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Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board:
1) Accept a non-competitive Bringing Families Home (BFH) funding allocation administered by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), for the term upon acceptance through June 30, 2025, in the estimated amount of $279,991;
2) Approve and authorize the HHSA Director to sign the attached Director’s Certification, required for submission to the CDSS to accept this allocation; and
3) Delegate authority to the HHSA Director, or HHSA Chief Assistant Director, to execute and administer any subsequent administrative documents relating to said award that do not increase the term or total funding allocation beyond $289,991, to allow for the CDSS redistribution of unspent statewide BFH funds, contingent upon County Counsel approval, including required fiscal and programmatic reports.
FUNDING: 100% State General Fund revenue, authorized pursuant to the Budget Act of 2022 appropriated for the Bringing Families Home Program. No matching funds are required.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
The Bringing Families Home (BFH) Program is administered by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and provides non-competitive funding to county and tribal child welfare jurisdictions to establish, continue, and expand housing and homelessness assistance and prevention services to families receiving child welfare services who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The intent of the BFH Program is to reduce the number of families in the child welfare system experiencing or at risk of homelessness, increase the number of families reunifying, and prevent foster care placement.
As outlined in the California Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) Sections 16523-16523.2, BFH grantees are allowed to expend funds on evidence-based housing interventions consistent with Housing First Principles, that address and prevent homelessness among eligible individuals or their families receiving child welfare s...
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