership with County Probation Department is requesting the Board authorize acceptance of the FFPS allocation amount not to exceed $820,393.
In accordance with WIC Section 16588(c)(3)(B), counties electing to receive SBG funds for the FFPS Program are required to utilize funds toward the nonfederal share of cost of Title IV-E eligible prevention services and allowable administrative activities. The intent of the funding is to support counties and tribes with a Title IV-E state agreement in matching federal funds to implement Title IV-E eligible prevention Programs, to create and build the infrastructure of services, and to train and build a professional workforce to deliver prevention services to the candidate population, and pregnant and parenting foster youth who will be served under the Title IV-E prevention Program.
Counties opting in to the FFPS Program, in accordance with WIC Sections 16588 through 16589, are required to develop and submit a three-year Comprehensive Prevention Plan (CPP) to the CDSS by January 31, 2023. This CPP will outline the services that County Child Welfare Departments will provide that address a continuum of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention and intervention strategies and services that support the ability of parents and families to provide safe, stable, and nurturing environments for their children. Counties opting into the FFPS Program, and their community partners, must also conduct asset mapping and a needs assessment to assist with the selection of prevention strategies and evidence-based programs to be included in the counties’ comprehensive CPP, which includes a review of relevant demographics data or information that will help the county child welfare agencies understand the service needs of their county. Counties are also required to collaborate with cross-sector partners or entities to meet the needs of children, youth, parents, families, and communities, in the development of the CPP. Cross-sector partners may vary by community, but at a minimum, must include representation from Child Welfare Services, Probation Department, Behavioral Health, local Office of Education, community-based service providers, family resource centers, local Child Abuse Prevention Council, Indian Tribes, and those with lived experience (parents and youth).
CDSS encourages County FFPS programs to align with the Children’s System of Care authorized by State Assembly Bill No. 2083 (AB 2083) (Chapter 815, Statutes of 2018), which required counties to build upon their current foster youth system of care by developing a coordinated, timely, and trauma-informed system-of-care approach for children and youth in foster care who have experienced severe trauma. In adherence with AB 2083, the County on behalf of the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Child Welfare Services (CWS) established a multi-agency Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the County Probation Department, Alta California Regional Center, Inc., and El Dorado County Office of Education. This MOU (#5810) established the foundation for the coordination and collaboration between the child-serving agencies in the County to meet the needs of high-risk children, youth, and families through the Children's System of Care. As a result of these existing partnerships, few entities would need to be added to the current foster youth system of care to meet the cross sector collaboration requirements for the implementation of the FFPS Program in the County.
The FFPS program will be a new implementation for HHSA CWS with the program planned for implementation in Fiscal Year 2022-23. In partnership with the El Dorado County Child Abuse Prevention Council, HHSA CWS formed a multi-departmental prevention planning team to undergo the required County needs assessment and begin development of the Comprehensive Prevention Plan. As CWS is responsible for the provision of services to County foster youth, CWS will act as the lead agency for the County FFPS Program. The intent of the County FFPS Program is to create a comprehensive prevention continuum to that builds capacity, increases evidence-based programming, and a service array that supports families, reduces disproportionality and prevents the entry of children into foster care. HHSA CWS plans to utilize FFPS Program funding to build a sustainable prevention infrastructure and continuum that extends beyond the three-year State Block Grant timeframe, which will include the CPP development and implementation, in addition to the administrative activities and service costs incurred.
Counties are required to submit a FFPS Letter of Intent, to be signed by County Child Welfare Services, County Probation Department and County Behavioral Health designees, to opt-in to the FFPS Program by April 30, 2022.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to accept said funding or authorize the County designees from HHSA Child Welfare Services, Behavioral Health, and the County Probation Department to sign the Letter of Intent, the County will not receive the estimated $717,393 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:
The FFPS program is new to the County therefore there are no prior board actions.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
1) County Counsel approved the Letter of Intent.
2) Probation Department will be involved in the implementation of the FFPS Program within the County.
3) Designees from HHSA Child Welfare Services, Behavioral Health and County Probation Department will sign the Letter of Intent.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
FFPS State Block Grant (SBG) funds do not have a match requirement. There is no impact to County General Fund and there is no impact to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22 Budget. This funding has been included in the FY 2022-23 Budget request, and will be included in future years budget requests as needed. In accordance with WIC Section 16588(c)(3)(B), grantees are required to utilize SBG funds to pay for the nonfederal share of cost of Title IV-E eligible prevention services and allowable administrative activities.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
No follow up actions are needed.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
Healthy Communities, Improved Health, Well-being, and Self-sufficiency of El Dorado County communities, residents, and visitors.”
CONTACT
Don Semon, Director