COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

DATE:

June 13, 2002

BOARD MEETING DATE:

June 25, 2002

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Maureen D. Borland, Director, Human Services Agency
Stuart Oppenheim, Director, Children and Family Services

SUBJECT:

Approve a Resolution Authorizing the Human Services Agency to Obtain Livescan Equipment For the Purpose of Accessing State and Local Criminal History Information for Proposed Relative Caretakers.

Recommendation

Approve a Resolution Authorizing the Human Services Agency to Obtain and Install Livescan Equipment For the Purpose of Accessing State and Local Criminal History Information for Proposed Relative Caretakers.

Background

Under the provisions of the Welfare and Institutions Code 300, et seq, County social workers that remove children from their parents' homes are required to consider relative caretakers for placement. As a result of the passage of AB 1544, California State statutes of 1997, social workers are required to obtain criminal history information prior to the placement of children in relatives' homes. Further amendments to the Welfare and Institutions Code in 1998 and 2000 additionally require that an immediate clearance through the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System be followed up with fingerprint clearances within five days.

Discussion

In order to comply with relative placement preference requirements, the Human Services Agency has made arrangements with the Sheriff's Department to expedite the fingerprinting of relatives through the Sheriff's Department's Livescan equipment. However, due to the volume of fingerprinting requests we are not able to guarantee the accomplishment of the necessary five-day follow up time frame required by the statute. In order to assist Counties,

the California Department of Social Services has provided funding for County Human Services Agencies to purchase their own Livescan equipment. In addition, the California Department of Justice has established processes for Counties to obtain Livescan equipment. The adoption of a Board of Supervisors Resolution authorizing County agencies to obtain Livescan equipment is an element of that process and we are therefore requesting the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors adopt such a resolution.

Vision Alignment

The purchase and installation of Livescan equipment at the Human Services Agency, keeps the commitment of ensuring basic health and safety for all and addresses goal number 6: Children grow up healthy in safe and supportive homes and neighborhoods. Obtaining Livescan equipment contributes to this commitment and goal by ensuring that social workers are able to comply with fingerprint clearance of relative placements within the statute set forth.

Fiscal Impact

The total cost of the Livescan equipment is $50,000. Of the $50,000, $35,000 is funded through Child Welfare Funds and $15,000 is Net County Cost. Funds are budgeted in the Children and Family Services Budget.