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Health and Human Services Agency, Social Services Division, recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign letters to the California Senate and Assembly Budget Subcommittees in support of an additional $5 million in State General Funds for the Adult Protective Services Program's (APS) Fiscal Year 2015/16 budget to fund the creation of a statewide APS training program and to codify a staffing position established in the 2014/15 State Budget under the California Department of Social Services to provide leadership and support to county APS programs.
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DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION:
Health and Human Services Agency, Social Services Division, (HHSA) recommends the Board of Supervisors approve its request fto authorize the Chair to sign support letters to the Senate and Assembly Budget Subcommittees to express the County's support of increasing Fiscal Year (FY) 2015-16 State funding to support a statewide Adult Protective Services Program (APS) training program at a total cost of $5 million in State General Funds. If approved by the State, this proposal will create a consistent statewide APS training program infrastructure to provide core training to APS. The proposal includes training to all new APS staff, supervisor training, and advance training driven by new policy and emerging trends, as well as support for a staffing position in the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) to provide leadership and support to county APS programs. APS workers provide front-line response to seniors and dependent adults who are victims of abuse, neglect and exploitation. A trained and skilled workforce is essential to protecting this vulnerable population.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
The Adult Protective Services Program provides 24/7 response to reports of abuse and neglect of persons over the age of 65 and dependent adults. CDSS provides support to county APS agencies through its statewide training program. The current level of training is insufficient to enable counties to meet local needs to protect and serve their vulnerable elderly and dependent adult population. The County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA), in conjunction with the California Commission on Aging (CCOA), California Elder Justice Coalition (CEJA), has requested that counties send letters to the Senate and Assembly Budget Subcommittees in support of their APS Program's FY 2015-16 budget proposal to increase the current $176,000 State allocation ($88,000 State General Fund) to CDSS to $5 million in order to provide additional resources for a statewide training system for APS staff and support for a staffing position in the CDSS to provide leadership and support to county APS programs.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may decide not to authorize sending the letters of support, as requested by CWDA.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
There should be an increased level of service to seniors with additional training. The fiscal impact to the state in allocating these funds is unknown.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
N/A
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1. Clerk of the Board to obtain the signature of the Chair on each original of the letters of support.
2. Clerk of the Board to forward the signed originals to HHSA at 3057 Briw Road for processing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
N/A
CONTACT
Don Ashton, M.PA., Director