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Health and Human Services Agency recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the Health and Human Services Agency, Child Welfare System to submit a plan to California Department of Social Services, to receive the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program funding; and
2) Authorize the Health and Human Services Agency Director to accept a yet-to-be determined amount of funding; execute further documents relating to the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program, and contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
FUNDING: State Funding.
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DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION:
Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board of Supervisors approve and authorize HHSA to respond to a solicitation from the California Department of Social Services for participation in the “Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children” (Bridge Program). A recent notification from the State indicated that an All County Letter (ACL) would be forthcoming to solicit counties to participate in the Bridge Program. Senate Bill (SB) 89 allocated $15.5 million to the Bridge Program in Fiscal Year (FY) 2017-18.
The notification indicates that counties will need to submit a plan to participate in the Bridge Program not later than November 1, 2017, with implementation of the Bridge Program estimated for January 1, 2018. Individual county allocations are yet to be announced. However, based on foster care caseloads as of April 2017, the draft ACL projects that the minimum allocation for FY 2017-18 would total $80,352 for El Dorado County if HHSA opts into the program.
While Board Policy A-6 states that Department Heads are authorized to apply for grants, due to the variable factors yet to be announced and the upcoming program plan deadline of November 1st, HHSA deemed it to be in the best interest of the County that the Board be informed of this potential opportunity prior to application.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
Lack of access to child care following ...
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