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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 services, with a specific focus on rehousing homeless individuals and families into safe, permanent housing. Evidence-based and promising models include housing related financial assistance and wrap-around supportive services including but not limited to: rental assistance, housing navigation, case management, security deposits, utility payments, moving costs, hotel and motel vouchers, legal services, and credit repair.
Prior County Accepted Allocation - Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22:
On March 22, 2022 (File ID 22-0435), the County Board of Supervisors (Board) accepted the initial non-competitive BFH allocation for FY 2021-22 in an amount not to exceed $380,000 without a match requirement, which allowed the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) to receive a possible CDSS redistributed funding allocation increase and authorized the HHSA Director to sign the Director’s Certification accepting this funding. The CDSS awarded the County of El Dorado (County) the FY 2021-22 BFH allocation amount totaling $288,296, which included the initial allocation of $279,991 plus a redistribution of $8,305, for the expenditure period through June 30, 2024.
HHSA Child Protective Services (CPS) began the planning phase of the BFH Program this year and is currently developing the program service array. HHSA’s preliminary goal is to expand services by providing housing-related supports to participating individuals and families. To accomplish that goal, County BFH Program services shall include, but shall not be limited to, housing-related case management, housing navigation, housing-related direct financial assistance, and housing stabilization services intended to stabilize families at-risk of homelessness and ultimately prevent entry into the child welfare system.
Additional Allocation - FY 2022-23:
The State Budget Act of 2022 appropriated an additional $92.5 million of State General Funds, also match exempt, to counties and tribes for the BFH Program in FY 2022-23. Thereafter, the CDSS issued the All County Welfare Director Letter (ACWDL) dated September 21, 2022, notifying county child welfare agencies and tribes of additional match exempt, non-competitive allocations available for the BFH Program in FY 2022-23.
As a continuing grantee, HHSA CPS has the opportunity to accept the additional FY 2022-23 non-competitive BFH Program allocation in the estimated amount of $279,991. Per the ACWDL, county funding allocations are subject to increase if other counties do not accept the funding already allocated to them by the CDSS for the BFH Program. Therefore, to allow for a possible redistributed funding allocation increase, HHSA is requesting the Board authorize acceptance of the BFH allocation not to exceed $289,991. This additional allocation requires no match funds for the term of acceptance through June 30, 2025.
To accept this allocation, HHSA must submit a signed Director’s Certification notifying the CDSS of its intent to accept additional BFH Program funds no later than November 2, 2022.
Utilizing both BFH Program allocations, HHSA CPS will provide new and enhanced service provisions with the program’s implementation planned for FY 2022-23.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to accept this non-competitive funding allocation or decline to authorize the HHSA Director to sign the attached Director’s Certification, the County will not receive the estimated $289,991 in funds and HHSA will be unable to provide housing support and stabilization services to eligible families receiving child welfare services.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
03/22/22, File ID 22-0435, Board accepted a BFH allocation for FY 2021-22 and authorized the HHSA Director to sign/submit Director’s Certification
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
BFH is funded by State General Fund and does not have a match requirement. There is no impact to County General Fund. HHSA included sufficient appropriations in the FY 2022-23 Budget and will include BFH in future budgets for the term of the funding allocation.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
Healthy Communities, Improved Health, Well-being, and Self-sufficiency of El Dorado County communities, residents, and visitors.
CONTACT
Evelyn Schaeffer, Director, Health and Human Services Agency