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Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) in partnership with County Probation Department recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Amendment I to Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) 7716 between HHSA Child Welfare Services (CWS) and Probation, increasing the contract value by $7,381.68, for a new maximum obligation of $37,452.14, and extending the term by eight and a half months, for an amended term of February 12, 2023, to October 31, 2026; and
2) Authorize the HHSA Director and Chief Probation Officer to execute further documents relating to MOU 7716, including amendments that are included in Board-approved departmental budgets, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management, if applicable.
FUNDING: 21% Federal Title IV-E, 46% State General Fund Allocation, and 33% County Realignment.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
The Resource Family Approval (RFA) Program was expanded through California Senate Bill 1013 (Chapter 35, Statutes of 2012). This statute requires the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), in consultation with county child welfare agencies, including juvenile probation, foster parent associations, and other interested community parties to implement a unified, family-friendly and child-centered RFA process.
On January 1, 2017, the RFA program was implemented statewide, which created a new foster caregiver approval process that replaced multiple processes that existed for licensing foster parents and relatives. There was no existing statewide case management system that allowed child welfare jurisdictions to facilitate foster care and adoptions and supportive services.
HHSA and Probation have been jointly contracting with Binti for their SaaS since February 13, 2017, to facilitate the systematic processes for RFA, allowing prospective caregivers to upload their documents and track progress towards foster resource family approval. This system allows the County to shorten the time it takes for f...
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