Title
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.
Body
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 the immediate removal of the child is a significant barrier for potential resource families seeking to take in a foster child. With the passage of SB 89, relative caregivers, resource families, or parenting youth in foster care are eligible to receive a six-month payment or voucher for child care and a child care navigator. Child care programs and providers serving children in the Bridge Program will receive trauma-informed training.
The Bridge Program consists of three components: (1) Emergency child care voucher: Relative caregivers, foster families, or parenting youth in foster care may receive a time-limited child care voucher to help pay for child care costs. Counties are authorized to disburse child care payments directly to the family or to the child care provider. All voucher payments, whether paid directly to the family or child care provider, must be in accordance with the Regional Market Rate (RMR) ceilings for subsidized child care payment rates. The California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Division 1, Chapter 19, Subchapter 2.5, Sections 18074 - 18076.3 provide guidance regarding the use of the RMR ceilings. The ceilings for subsidized child care payment rates are available at: <http://www3.cde.ca.gov/rcscc/> ; (2) Child care navigator: Relative caregivers, foster families, or parenting youth in foster care may also receive assistance from their local Child Care Resource and Referral (R&R) Agency with finding a child care provider, securing a subsidized child care placement if eligible, completing child care program applications, and developing a plan for long-term, high-quality child care for the child. Eligibility for navigator services shall not be contingent on a child’s receipt of a child care payment or voucher; and (3) trauma-informed training and coaching: Child care programs participating in the Bridge Program will receive access to trauma-informed training. The training includes, but is not limited to, infant and toddler development and research-based, trauma-informed best care practices. Child care providers will also receive coaching to assist them in applying training curriculum and strategies for working with children in foster care.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could decline to allow HHSA to submit a plan for this funding.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel and Risk Management.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
At this time, it is unknown whether there would be any Net County Cost associated with this item such as a required match amount. In the event there is an increase to Net County Cost, HHSA would return to the Board prior to taking any further action.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk of the Board to submit one certified minute order the HHSA Contracts Unit at 3057 Briw Road.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
N/A
CONTACT
Patricia Charles-Heathers, Ph.D., Director